Greg Schiano’s efforts to build his staff with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have hit a snag.
The Bucs asked the Cardinals for permission to speak with wide receivers coach John McNulty about a position on Schiano’s staff. McNulty was Schiano’s offensive coordinator at Rutgers for three years before joining Arizona in 2009 and was thought to be a candidate for the same job in Tampa. It won’t happen, though.
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic reports that the Cardinals have turned down the Bucs’ request. Under NFL rules, an assistant coach must have his team’s permission to interview for any other position other than head coach. In the past, a coordinator position was considered another level but, as Somers points out, the definition of the job stretched so much that there was a feeling that it no longer merited separate inclusion.
Schiano could now reach down to his Rutgers staff for offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. if he’s so inclined or he could open up the search beyond guys who have coached under him in the past. Hue Jackson and Todd Haley are both looking for work and both have experience as offensive coordinators.