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Bucs can’t seal deal with Kelly

Posted Jan 23, 2012 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Jan 23, 2012 at 11:45 AM

By IRA KAUFMAN

TAMPA—When you’re jilted by a Bill Parcells, it hurts, but it’s understandable.

Parcells, who is up for Hall of Fame consideration in a few weeks, has played mind games with several NFL franchises, leading them to believe a deal was in place before he walked away.

But Chip Kelly?

When Oregon’s head football coach spurned the Bucs in the early hours of Monday morning, he sent a clear message that he didn’t regard Tampa Bay’s vacancy as a plum job. And that can’t sit well with the Glazers or GM Mark Dominik.

There are only 32 head coaches in the NFL and Kelly had an opportunity to join their ranks. Instead, he preferred to return to Oregon, where the Ducks are facing possible NCAA sanctions and several of Kelly’s key offensive players are leaving early to enter the NFL draft.

Perhaps Kelly truly loves the college game more than the pros, but his decision to stay also reflects how he views the Bucs as an organization. Since that 2002 championship season, Tampa Bay is 20 games under .500 (62-82) and the Bucs and Lions are the only NFC clubs that haven’t won a playoff game in the last nine years.

Don’t expect Kelly to rip the Bucs in explaining his change of heart, but it’s clear he wasn’t overwhelmed by a chance to walk the sidelines at Raymond James Stadium.