Buccaneers move closer to hiring Lewis as coach
Advertiser Staff and News Services
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved closer to making Baltimore defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis their coach yesterday, discussing a contract and working to assemble an offensive staff.
While there was no official word from the club on the status of the search, a formal announcement likely will come early next week.
That would give general manager Rich McKay and Lewis time to hammer out details of a contract and make several important decisions, including who will become Tampa Bay's fourth offensive coordinator in as many seasons.
Lewis, the Ravens' defensive coordinator since 1996, emerged as the prime candidate after McKay made an unsuccessful pitch to get Oakland's Jon Gruden.
Tampa Bay contacted the Raiders this week about the possibility of hiring Gruden, who has one year remaining on his contract. The Bucs offered draft picks and perhaps cash as compensation, but abandoned hope of making a trade because Oakland's asking price was too high.
Lewis, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and former Washington Redskins coach Norv Turner interviewed for the Tampa Bay opening last week.
PACKERS
Heupel signs: Green Bay signed free-agent quarterback Josh Heupel, who led the University of Oklahoma to the 2000 national championship.
Heupel was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of last year's National Football League draft. He suffered a wrist injury in training camp and was placed on injured reserve before being waived Sept. 18.
PRO BOWL
Hawai'i connection: Playing football in New York, Kevin Mawae couldn't be farther from Hawai'i.
But his roots here are deep.
The Hawaiian-Chinese-Caucasian center for the Jets has been coming back to the Islands all his life, twice as a Pro Bowl player. His dad was born and raised on Kaua'i, and Mawae visits family here every year.
"You can only lay on the beach so long," said the 6-foot-4, 289-pound lineman. "Then it's time to go back. Two times is good enough for me. But I love coming here. Sometimes you get a little too relaxed, so you gotta go back to the Mainland, get back to business."
Though he has never lived in Hawai'i, Mawae, who lives in New York with his wife and 4-year-old son, Kirkland, feels a deep connection to his heritage and culture. He knows how to prepare kalua pig and has learned all about Hawaiian values and customs such as kapu and 'aumakua.
"I identify with the 'ohana spirit, the people and what they mean to me and what the Islands mean to them," he said. "I've seen so much more than people who have never been off the Island, so, in a sense, there's still a disconnect. But when you're Hawaiian, you're Hawaiian. And it's a matter of how much you hold onto that. And I hold onto that pretty tight."
Youth clinic: Several NFL players — including Jeff Ulbrich of the San Francisco 49ers, Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Olin Kreutz of the Chicago Bears — will be the guest coaches at the MYTH Fifty & O'ahu Youth Sports League Football Clinic Sunday at St. Louis School.
A $25 fee includes lunch, refreshments and a T-shirt.
The first session (9 a.m. to noon) is for ages 9-13. The second session (1 p.m. to 4 p.m.) is for ages 14-18.
Registration is 7 a.m.-8:30 a.m. for the first session and 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for the second session. A parent or guardian must accompany campers 17 or younger during the registration period. Campers must bring turf shoes.
For information, call 739-5542.
MYTH is an apparel company co-owned by pro bodyboarder Jacky Buder and baseball player Benny Agbayani, who may attend the camp.
Other speakers are Kaulana Noa of the St. Louis Rams, Lewis Sanders of the Cleveland Browns, Lloyd Harrison and Jason Perry of the San Diego Chargers, Kendra Bell of the Pittsburgh Steelers, former Utah player Roy Ma'afala and St. Louis School athletic director Cal Lee.
