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Butch Davis will have no coaching role with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

 
Published Feb. 10, 2012

Butch Davis is expected to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their senior defensive assistant. Despite the title, it is an advisory role and he will not be part of the coaching staff or work with players on the field.

The reason is that Davis doesn't want to violate the terms of a buyout in his contract with North Caro­lina, which fired him last year. It calls for him to receive about $2.7 million unless he accepts another coaching position. He already has received $933,000 and is set to receive $590,000 in January of 2013, 2014 and 2015.

So how will Davis contribute to the Bucs? For starters, he will be a great sounding board for new Bucs head coach Greg Schiano, who worked as Davis' defensive coordinator with the Miami Hurricanes. He also is expected to work closely with the eventual defensive coordinator.

Davis, 60, will also be useful in evaluating the Bucs talent on defense and could be an asset in free agency and the NFL draft.

Considering his success as a top defensive line coach and coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys and his experience as the Cleveland Browns head coach, the addition of Davis might be even more impactful if he could work directly with players preparing for games on Sunday. Jimmy Raye, the Bucs senior offensive assistant, has no such restrictions.

But Schiano really wanted to find a way to get Davis in the building at One Buc Place and it appears he has done so. As of Friday morning, the Bucs still had not received a signed contract from Davis, although they are anticipating a deal will be completed soon.