The Miami Dolphins hired Joe Philbin yesterday, and Philbin accepted despite being a candidate for the job in both Tampa and Oakland. Normally this isn't a big deal, as coaches take a head coaching job whenever it is offered. But there is one report that makes this a little embarrassing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to Omar Kelly of the Florida Sun-Sentinel, Joe Philbin had already arranged a second interview with the Bucs.
The Bucs are expected to conduct a second round of interviews next week before making a final decision. If they invited Philbin back for a second interview they were impressed with him and considered him a finalist for the job. But while the Bucs were mulling their choices, the Miami Dolphins swooped in decisively and got the guy they wanted. Well, their second choice behind Jeff Fisher at least.
The Bucs continue to be deliberate in their decision-making process. There are positives and negatives to that approach. Carefully weighing your options is a good thing, but taking a lot of time can cause you to lose out on coaches, as seems to be happening more and more regularly as this month gets under way. Before you know it you're stuck with Jim Bates and Jeff Jagodzinski.