Bruce Allen opening statement.

"We are evaluating the season. When I am talking about the season it is really starting February 15 last year through the end of the Raider game. We are very pleased with some of the accomplishments this year. We are awfully disappointed in the end, and it makes it a very interesting project.

"It is a 9-3 team that put itself in position to make a strong run in the playoffs. It has players that you all were recognizing as potential Pro Bowl players. It is a team that finished 0-4. All in one, all in one locker room, same coaches and same players. It makes it very important that we do an honest assessment of what took place this season and that is what we are doing right now."

The Buccaneers have struggled in December in the past few seasons and Allen was asked about the late season woes.

"It is really hard to compare one season to another. You have a different cast of players and coaches from year to year. There are different circumstances. We are analyzing the way we practice, and everything, from the medical health of our players to what we can do. Although we are pleased that 9-7 is not a poor record. We are not satisfied with where we ended up this season. It is disappointing, and we are going to correct it."

Tampa Bay had over $20 million under the cap during last season, and Allen was asked if that money could have been spent to give the team better depth to withstand the injuries that impacted the Bucs down the stretch.

"The reason we have cap room is we've been able to carry over cap room from the 2006 season to the 2007 season, and from the 2007 season to the 2008 season, and we are going to that again this year for the 2009 season. We did that because our intention is to spend the cap room. We never want it to go to waste and we are allowed to do that according to the collective bargaining agreement.

"As far as depth, when we went out into free agency last year we looked at the players that were going to be available. We looked at the draft obviously to build some depth on the football team. Our free agents class has some really good success when you compare it to the other free agents that were available. Antonio Bryant as you all know had a spectacular season. He was better then any other free agent production wise at wide receiver. [Defensive lineman Jimmy] Wilkerson was third or fourth in sacks among the free agents available. Jerramy Stevens was second I believe in receptions among free agent tight ends. [Center Jeff] Faine was a Pro Bowl alternate, so we addressed a lot of the needs in free agency.

"At the end of training camp you have to cut your team to 53 players. You are allowed to put guys on your practice squad. Your depth has to come from within there. If there was a great free agent available December 15th who demanded or commanded a high salary, yes we would have signed him. The players available December 15th are not the players that command that type of salary, so our depth is based on where you are at the beginning of the year. I am not going to just bury by any means injuries, but everybody has to manage their injuries any way they can during the season. I don't think there was a player that we felt could really help this team in December that we didn't go after, or would not have gone after. If the trading deadline was December 15th, we would have tried to trade for someone immediately to sure up some of the holes."

With the Buccaneers owners, the Glazer family, taking on a big purchase of the English soccer club Manchester United, some have theorized that as a reason why the Bucs have not spent as much money on player salaries. Allen was asked if Tampa Bay has the money available to sign any player that he and the front office would want for the Buccaneers.

"Oh yeah, that has never even been a question," Allen said. "What I want to do is make sure that we spend on it on people who are going to be apart of the Buccaneers for the 2009 season and beyond. It doesn't make sense to bring in some of the players that will be available in free agency and have them play next to players that are more worthy of them then their reward. When you talk about the cap room understand that where we spend is different then the cap. The fact that we utilize the collective bargaining agreement to our benefit, and some teams don't do that. We carry over to make sure that every cap dollar we have is never wasted."

Allen was asked again if he feels limited in what he can spend in free agency because of Glazer's pouring millions of dollars into Manchester United.

"No. Manchester United, there's a reason why it's the most valuable sports franchise in the world," said Allen. "It's very successful. That has nothing to do with us. The Glazers have given us every opportunity to sign anybody that we elect to sign. In fact, they very much would like us to make sure we do improve the football team. It's never once been brought up. First of all, they are two totally separate companies completely, but the Glazers have been very strong in wanting us to be aggressive, but picking the right people. We've signed a few free agents I'm not real proud of, and I probably feel worse about it. You aren't going to hit 100 percent in free agency or the draft. We have been aggressive and we plan to be aggressive. A player like Jimmy Wilkerson, I'm sure he didn't get the headlines when we signed him, but his production was very good. His special teams contributions were outstanding and he showed up in the sack department. He's part of the reason why we were 9-3 at one point. We will continue to be aggressive."

