NFL Rumors: Mike Sherman Would Be Excellent Hire as Buccaneers' Next Head Coach

Mike Sherman hasn't been an NFL head coach since 2005, but he is unquestionably the right man for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' vacant head coaching position.

According to Roy Cummings of Tampa Bay Online, the Bucs are granting Sherman a second interview after University of Oregon head coach Chip Kelly decided to stay with the school rather than venture to the NFL. Whether the Buccaneers know it or not, though, Sherman has been the correct choice from the beginning.

The Bucs were burned by the inexperienced Raheem Morris, who was fired on Jan. 2 following a 4-12 season, so it stands to reason that Tampa Bay will be looking for an experienced head coach this time around. Sherman certainly fits the bill in that regard as he was the head man at Texas A&M for four seasons and was previously the Green Bay Packers' head coach from 2000 through 2005.

Considering the fact that Sherman led the Packers to four consecutive playoff berths from 2001 until 2004 and three straight NFC North titles from 2002 until 2004, I always thought it was strange that he didn't get more NFL interest following his departure from Green Bay.

Sherman's tenure at Texas A&M would probably be considered a failure by most as he finished with a record of 25-25, but he did lead them to three bowl berths in four years while playing in the difficult Big 12 conference. With that said, the NFL and college football are two different animals, and Sherman certainly has a history of NFL success.

The biggest knock on Sherman was that he could never get the job done in the postseason, as he went just 2-4 in the playoffs, but simply making it that far would be a major win for the Bucs at this point. Additionally, Sherman's background as an offensive coach would be beneficial to the Bucs because young offensive players like quarterback Josh Freeman and wide receiver Mike Williams took a step back last season.

On the surface, it may look like turning around the Bucs is an impossible task, but they did go 10-6 in 2010 with a similar roster, so perhaps all that is needed is a new voice and some personnel tweaks. Sherman is a very calm and even-handed personality, so I think his coaching style would work well with a young team like the Bucs.

Sherman went 57-39 during his stint in Green Bay, so it's safe to say that he knows how to win, and that is something that is currently eluding the Buccaneers. Perhaps Sherman isn't as exciting as the prospect of somebody like Kelly, you could argue that he has a better resume than anyone on the market.

If the Buccaneers have any interest in righting the ship quickly, then Sherman will be the team's next head coach.