In Tampa Bay, ownership was torn. They wanted Jon Gruden, but the price was high—very high.
How much money did he want? "All of it," joked one league source.
Tampa Bay determined the only way to get Gruden was to back up a cargo truck, fill it was cash, add final say on personnel matters, and maybe some bananas, and Gruden would have been set.
The Buccaneers balked, according to three sources familiar with the talks, mostly over Gruden's salary demands, which approached $10 million a year. The sources added there was never serious discussion from Gruden's side about wanting an ownership stake.