Jeff Tedford Talks To Joe; Says Lovie Didn’t Want Him To “Disrupt Continuity”
January 14th, 2015
Many Bucs fans have vilified departed offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford for leaving the team and quickly landing a head coaching job in the CFL.
Joe finally caught up with Tedford today as Tedford was scouting players at the Shrine Game practices this morning in St. Petersburg, and Tedford shared a very different perspective.
Tedford painted a picture of himself yearning to do everything he could to help the Bucs and stay employed with Tampa Bay, but Lovie Smith was hesitant and encouraged him to step aside.
“I was ready to [return to coach] with about five games left. I wouldn’t say that there was friction, it was a situation where I think when I let [Lovie] know I was ready to come back, Lovie felt like it would kind of disrupt continuity at the time,” Tedford said. “A season is a long season, there’s a lot of water under the bridge going game to game and things like that. I think he felt it best that I not come in and try to fulfill my role like that because it would have been a disruption and really kind of mess up the continuity. So that was the situation then.
“And they really couldn’t commit to me about another year because, you know, I don’t know if they were a little apprehensive about my health or whatever. But I wanted to stay in the first place. You know when it first happened, I got out and I wanted to, but I was in no position to coordinate at the time. I was under a lot of medication. I had some further issues that went on because of my stents in whatever they call that main descending artery. And I had blockages I was on medicine for. But then there were some other things that went along with it, and so I was on a lot of medication. And I mentioned to Lovie, ‘I still got some issues here, but I’d love to stick around and do what I can do.’ But I was in no position to coordinate at the time.
“[Lovie] recommended, ‘Well, if you can’t, you’re the voice, you’re the leader, you gotta do that role. If you can’t do that role, then you gotta take a leave of absence.’ So that’s when I said, ok, I’ll do that, not knowing how long things would take. It was after that there were some other complications going on healthwise.”
Tedford went on to tell Joe a scary story of how he “blacked out” the morning of the third preseason game at Buffalo in his hotel room. Tedford said he ignored various heart-related symptoms because he thought the game was too important that afternoon.
The Bucs played extremely well, and Tedford said after the game he “felt terrible again”, couldn’t watch film, and sought medical attention the next day.
Joe will have more from Tedford this afternoon.
January 14th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
Please tell me this can’t be. Lovie rather of used the guy that was awful instead of the guy he hired? Sounds so stupid it cant be true, can it?
January 14th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
Does this sound like they had two different ways to take the offense?
January 14th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
Continuity? What Continuity?
January 14th, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Wish him the best but we’ve moved on so best wishes in Canada Ay.
January 14th, 2015 at 1:21 pm
WOW, just…WOW. The man was sick, and wanted to come back. This team was in the tank, and Lovie was afraid of him turning it around? Seems Lovie at that point went all Philly 76ers and wanted that #1 pick. If he had that much invested in Tedford why not bring him back? Don’t get me wrong I like Koetter, and I think he will make a HUGE difference, but…WOW
January 14th, 2015 at 1:22 pm
Mess up the losing season continuity?
That’s about as classic as Schiano not wanting to hurry-up because they hadn’t practiced it.
January 14th, 2015 at 1:24 pm
He wouldn’t hire a replacement and didn’t want his hand picked OC to return?
It’s very difficult to disrupt a 33 year old QB coach who is struggling and in way way over his head.
Sounds like another Lovie and his pride thing. What about the players? What about his staff?
January 14th, 2015 at 1:26 pm
The only way I can support Lovie’s view is if he were working hard to win the #1 draft slot.
January 14th, 2015 at 1:27 pm
WTF? The guy wanted in. FOOTBALL DOESN”T START UNTIL NOVEMBER, Lovie said.
January 14th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
King Lovie.
Midas touch?
Has anything this man touched not turn to shite?
Anything?
January 14th, 2015 at 1:32 pm
Odd…very odd….
January 14th, 2015 at 1:34 pm
There’s continuity to the worst offense in football? Besides being awful?
January 14th, 2015 at 1:36 pm
yeah…would not want to mess up that version of the 1999 Rams….
