Tampa Bay Buccaneers Interview Mike Zimmer, but Are the Dolphins Coveting Him?

The slow road to China, also known as the Tampa Bay Buccanners' coaching search, turns its spotlight on Mike Zimmer today.

That's no state secret, but now the interest in Zimmer is growing and he may now be the No. 1 target of the guys to the south, the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins were jilted by their first and most coveted "prom date" and that would be Jeff Fisher, who is now boss of the St. Louis Rams.

Zimmer has ties to Miami GM Jeff Ireland. The two served together at the Jerry Jones Club, also known as the Dallas Cowboys, for six seasons (2001-2006). Thus, Ireland would be very familiar with Zimmer's work, work ethic, philosophies, etc.

The Dolphins brought Zimmer in for an interview last Tuesday.

There's nothing to indicate that the Bucs will end their search anytime soon, which might leave the door open for a Miami offer to come first.

When we last asked if the Bucs may have their eye on a coordinator still involved in the playoffs, the dots were beginning to connect to Perry Fewell of the New York Giants.

Fewell's star is rising, especially after the showing by his defense on Sunday in the Giants' upset of the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

If Fewell's a guy that Mark Dominik and the Glazers want to interview, then they may have to wait until after the Super Bowl.

When you look at impressive playoff defenses, New York is right up there and may be the best we've seen—even more so than San Francisco and Baltimore.

Author's Update: Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune reported that Zimmer did not interview on Monday but instead will be with the Bucs on Tuesday.