Report: Kiffin tried to hire Broncos' Bates

Adam Schefter reported on his blog at NFL.com that new Tennessee football coach Lane Kiffin attempted to lure Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach Jeremey Bates as he assembles a coaching staff.

According to Schefter, “Bates was said to have seriously considered Kiffin’s offer, but eventually opted to stay in Denver, where the Broncos gave him a raise and an extension.”

The 32-year-old Bates has been an assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets.

He was a reserve freshman quarterback at UT in 1995. He later transferred to Rice.

Bates and his brother, James, were standout players at Sevier County High School.

Jim Bates, the father of Jeremey and James, is a former UT linebacker (1964-67), graduate assistant (1968) and linebackers coach (1989). He coached in the NFL for 16 years, including seven games as interim head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2004.

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Comments » 63

cainclifton23 writes:

I wish we wouldve gotten him, we wouldve installed that ZONE BLOCKING that denver has perfected the last decade

Ironcity writes:

in response to cainclifton23:

I wish we wouldve gotten him, we wouldve installed that ZONE BLOCKING that denver has perfected the last decade

Zone blocking is good if you have no talent. It doesn't work as well if you do.

cainclifton23 writes:

in response to Ironcity:

Zone blocking is good if you have no talent. It doesn't work as well if you do.

So the broncos dont have any talent?

VolPatrick writes:

in response to cainclifton23:

I wish we wouldve gotten him, we wouldve installed that ZONE BLOCKING that denver has perfected the last decade

Um, he is the quartebacks/receivers coach. I'm not sure this would qualify him as the guy to implement a blocking scheme.

wesw33z#667083 writes:

this story hit the wire yesterday.

db11_cn writes:

You gotta be kidding me!

cainclifton23 writes:

in response to VolPatrick:

Um, he is the quartebacks/receivers coach. I'm not sure this would qualify him as the guy to implement a blocking scheme.

WOW, I tottaly read this article wrong... my bad.

Yea he probably has nothing to do with that, but it would be nice though

jsm67vol writes:

Hmmmm, weighing the option of living in Denver vs. Knoxville coaching crompton, BJ and Nick vs. Jay Cutler. I love K-town but Denver is sweeeeet! Can't blame him for not coming home to TN.

gohawks1 writes:

Well, at least we got him a raise.

bugman (Inactive) writes:

hey at least kiffin went after a former tennessee boy. gotta give him props for that.

khelton657 writes:

Impact..everything Kiffin is doing has the feel of impact...he's going after the coaches he feels are the best, not just the next guy in house..

bone03162002 writes:

HAS ANYBODY HEARD WHO KIFFEN IS TALKING TO FOR HIS COACHING STAFF

rclarkvols#224537 writes:

Bring back Bill Bates!!

gohawks1 writes:

in response to BolivarBob:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Not sure, but didn't Derrick Mason make it as a special teams player in 2000, and then in 2003 as a receiver, while with the Titans?

cainclifton23 writes:

in response to BolivarBob:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

I think the hardest working football player would be one of the best ever,,,

Manning
Tomlinson
Ray Lewis
Ronnie Lott
Walter Payton..

You know the guys who are going to the hall of fame

gohawks1 writes:

in response to BolivarBob:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

I may have misunderstood you, BB. I bet you meant the only Vol player.... and you could be right about that.

madvillevol writes:

Anyone have any info on an OC or any other offensive posistion coaches??

cainclifton23 writes:

in response to BolivarBob:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

I highly doubt he could hold a candle to Eric Berry

madvillevol writes:

Has the savage completely dissapeared?? I really miss his info.

gohawks1 writes:

in response to BolivarBob:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Yeah, I remember Bates - I was a Dallas Cowboys fan for many years until Landry was fired. Haven't cared for them since...

Bates was a hard hittin' guy for his size, for sure.

gohawks1 writes:

in response to cainclifton23:

I think the hardest working football player would be one of the best ever,,,

Manning
Tomlinson
Ray Lewis
Ronnie Lott
Walter Payton..

You know the guys who are going to the hall of fame

Ray Lewis is a beast, brother. I see him coming, I'm gettin' outta the way.

Walter Payton - aah, Sweetness.

cainclifton23 writes:

in response to BolivarBob:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Cool, you know what Wikipedia is.

gohawks1 writes:

in response to madvillevol:

Has the savage completely dissapeared?? I really miss his info.

He checks in now and then, but I haven't seen his posts lately. I agree - I wish he would come on more often. He had a lot to share. Probably got tired of all the bad-mouthing, pissin' and moaning that goes on here sometimes.

gohawks1 writes:

in response to BolivarBob:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Heh heh heh. I understand, brother. I have a touch of CRS myself on occasion.

murrayvol writes:

in response to BolivarBob:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Does the name Steve Tasker ring a bell? He was a 7 time Pro Bowler for the Bills.

murrayvol writes:

in response to BolivarBob:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

I'm on that team as well BB.

murrayvol writes:

in response to gohawks1:

He checks in now and then, but I haven't seen his posts lately. I agree - I wish he would come on more often. He had a lot to share. Probably got tired of all the bad-mouthing, pissin' and moaning that goes on here sometimes.

I think you nailed the reason savage is an infrequent visitor. Hopefully he'll resurface as signing day approaches.

gohawks1 writes:

in response to murrayvol:

I think you nailed the reason savage is an infrequent visitor. Hopefully he'll resurface as signing day approaches.

