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Muir: Gruden haters don’t know a real football coach

Posted Jun 10, 2008 by Ira Kaufman

Updated Jun 10, 2008 at 04:18 PM

With Jon Gruden declining comment Tuesday, it was left for Bucs OL coach Bill Muir to defend a defending division champion still coping with the fallout from the Jerramy Stevens signing and recent public remarks by Chris Simms critical of Tampa Bay’s seventh-year coach.

“All I know is what’s going on inside this building—there is no controversy,’’ said Muir, who joined Gruden’s inaugural 2002 staff in Tampa. “There’s single purpose of mind, from the head coach to the last player on the roster. The media’s job is to stir things up and they seem to be doing a very good job of it, but it’s not being stirred inside. The controversy is from outside the building.’’

Featured RB Earnest Graham hasn’t been working out at the facility and No. 1 QB Jeff Garcia is disgruntled with his contract, but Muir is stressing the positive six weeks before Tampa Bay players and coaches head to training camp.

“You go to our board and see the participation in the offseason program, you see the effort outside here in the OTAs, you see the attention in the meeting rooms,’’ Muir said. “The only issues we have are New Orleans and Atlanta. Those are our issues. I’ve been doing this a long time and it’s an encouraging group to be around.’’

According to Simms, his relationship with Gruden is likely frayed beyond repair.

“I can only tell you this because everyone will think I’m sucking up to the head coach, but for all of those Gruden haters out there, I really don’t care,’’ said Muir. “They don’t know what a real football coach is supposed to be like. I’ve been around a real football coach or two in my life – this is a real football coach. End of story. He’s a real football coach.’’