Report: Cards receive compensation from Tampa Bay for Arians

With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reportedly set to hire Bruce Arians, it turns out they needed to provide compensation to the Arizona Cardinals for the rights to the Cardinals’ former coach, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The NFL initially told the Bucs they didn’t have to provide compensation, per Schefter, but the Cardinals argued to the NFL they held Arians’ rights.

To end the matter, the Bucs sent the Cardinals their 2019 sixth-round pick in exchange for the rights to Arians and the Cardinals’ 2019 seventh-round pick.

Arians was the head coach of the Cardinals from 2013-17, posting a record of 49-30 in his five seasons. He announced his retirement after a 2017 season in which the Cardinals had a record of 8-8.

In the offseason after Arians’ second year, the coach signed an extension that had him with the team through 2018 and that included a team option for the 2019 season.

Arians will reportedly bring some familiar faces with him. Former Cardinals coaches Todd Bowles, Harold Goodwin and Byron Leftwich will join Arians in Tampa Bay. Bowles will serve as defensive coordinator while Leftwich is set up to be the pass-game coordinator and Goodwin will operate as run-game coordinator.

The Cardinals replaced Arians with Steve Wilks, who was fired after one season and a 3-13 record. In Wilks’ place, the Cardinals hired former Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury on Tuesday.

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