The Bernstein Brief: There Must Be More To Lovie Smith's Firing
By Dan Bernstein--
(CBS) It can't be just the record, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' owners say.
Understandably, 8-24 in two years could easily be grounds enough for a dismissal. Co-chairman Joel Glazer kept it that simple in the generalities he used to explain Wednesday's late-night firing of coach Lovie Smith.
But this one is weird.
Some speculation is that the always-loyal Smith balked at suggested changes to his staff. More speculation is that newly hired offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter consolidated power among both players and management and is expecting to be promoted after the team does perfunctory interviews.
Odd too is that general manager Jason Licht is said to now be in charge of the "search" process. Licht was hired three weeks after Smith was, presumably to serve in a nominal capacity while Smith wielded personnel power. That dynamic may have changed as losses piled up or was challenged internally to a breaking point.
If Koetter indeed is installed as Smith's replacement, this looks more like the result of locker room and office politics than on-field outcomes.
Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. You can follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.
