Lovie Smith's contract with Buccaneers is for four years, with fifth-year option at over $5 million per year

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are planning to stick with Lovie Smith for the long haul, according to ESPN. They report that the Bucs will sign Smith to a four-year deal with a fifth-year option at the team's control. ESPN notes that Smith is "expected" to make over $5 million per year, which would make this a five-year, $25 million deal in total. Adam Schefter said that Lovie Smith "unquestionably" wanted to come to Tampa.

The length of the deal is no guarantee that Smith will get a long time to succeed in the NFL as Greg Schiano received a 5-year deal as well, but Schiano's deal was worth just $15 million in total, making it easier to move on.

With Smith under contract or as good as under contract, the next questions will be related to his coaching staff and the general manager position. The Bucs fired Mark Dominik on Monday after an ultimately disappointing five-year tenure. Jerry Angelo and Marc Ross are some of the names who have been connected with Smith, while Jeff Tedford is expected to be his offensive coordinator.

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