It looks like a done deal that Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin is leaving to join his son's staff at the University of Tennessee.
He must really love his son.
Here's why: Kiffin will probably make $500,000 or so at Tennessee and he makes $1.5 million with the Bucs.
That's $1 million a year in love. Wow.
Some who know Kiffin well say he's saved every dime, so the money isn't an issue. But lifestyle change should be.
Kiffin lives in an oceanfront condo in the Clearwater area, and he doesn't have to recruit like he will for the Volunteers.
Knocking on the doors of 17-year-old kids can't be fun these days.
There are those who think Kiffin will go to work with his son and help him get his coaching career back on the right path after the Raiders fiasco.
I imagine it will be special to coach with your son.
It better be that, considering what he'd give up to do it.
Quick hits
---In 1996, current Giants coach Tom Coughlin was coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. His team had a veteran receiver who couldn't show up for practice or meetings on time and seemed to be a bad influence on the other players. That player was Andre Rison. After enough aggravation, Coughlin cut Rison. It was a shock to many, including the players. But it did two things: It showed who was the boss and it allowed a young player named Jimmy Smith to take over as the starter. Smith would become a Pro Bowl player and one of the league's all-time leading receivers. Current Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride was on that staff. Earlier this season, Gilbride told me that Domenick Hixon reminded him of a young Jimmy Smith. We just might have history repeating itself. If the Giants release Plaxico Burress for his many problems, Hixon would be featured more prominently. Maybe he's the next Smith.
---I read where some of my fellow media members were ripping Green Bay Mike McCarthy for going for the field goal late in the Packers' loss to the Panthers. Facing a fourth and goal from the 1,McCarthy opted to take the lead at 31-28 rather than go for the touchdown. That's absolutely the right play. You have to take the lead. The problem was the defense didn't hold it. The Panthers scored a game-winning touchdown, which opened McCarthy to the criticism. He made the right call. It just didn't work out.
---Sam Bradford, Matt Stafford, Colt McCoy and the other quarterbacks who will be in next spring's draft all should be thankful for what Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco are doing in their rookie seasons. Both have turned around bad offenses and their teams are 8-4. Why? They're both prototypical drop-back passers. Bradford, Stafford and McCoy can be as well. Don't forget: The game should b e played in the pocket.
---I love the way Sean Payton calls plays. He's super aggressive. But I think he made a mistake Sunday against the Bucs. He should have run it more. The conditions called for it. It looked like a perfect track for Deuce McAllister to be a mudder. Drew Brees is a great quarterback, but sometimes you need to pull it in because of the conditions.
