Bucs' celebration continues with parade

TAMPA, Fla. -- Warren Sapp blew kisses to the crowd, and coach Jon Gruden received the key to the city as an estimated 100,000 people lined the streets of downtown Tampa on Tuesday to celebrate the Buccaneers' Super Bowl victory.

Fans clad in the team's red and pewter colors waved banners and chanted "Defense!" and "Tampa Bay!" as the Buccaneers rode in convertibles and pickup tricks in a parade in their honor.

"This is about you Tampa, I love you," running back Mike Alstott told the crowd.

Tampa Mayor Dick Greco, flanked by mayors from Clearwater and St. Petersburg, presented Gruden the key to the city and said Tampa owed him "a million thanks."

Tampa Bay won its first Super Bowl title Sunday, beating the Oakland Raiders 48-21 in San Diego.

"I was raised in San Diego, but my hometown is Tampa," safety John Lynch said. "I've been here 10 years and I've waited a long time to do this, so help me out -- We're No. 1! We're No. 1!"

Sapp added: "Thank you from the bottom of my heart," Sapp said.

Long-suffering Bucs supporters waited 27 years for a championship. The frustration turned into elation Monday as they rushed to stores across the region to buy anything commemorating the Super Bowl triumph.

Many of the fans along the parade route were clothes emblazoned with the Super Bowl XXXVII logo.

On Monday night, a crowd of about 65,000 filled chilly Raymond James Stadium with camera flashes and deafening noise as the Bucs arrived home from San Diego.

"It's our time," Duane Jones, 44, of Tampa, a 20-year fan of the Bucs, said. "It's our season, and go champs!"

Mornhinweg says he was 'shocked' by Lions' firing

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- Marty Mornhinweg is stunned that he was fired after going 5-27 as the Detroit Lions' coach.

"I was shocked. There was no explanation. That conversation took two seconds," Mornhinweg said Tuesday, a day after team president Matt Millen dismissed him.

"The timing is suspect, but a lot of things aren't fair."

His team went 3-13 this season, and his two-year mark is the worst in franchise history.

"It is a results-oriented business," said Mornhinweg, who coached at Southeast in 1989 and 1990. "I understand that. I'm the first to understand that -- now. I've been at the very, very top, I've been in the middle, and I've been at the bottom."

49ers get permission to speak to Bucs' assistant Kiffin

SAN FRANCISCO -- The 49ers got permission to speak to Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin about their head coaching job and interviewed Jets assistant Ted Cottrell on Tuesday.

Kiffin, 62, built the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defense into the No. 1 unit in the NFL, one that dominated the Oakland Raiders' top-rated offense in Sunday's 48-21 victory.

San Francisco general manager Terry Donahue plans to talk to Kiffin Friday or Saturday. Whether they will meet in person depends on the Bucs' post-Super Bowl schedule.

Gannon, Reid, Portis chosen as best of the year by TSN

ST. LOUIS -- Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon, whose record-setting season led the Raiders to their first Super Bowl appearance in 18 years, was chosen player of the year by the Sporting News.

The publication also chose Philadelphia's Andy Reid as coach of the year, and Denver running back Clinton Portis as the top rookie.

-- From wire reports