January 14th, 2015 at 1:38 pm
With 5 games left what could Tedford really do to help? Honestly. He was blacking out people, why would you want him back and chance that happening again. Lovie made the right choice. At that point in the season, the tank job was in full swing. He restarted McClown, hadn’t brought in an offensive assistant earlier in the year to help, ect, ect. The list goes on. By midseason i truly believe the goal was to pick first. Mission accomplished. Now lets get Winston.
January 14th, 2015 at 1:38 pm
Even more disturbing given the comments made (mainly by Mccown) of how difficult it was not having an offensive coordinator, that Lovie basically told Tedford he couldn’t come back? Well, at 2-9 I guess the only route was to go for the big one…the # 1 pick. Cest la vie
January 14th, 2015 at 1:39 pm
Tedford was gone for a long time, front office and lovie probably did their due diligence and looked for another OC to replace Tedford. Thanks to joe, by the way good job, Lovie didn’t know when he return or if he could at all for this season.
I do think Lovie did the right thing. Tedford could have made an impact or not. The time left in the season was not enough for him to make adjustments, hell the defense stepped up after the bye week. Assuming it take that long Tedford could have made a difference, but it really wouldn’t make a dent in the whole mess.
January 14th, 2015 at 1:40 pm
I dont know why I’m in disbelief. This is the same guy who said they didn’t want to score while trailing going into halftime. It’s tough being a Bucs fan.
January 14th, 2015 at 1:43 pm
Wow Joe! what a bombshell this is! if the same situation happened under Coach Schiano there would be over 200 comments saying what a Liar he is!
the sheep just accept everthing liar lovie does and says. after next season when lovie is working for Marinelli as a linebacker coach, they will say how he did not get a fair shot!
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; The Realist adjusts the sails.
January 14th, 2015 at 1:45 pm
OK….now we have Tedford’s side Joe….time to get Lovie’s take on this….and lots of luck with that.
It’s moviin’ on time….happy with our OC….may be a silver lining here….
January 14th, 2015 at 1:45 pm
No matter what side of the fence you are on, Lovie handled the Tedford situation wrong period. At the very minimum a senior / consultant should have been brought in to assist Arroyo.
The biggest hole the bucs need to fill this year is not at a position it’s the gapping hole between Lovie smith’s ears.
January 14th, 2015 at 1:47 pm
So many of you, are you this awful to people in your personal life? Or is it just because you’re anonymous on here? Or maybe its just bandwagon people who see others and want to join the crowd. Never anything constructive, or backed up by facts, just how can I dump on somebody. So annoying and old.
January 14th, 2015 at 1:48 pm
Lovie’s unabashed tanking is the #1 reason why I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt for next year. That and the players love him.
January 14th, 2015 at 1:50 pm
“Disrupt Continuity” = Josh McCown #TedfordNoLike
January 14th, 2015 at 1:59 pm
So many of you, are you this awful to people in your personal life? Or is it just because you’re anonymous on here? Or maybe its just bandwagon people who see others and want to join the crowd. Never anything constructive, or backed up by facts, just how can I dump on somebody. So annoying and old.
——————————————————————
If calling stupidity stupid is awful then yes I am awful and I have no issues with that. I’m the same way in RL. And no band wagon fan here, Been a Die hard Bucs fan since I was 8 years old and hate to see this team losing year after year due to this type of incompetence. If mediocrity (which is putting this team nicely) is acceptable to you then so be it. But dont cry cuz the rest of us want better.
January 14th, 2015 at 1:59 pm
They sucked for the duck. It was the plan all along.
January 14th, 2015 at 2:07 pm
Nice Job Joe, Wow that puts a weird spin on a lot of stuff.. I Think a lot of people can say he did not bale on us now..
January 14th, 2015 at 2:07 pm
Preach it Couch.
The man is a fool. Period.
Now the Clueless and Confident Crowd are trying to tell us that all the players just Love Lovie? Bull Spittle. a 2-14 team doesn’t love their coach.
January 14th, 2015 at 2:09 pm
a defensive guru doesn’t blow 4th qtr leads.