Allen was asked about the departure of defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, and how that affected the team. After the rumors of Kiffin leaving became public the Bucs defense struggled mightily in the final four games, and Kiffin confirmed his leaving the organization with two games remaining in the season.

"Obviously that has been discussed and bantered around," said Allen. "When I think of Monte, I think of someone who has had a tremendous career here, and going into this season we had a conversation that if Lane Kiffin (Monte's son) got fired by Raiders, and if Lane did ‘x' what he was going to do, and he has earned the right to make that decision. To say that is the reason why we missed a tackle in the Oakland game I think that would be shallow. I don't think we are going to face that situation again, so I don't know what I can learn from last year that will help us in the future. I am certain we won't face that situation. All the other (coaches') kids are too young and won't be coaching for along time."

Kiffin is not the only coach that is leaving Tampa Bay. Allen discussed the changes and potential changes in the staff.

"[Tight ends coach] Bob Casullo and [assistant head coach] Larry Coyer are looking at other opportunities. [Linebackers coach] Gus Bradley has interviewed for the defensive coordinator job in Seattle. When I came down here there was no decision yet from Seattle in terms of who they are going to hire. I'm not aware of how many people they're going to interview. [Defensive coordinator] Raheem [Morris] has interviewed with the Denver Broncos for their head-coaching job. He has not had any conversations with the Rams."

Allen was asked about who is accountable for the Bucs missing the playoffs in 2008.

"First of all, we are all in this," said Allen. "We win as a team and we lose as a team. Do I share the responsibility? I do more then share the responsibility. I wish there was something I could have done different. I don't know what we would have done differently at the time. Once again we were in a very unique and enviable position of being ahead at home. In our stadium with our fans, going nuts, after Sabby's (Piscitelli) interception there was electricity running through everybody's bones, but we didn't finish.

"To feel the fans pain, we feel it. We are fans we are big fans. We want to see the Bucs win also. Not to steal anybody's line but ‘I feel their pain' is easy because it has been tough. It is tough to watch the playoffs. You had an opportunity. It is not like we were 8-8, we had put ourselves from the hard work of our players and our coaches in good position after 12 games. To be in a strong position for the playoffs, and for that to be taken away is hard."

Allen answered what direction has the Glazers instructed him and Gruden to go in for the season ahead, and how has that changed from years in the past.

"No different than the feelings of the fans. There was hurt at the end of the season. We're going to make sure we correct it for them, and we have to correct it for them. We just have to come up with the right plan, and catch some breaks in free agency and the draft. They feel confident that this team is going to be better next year and better in the future because we do have a core that is quite exciting for us of young players. They're going to be better in '09, better in '10 and even better in '11. That's what we have to build around because that's what we have."

Allen was asked if the Glazers have mandated that organization go in a different direction or have they put any extra pressure on you to get that done quicker?

"They live in championship world, and they want us competing, but that hasn't changed since the first time I met them."

Allen also took a question about the fans that want Gruden fired. Gruden is Tampa Bay's all-time winningest head coach, yet there are fans that want him fired.

"I'm happy people care. I love the passion that the Buccaneers bring on from our fans. They want us to do well and they want the Bucs to win. The fans that want to second guess us or second guess Jon as a coach want us to win. That's the most important part of it. This season as it sits in our stomachs doesn't taste very good. It's a very sour taste. I love that we are in a results-based business. I love that we keep score every week, and I love the win-loss record. That's what makes this so great and that's what creates the passion. Our job is to do better than we did last year, and that's what we're going to work at."

Allen was asked if he feels that he is on the hot seat after what developed over the past season.

"I don't look at it that way. I know it doesn't make sense to some people, but there's nothing that drives me more than the desire to win. The end was disappointing, but it is also what gives you motivation. We also know a lot of what went wrong is correctable. We're going to work within to make sure it's corrected.

"I've seen my father fired enough to understand what the business is. He got fired for being 10-4. He got fired for winning. I understand the business, and I love the business. I love the game."

One of the final questions to Allen pointed out that the Bucs have the best practice facility in the league, and what Allen has called the best coaching staff in the league and now a favorable salary cap situation. But looking back at the past five years this team hasn't won a playoff game and is under .500. Allen was asked how does that sit with him.

"Unsatisfied. We've had opportunities. You fight to get yourself in position in November and December. We have had opportunities, but we haven't closed. It's not acceptable, and we've got to figure out a way to get this team better."