Quote:Jan. 14: Tony Dungy's firing actually came at 9:30 a.m. on Monday. The Buccaneers ownership hoped the news would hold until Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. when Dungy consented to a press conference. Dungy had to have a security guard escort him before leaving the building Monday. The team is expected to announce the hiring of former Giants and Jets coach Bill Parcells in the next four to six days. Right now, Parcells is busily trying to put together his new coaching staff. Bill Muir of the Jets is expected to join Parcells as his offensive line coach along with Lions running backs coach Maurice Carthon, former Falcons and Chargers head coach Dan Henning and ex-Steelers wide receiver Dwight Stone (as an offensive assistant).

Quote:Report: Bucs will interview Jets' assistant GM

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ESPN.com news services


TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers acknowledged for the first time Tuesday that they are pursuing Bill Parcells.

The Bucs fired Tony Dungy, the only winning coach in the franchise's 26-year history, on Monday night and are believed to be close to an agreement with Parcells.

After denying during a news conference that the team had ever had discussions with the former Giants, Patriots and Jets coach or his representative about coming to Tampa Bay, the sons of owner Malcolm Glazer issued a statement saying talks began with agent Jimmy Sexton late Tuesday afternoon.

Sexton did not immediately return a telephone message from The Associated Press.

The Bucs are believed to be close to agreeing to terms with Parcells to succeed the winningest coach in franchise history.

At 5:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, about 90 minutes after the Glazer family announced it had officially opened talks with Parcells’ agent, the Bucs sent a fax to the Jets requesting permission to interview assistant general manager Mike Tannenbaum. It was granted, the Daily News reported on Wednesday.

Tannenbaum will be interviewed on Wednesday for the Bucs’ general manager position.

The Bucs’ interest in Tannenbaum is a strong indication that Parcells is headed to Tampa Bay to resume his coaching career.

Parcells is expected to sign a four-year deal and be introduced early next week, according to the newspaper.

Jets officials couldn’t be reached Tuesday night to comment on Tannenbaum. On Monday, GM Terry Bradway told the Daily News: "I’d hate to lose Mike, but if he has the opportunity to get a better job, we wouldn’t stand in his way."

Contacted by The New York Times on Monday, Parcells denied he had reached a deal with the Bucs.

Speculation about Dungy's future and the possibility that Parcells would return to the NFL with the Bucs began during the Super Bowl in Tampa last January.

The rumor mill heated up again after the Bucs got off a slow start this season, and winning five of seven down the stretch to make the playoffs didn't stop reports predicting Dungy's ouster.

"This is the ugly side of this business," Joel Glazer said, addressing the firing of Dungy, whose 56-42 record with four playoff appearances in six seasons is by far the best of any Tampa Bay coach.

"It wasn't one thing or another. It's just a sense of where this franchise is at, a sense as to how our team was doing on the field and where we thought was the best direction to go."

General manager Rich McKay, whose job also could be affected if Parcells is hired, lobbied unsuccessfully to retain Dungy, who transformed the Bucs from perennial doormats into Super Bowl contenders.

Tampa Bay advanced to the NFC championship game two years ago. But Dungy's inability to get past the first round of the playoffs since then left a sour taste in the mouths of the owners.

The Bucs spent generously the past two offseasons to bolster an anemic offense, yet the addition of receiver Keyshawn Johnson, quarterback Brad Johnson and offensive linemen Jeff Christie and Randall McDaniel didn't produce the desired results.

Speculation about Parcells during the season bothered Tampa Bay players, who questioned why the Glazers would not break their silence and give Dungy an indication of where he stood.

The owners also handled the firing clumsily, drawing more criticism that the Glazer brothers shrugged off.

"There's never an easy way to do it. This is not pleasant. And because it was Tony Dungy, it was downright miserable," Joel Glazer said.

"Criticize how it happened, what happened. That's fine. But just know one thing. We're in this to win championships and we're going to do what we feel is in the best interest of the franchise."