Can't say that I blame him. I've always enjoyed the back and forth banter, and even the more serious discussions, debates, and disagreements, but it's gotten nasty on here lately.

WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:

in response to bugman:

hey at least kiffin went after a former tennessee boy. gotta give him props for that.

Yes, very very good try, got to give him credit for that, does show a whole lot of class.

tenndave writes:

What about hiring Al Wilson as linebacker coach

cainclifton23 writes:

I hope we get Ken Norton.

utchris writes:

in response to madvillevol:

Has the savage completely dissapeared?? I really miss his info.

I believe that savage has had some stuff going on in his life that trumps football.

He will be back and have his good info as usual.

mprip#212085 writes:

Yes Bill Bates was tough..I was sitting on the 10 yard line row 20 when I saw Bill knock his own awrse off when he ran under the onslaught of Hershel Walker. Except for that, he was a hitter....and 6'1" ??? maybe 5'9" was pushing it..But he was a great guy....D.D. said he was the only one who autographed the football he sent back to the Cowboys after he retired for the auction in the last Boys Club Golf fundraiser at Holston Hills before Fulmer took it over. This was after Landry left and the rest of them wanted money for their autograph. A little different attitudes from now and 20 years ago, eh ?

FWBVol writes:

in response to RobtheVol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Bates was such a coward that he was an All-Pro special teams player more times than most of us can count. He was such a coward that they created a Special Teams Player of the Year to have an honor for him. And, oh yeah, he was such a coward that he stuck around the NFL 15 years. Everyone knows how pro teams love to keep guys on the roster so they can have the token slow white guy.

Bill Bates was such a bad football player that he was one of Tom Landry's all-time favorites. He accomplished more on the field than most of us would ever dare dream about with less talent than 99 percent of the players in the league.

jimr07 writes:

in response to RobtheVol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

and he was white. you again are making up stuff. i bet you do not even know anyone that played with him. why don't you go away

pdhuff#552644 writes:

in response to KingsportVol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Was Bates somehow responsible for H. Walker's demons?

We blame TDTN's problems on Dupree.

That appears to be legit.

sevenmaxims#354995 writes:

John Madden once said that BILL BATES was the greatest special teams player in the history of the NFL. BTW , JIM BATES , former Vol walk - on line backer was a tough guy too.

jimr07 writes:

in response to 5_and_15:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

i love a positive post like yours. i am sure you are vol all the way. what difference does it make. he is going after top notch coaches. i was wondering if you were aware of the moron convention going on. you can go with naffy

annemarie writes:

in response to gohawks1:

He checks in now and then, but I haven't seen his posts lately. I agree - I wish he would come on more often. He had a lot to share. Probably got tired of all the bad-mouthing, pissin' and moaning that goes on here sometimes.

I heard from someone on his email list that he is out of town. Although he could use a lap top. Hopefully he will be back really soon.

UT37916 writes:

Has Kiffen no more relatives to put on the payroll?

DenverVol writes:

Sucks CLK couldn't lure Jermey away from Denver. Doesn't surprise me though. Word is out here that Cutler loves him which in turns makes Shanahan love him. He would have brought back that Trooper Taylor kind of energy to the sidelines. Guy's a livewire!

iowavol writes:

in response to BolivarBob:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Yeah, I'm old and have CRS-RB. And, I agree with you that Bill Bates had a great career in an undersized body that he made up with heart. But you have to admit the most memorable play in Orange was him getting run over by Hershel Walker in Walkers first game as a freshman - it wan't pretty. Not many replays of Bates getting a Berry Moreno-hit on Walker later in their careers but it did happen.

gohawks1 writes:

Herchell Walker ran over a lot of people in his day, fellas.

Having said that, I can't deny he really put the hammer to Bates in that game.

You have to admit, though, that was although he was small, he took a licking and kept on ticking.

gohawks1 writes:

in response to annemarie:

I heard from someone on his email list that he is out of town. Although he could use a lap top. Hopefully he will be back really soon.

Thanks for the info. Savage is one of the posters who I always read. His insight is on target and his posts are well informed.

gohawks1 writes:

in response to Navalorange:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Naval, you know that rational thinking isn't allowed on these boards. :-)

jimr07 writes:

in response to RobtheVol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

you make up lies to tell on here and you know it. i doubt if you have a friend. you are really getting tiresome with all of your b.s. you did not notice that he was two time all sec and that he made the pro bowl several times in his career. many people had herschel walker run over them. and girls playing? well, did you take your barbie doll to the game with you.

jimr07 writes:

in response to Navalorange:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

i forgot to mention that some friends of mine saw him at the game and thought his dress was hilarious. lipstick did not match either

BillsBrother writes:

in response to RobtheVol:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Hey D/Rob!

You are pretty active today!

You didn't already pop a hole in your Tee Martin blow up figurine that you got yesterday, did you?

FullofMonte writes:

in response to murrayvol:

I'm on that team as well BB.

And don't forget Chuck Bednerick who played both ways in the NFL...MLB and Center for the Phila Eagles...Pro Football Hall of Fame.

murrayvol writes:

in response to gohawks1:

Herchell Walker ran over a lot of people in his day, fellas.

Having said that, I can't deny he really put the hammer to Bates in that game.

You have to admit, though, that was although he was small, he took a licking and kept on ticking.

When good and small tackles good and large, good and small needs to be locked and loaded. On that play Bates was not and Walker was running downhill.

Bates logged 14 years in the NFL. That pretty much closes the book on how good he was.

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