Feb. 17
As Steve Mariucci huddled in Los Angeles with the Malcom Glazer family Sunday, the price tag to lure the 49ers coach to the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers could reach or exceed $42 million over seven years, according to
league sources familiar with negotiations.
The $6 million annual bonanza is only one of several issues for
Mariucci, who is coveted by the Bucs to become their new coach and general
manager. At $6 million annually, Mariucci would shatter the $5 million
salary Redskins owner Daniel Snyder gave Steve Spurrier last month.
However, Spurrier is the coach only, without any GM or personnel authority.
Until Spurrier, the two previous high contracts awarded to NFL
coaches have been Seattle's Mike Holmgren (eight years, $32 million) and
Denver's Mike Shanahan (seven years, $30 million). Holmgren and Shanahan
have total authority over the football operation, which is another item on
Mariucci's agenda.
It is unknown if the Glazers are willing to meet Mariucci's asking
price, but a league official said, "It's unbelievably steep, but they (the
Glazers) have backed themselves into a corner."
The Bucs also have offered compensation to the 49ers that includes
first- and third-round draft choices, and possibly one more selection,
conditional upon Mariucci leaving San Francisco. But his departure wasn't a
lock going into the meeting Sunday between Mariucci and the Glazers.
Mariucci, who took his 49ers coaching staff out for a social
gathering on Saturday night, is wrestling with some of these issues:
He is emotionally attached to the Bay Area, as is his wife Gayle
and four children. His oldest son, 17-year-old Tyler, is a high school
junior who is being looked at by a handful of colleges as an option
quarterback.
He is emotionally attached to the 49ers' coaching staff and players,
his bitter relationship with Terrell Owens notwithstanding.
He has no prior relationship with the Glazers: Does he want to work
for them?
What happens if the Glazers sell the team during his tenure?
He might seek control over the salary cap, his own front office and
coaching staff.
Will the draft-choice compensation paid to the 49ers be a detriment
when the Bucs, a veteran team, are forced to face their own salary-cap
crisis?
Mariucci could always return to the 49ers to finish the final two
years of his contract at about $2 million annually. However, if the Bucs are
willing to meet his price, the difference in guaranteed money would be about
$38 million.
Mariucci's impetus to leave the 49ers, aside from money and power,
now resides in the transparent lack of support he has from ownership and
management.
An assistant coach said, "The fact is, Steve was basically invited
to explore this option by the 49ers, and he is pretty wounded by that."
Mariucci also believes he might be ousted after the 2002 season
so that the 49ers could pursue Raiders coach Jon Gruden, a source said.
Mariucci is expected to have a decision by Monday or Tuesday.
If he leaves, there is only speculation about the direction of the
49ers. Defensive coordinator Jim Mora Jr. and offensive coordinator Greg
Knapp would be candidates. But other names that were circulating Sunday were
University of Washington coach Rick Neuheisel, Oregon coach Mike Bellotti
and former Oregon coach Rich Brooks.
Only Neuheisel and Bellotti would be considered secure beyond 2002
when Gruden becomes available at the end of his Oakland contract.
There has even been speculation that Bill Walsh or 49ers GM Terry
Donahue could return to the sideline for one season, but 49er sources have
downplayed that scenario. A 49ers source also doubted that former Vikings coach
Dennis Green would be a serious candidate.
