Tampa Bay Times Speculatin': Signs Appear To Favor Mike Sherman For Buccaneers Head Coach

Oh yes. The suddenly reliable and conveyor belt-like stream of Mike Zimmer updates continues. However this isn't so much an update on fact, change or reports. This comes from idle speculation from beat writer Rick Stroud with the Tampa Bay Times, who writes that signs appear to be favoring the Buccaneers hiring former Packers and Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman. Mind you this has nothing to do with insider information; only how things appear to be shaping up.

Along with the fact that Mike Sherman is the only known finalist for the head coaching job, most of the candidates -- many of whom remain employed by their current teams -- have yet to be contacted for a second interview (though at one report suggested Monday night that they were formulating that list). Stroud speculates that the reason those candidates, which includes Mike Zimmer, remain candidates is a contingency if a contract with Sherman falls through. He concludes:

Given all those scenarios, the one that makes the most sense is that there is a strong chance Mike Sherman will be the Bucs next head coach. At 57, he is an experienced, grizzled NFL and college head coach with an offensive background. He won four NFC North titles in six seasons and his undoing was his failure controlling personnel decisions. Sherman also would have the ability to put together a pretty good coaching staff, which is just as critical to the Bucs success.

But if the Bucs are truly making progress, we'll know sooner than later.

As if we're going to be patient. Napoleon Dynamite voice: Gosh.

But Stroud is right. It becomes a borderline disserve for the Buccaneers to play the "patient" game while those candidates currently in play are forced to work with their current teams, while having the indecisive Glazer brothers coming to a decision. Is Mike Zimmer evaluating talent at Senior Bowl practices, determining which defensive player fits best in Cincinnati's defensive scheme? Or is he wondering how his personal future will play out? No. Why? Because Mike Zimmer is Mike Zimmer. And Mike Zimmer thinks of ingenious ways to motivate players by using a collection of words (all of them filthy) that Marvin Lewis may consider putting on training camp shirts.

Then again Lewis might have curse words of his own with the way Tampa Bay is extending the process out. And this could be why.