January 14th, 2015 at 2:13 pm
Joe, BTW, heard you on 620 last evening.
Why were Duemeg and yourself holding back criticizing Lovie?
My specific reference here is you both saying, (correctly too), the Glazers wouldn’t trust Lovie to call the first pick. Why not just come out and say it? The guy is a complete disaster.
The besieged Schiano got billboards, Lovie gets crickets….
What crickets? Joe’s given him an “F” grade. ESPN gave him an “F” grade. The Bucs own the No. 1 overall pick. There’s not much more to say. You’re welcome to buy a billboard for 3,000 a month, or a half-page newspaper ads. Or internet ads on your favorite website.–Joe
January 14th, 2015 at 2:14 pm
Most of you always see the negative. Im not surprised. Tedford could have died, was still on heavy medication, had other complications (but was trying to be a trooper) but Lovie is a loser for not making him stick around and do a half arsed job and maybe have more complications or die at our facility. Tedford said he couldn’t come back to full capacity until there was 5 weeks left in the season. Bucs probably had decided at that point not to bring him back at all. most of You so called Bucs Fans don’t see the glass half full, or half empty. You see a glass that’s empty that will never have liquid in it ever again. Most of you don’t deserve to root for any pro team. You just a fan of hate. hate hate hate! get a life!!!!
January 14th, 2015 at 2:17 pm
Yeah It’s me! Says:
most of You so called Bucs Fans don’t see the glass half full, or half empty. You see a glass that’s empty that will never have liquid in it ever again. Most of you don’t deserve to root for any pro team. You just a fan of hate. hate hate hate! get a life!!!
—————-
Deep thoughts from a shallow pond.
2-14 dude.
January 14th, 2015 at 2:18 pm
so some think lovie lied to tedford when he said it would disrupt continuity? say it aint so!!!
the only reason i can think of to say that lovie is even somewhat intelligent is that he tanked the season, thats the only reason for all the dumb decisions and words.
but that decision would have been made SOOO early on, like when he put mcclown back in and kept him in. to tank the season with more than 1/2 of it to go is downright unimaginable unless glazers said to do it. and how could they do that knowing how much revenue would be lost?
I just don’t know, but i have to think he tanked it intentionally. no one is that stupid.
January 14th, 2015 at 2:18 pm
So you mean bring back the guy whose offense u ran all spring and have him help call it. ….ya sounds terrible
January 14th, 2015 at 2:23 pm
come back with 5 games left?? No thanks. I think Lovie made the right decision. Bucs now have a legit OC and are positioned to seriously improve the team via FA and the Draft. Lets look forward, not back
January 14th, 2015 at 2:24 pm
What crickets? Joe’s given him an “F” grade. ESPN gave him an “F” grade. The Bucs own the No. 1 overall pick. There’s not much more to say. You’re welcome to buy a billboard for 3,000 a month, or a half-page newspaper ads. Or internet ads on your favorite website.–Joe
————
Fair response. Billboards are so 1960’s, given the circumstances, I’d opt for a hot air balloon.
January 14th, 2015 at 2:28 pm
GOSH DARNIT!
DAMN YOU LOVIE SMITH! If you would have let Tedford come back we would have won the division and made it to the Super Bowl!! Tedford would have been the greatest Offensive Coordinator in football!! Who cares if he would have had another health issue next year! We would have brought him in with 5 games left next season and won the division all over again!
I’m done with my rant, i’m gonna go back to watching Fox News. Bye ya’ll!
January 14th, 2015 at 2:30 pm
Tedford said, “I think he felt it best that I not come in and try to fulfill my role like that because it would have been a disruption and really kind of mess up the continuity.”
Translated: “Thanks, Coach, but right now we have the inside track on the Number One Overall Pick in the draft and I don’t want you coming back and messing that up for us.”
#Continuity
January 14th, 2015 at 2:45 pm
Don’t you guys get it? He didn’t want to disrupt the continuity of losing! Lovie had his eyes on the prize the entire time. The number 1 over-all pick and the first franchise QB in the history of the Buccaneers!!! At least I hope that’s what he meant haha..
