General manager Rich McKay spoke with new Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden and owners Bryan Glazer and Joel Glazer by telephone on Wednesday, with club officials intent on mending fences with their top football executive.

However, McKay remains unhappy about the way he was undermined in the search for a coach and remains interested in the general manager's job in Atlanta.

McKay has one year remaining on his current contract, at a salary of $1.8 million, and is clearly the front-runner for new Atlanta owner Arthur Blank. The Falcons, however, are not interested in meeting the Bucs' steep compensation demands to release McKay. Tampa Bay wants a first-round choice this year and a second-rounder in 2003.

A decision on whether he remains with the franchise is not imminent.

"We have spoken to Rich and we plan on continuing discussions over the next few days and into next week," Bryan Glazer said in a statement released by the club. "We don't expect any decision regarding Rich until at least next week."

McKay has just undergone a tumultuous period in which the Glazer family declined his recommendation to choose Marvin Lewis as the successor to former head coach Tony Dungy, and McKay's authority was all but stripped as ownership continued its search without his input.

Sources said McKay entered Wednesday's telephone conversation, a session designed to clear the air, seeking several things. He wanted a candid explanation of why the Lewis recommendation was ignored, a discussion of why he was kept out of the loop after that, full power restored as stipulated in his contract, and a promise he would not be subjected to such treatment again.

The Bucs may be dragging out a resolution with McKay, hoping that Blank moves on to another candidate, leaving McKay with no other options.

Gruden told McKay, a longtime friend, during a brief conversation Monday that he would like him to stay and the Glazer family has reiterated a similar sentiment.

McKay has been tied to the Bucs since his father, John McKay, was the initial head coach of the franchise and he was a ball boy. He has been the general manager for seven years, is highly regarded in league circles and is the co-chairman of the NFL's powerful competition committee.

ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli and ESPN's Sal Paolantonio contributed to this report.