Buccaneers hire Paul Spicer as assistant defensive line coach

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have hired Paul Spicer as their defensive line coach, we've been told -- and that has since been confirmed by multiple reports. The former Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints defensive end racked up 28.5 sacks in a 12-year career, and was previously an assistant under Joe Cullen in Jacksonville, who is now the defensive line coach in Tampa.

Doug Farrar wrote about Spicer's search for a job two years ago, and he was Jackson State's defensive line coach last season and has worked at the East-West Shrine bowl game.

As we wrote he when Spicer was first interviewed, an assistant defensive line coach is generally not overly important, he could play a pretty big role in helping the Bucs get back their pass rush -- something that's been lacking for years, with every season bringing in new disappointments from old players. Getting Michael Johnson to live up to his contract will be one of those crucial jobs of whoever's hired as the assistant defensive line coach.