In what has been an eventful week around the NFL for various reasons, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have avoided one particular dose of bad news.
Instead of offensive coordinator Liam Coen bolting Tampa Bay to become the head coach somewhere else, like the Jacksonville Jaguars for example, the Bucs instead reached a new deal with Coen to stick around.
Not only did Coen get a new deal, but he is now the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
It wasn't that long ago (yesterday, for those keeping track) that Bucs fans were bracing for Coen to take a job somewhere else.
Now, the fan base can breathe a sigh of relief as Coen is not only refusing to take a job elsewhere, but he is in Tampa Bay for the long haul. And, believe it or not, fans can thank one person in particular for this all happening.
Bucs fans can thank Todd Bowles for Liam Coen staying in Tampa Bay
The fact Coen is not going anywhere speaks one thing loud and clear: Todd Bowles wanted him back.
Say what you want to about some of the decision-making by Bowles, at times, but the head coach had a massive influence on Coen staying, and fans should appreciate that.
Not only did Bowles want him back, but this move also indicates that the team could be setting Coen up for something even bigger. In the near future, Bowles may be able to move into a front office role and thus hand his gig over to Coen as the team's next head coach.
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What better way to keep him around than to promise him the head coaching job down the line? Why else would they pay him more than any other coordinator in the league? Sure, he deserves big money after what he did with this offense in just one year.
But, the fact that he's already gotten head coach buzz warranted enough attention from the Bucs to not let him go. Coen and the Buccaneers are playing the long game, here, and it's going to be a huge positive for everyone involved.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield isn't going to have to learn yet another offense under yet another offensive coordinator. What he's been able to do in multiple offenses is nothing short of impressive, but now he'll enjoy continuity for the first time in quite a while.
Baker and Coen seem set up as the future of this team, together, and fans have got to love it.
Once again, send your thank-yous to the current head coach. He deserves all of them, after all.