Why Jon Gruden Had To Go

The Buccaneers aren't many people's favorite team, outside of Tampa Bay.

They don't have a flashy running back, wide receiver, tight end, or quarterback.  Matter of fact, anyone flashy (or fun) on the offensive side of the ball.  What's more, the last one they had (see Cadillac Williams), just tore his second patellar tendon in as many knees (and years) and really only had four great games in the NFL.  The rest of the positions have been often productive, often valuable, but rarely fun.

Jon Gruden was fun.  He was a screamer, a yeller, a curser.  He'd make funny faces, scrunch up his nose, and seem to have a permanent scowl on that mug of his no matter what the situation.  In essence, he lived up to his nickname as Chucky.

And so with that said, it's difficult to see the last remaining fun sucked out of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  

But, it had to happen.  While it may seem as if this season's collapse did in Gruden (though really, coaches have been fired for less--losing four in a row to choke away a playoff berth is hardly job-saving), a closer look at his time in Tampa reveals that he really hasn't been as successful as one might have you to believe.  (What he's looking at, figures and numbers-wise, I have no idea).

While it is true that Gruden did have a winning percentage over .500 in his seven year stint, most of that came in that first Super Bowl season.  Now, not to take away from a championship, but, most of that was Tony Dungy's handiwork.  That team wasn't beating people with Brad Johnson and an offensive onslaught, it was D (Dungy's D) that made that team great.

So, we fast forward a bit.  Over the remaining six years, Gruden would go 45-53, and would lose both first round playoff games he was in.  What's worse (and more important), Gruden couldn't get the team to win when it mattered.  In the 6 Decembers following the Super Bowl, Tampa emerged with a winning record for the month only once.  Not good.

Finally, if you'd really like to get picky, Tampa, under Gruden, has shown a seemingly blatant disregard for developing young quarterbacks.  The Garcias and Grieses and Johnsons of the world aren't really a recipe for future success, and, with the only  young quarterback on the roster being Josh Johnson (the blankness of his profile says all you need to know), the Bucs are again faced with the prospect of returning another aging fogey behind center (be it Jeff Garcia or otherwise).  

Gruden will obviously land on his feet, and that's a good thing.  He's a fun coach, and a fun guy to have around.  But, in Tampa, his time had come, fun or no fun.