The Tampa Bay Buccaneers asked to speak to Kevin Gilbride, Jr., about their vacant quarterbacks coach position, but the Giants denied them permission, according to a source with knowledge of the request.

The Giants have already lost two offensive assistants since their Super Bowl win — quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan became the Tampa Bay offensive coordinator, and assistant offensive line coach Jack Bicknell, Jr., left to be the Chiefs' offensive line coach — so the team didn't want to get pillaged.

The Giants still need to replace both Sullivan and Bicknell, Jr.

It is unclear if Gilbride, Jr., who has been with the staff the past two seasons, is a candidate to become the Giants' quarterbacks coach. Gilbride, Jr., coached receivers at Temple for three years, so it is possible the Giants could move receivers coach Sean Ryan to quarterbacks coach — a switch Sullivan had made — and then promote Gilbride, Jr., from quality control to receivers coach.

Jenny Vrentas: jvrentas@starledger.com; twitter.com/JennyVrentas