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The Oakland Raiders have signed offensive line coach/assistant head coach Tony Sparano to a two-year extension, the Oakland Raiders announced. Sparano was reportedly the front-runner to be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive line coach under Lovie Smith, as the Raiders were only willing to offer him a one-year extension. Apparently threatening to leave gets you a better deal. Who knew?
The Bucs now must find a different offensive line coach, and they'll have a tough time finding someone of Sparano's caliber. Whoever comes in will have to deal with a left guard whose future as a football player is in doubt, a right guard who looked absolutely horrid last season and a left tackle who's still playing fairly well, but is also undeniably aging.
The Buccaneers may look to Jim Michalczik, currently the offensive line coach for the Arizona Wildcats. Michalczik has a long history of working with Jeff Tedford, as he was his offensive line coach throughout all but two years of Tedford's tenure at California. During those two years Michalczik coached the Oakland Raiders' offensive line under Tom Cable, which will only speak in his favor.