January 14th, 2015 at 2:49 pm
Though in all honesty, it was the right thing for Lovie to do and to chastise him for doing such is plain ridiculous. Sure it would have brought stability at the end of the season, but it damn sure most likely would have cost us the first over all pick had we done so. Also. I think Koetter is a much better guy for the job anyway. At the time it made no sense to us Bucs fans, but now thinking back it was absolutely the right thing to do and let’s face it Lovie made the right move. So stop bashing him for making the right decision for a change.
January 14th, 2015 at 2:53 pm
Disrupt continuity of losing.
January 14th, 2015 at 2:55 pm
I think both parties are in a better position. Lets move forward and hope Lovie has no control in the draft and free agency. Winston than OL, DE, MLB,CB,WR,n Safety.
January 14th, 2015 at 2:59 pm
Lovie should STF UP. “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” – Abraham Lincoln
January 14th, 2015 at 2:59 pm
This is absolutely ridiculous. The whole reason we hired this lame head coach was because he sold everybody on his solution (Tedford) to his offense’s sucking and all. It was all a load of crap and our idiot owner’s don’t know any better I guess.
January 14th, 2015 at 3:00 pm
Disrupt continuity of losing is right. 5 games left and he’s ready to come back? I completely understand why, after losing the way the bucs did that’s an obvious scouting moment for gm and head coach. why let him disrupt flow of getting first overall pick, this defense is going to be lights out next year and even if it’s a middle of the pack defense that’s good enough for 4-5 games with the offense weapons we have, fix the o line and qb spot and this is a very different team
January 14th, 2015 at 3:00 pm
[…] « Jeff Tedford Talks To Joe; Says Lovie Didn’t Want Him To “Disrupt Continuity” […]
January 14th, 2015 at 3:01 pm
the right move? lol
yeah, tanking the season in week 5 is the right move
January 14th, 2015 at 3:04 pm
@ skyline
You are sadly mistaken if you think Jameis has to sit a year. I have read how pro front office scouts say that Winston is rated a notch below how Luck graded out and Winston is graded higher than Cam, Stafford, and Bradford all #1 picks when they were coming out of college. It is ok to not want Winston because of his off the field issues, but to make up things and to nit pick this guy is crazy. He already has shown the ability to do everything a nfl qb is asked to do and that is why it should be no question who the Bucs take.
Mariotta doesn’t even an offense where you can pass in the redzone because its an offense based on deception and speed in space. In the redzone, its not that much space and windows are tighter. Mariotta would have to learn how to pass in the redzone too.
January 14th, 2015 at 3:06 pm
sorry I thought I was posting on the other article. Please disregard my last post
January 14th, 2015 at 3:09 pm
The key phrase is, ” come back with 5 games to go”, at this point I am sure Lovie already made up his mind he didn’t want Tedford back.
January 14th, 2015 at 3:13 pm
Continuity? Really? We were 2-9 at that point! Either Lovie was trying tank for the #1 pick or he is just a fool. When your 2-9 there is no continuity!
January 14th, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Interesting article. Let me see if I’ve got it right:
Thump thump. Lovie threw Tedford under the bus.
Thump thump. Tedford threw Lovie under the bus.
Thump thump. They both threw the Bucs fans under the bus.
Enough drama for 2014. Bring on 2015.
January 14th, 2015 at 3:21 pm
I hope Tedford is able to stay healthy… Heart problems are no joke… I’m fine with the way things worked out… Let’s face it, this team wasn’t going anywhere this year. A horrible offense line and QBs and a very mediocre defense will not win very many games…
I would rather have the number one overall pick and Koetter as our OC…
January 14th, 2015 at 3:26 pm
I posted it when Tedford officially left, after his press conference. I said that it was Lovie’s fault, and I was immediately scoffed at, by some posters here. It turns out, I was right!
January 14th, 2015 at 3:32 pm
The only issue I have with Lovie in the grand scheme is his arrogance when asked about the current state and last season performance.
He was very passive and dismissive regarding obvious problems but never provided solutions. It’s almost as he was just treading water for the off season.
January 14th, 2015 at 3:35 pm
How do you know this guy is telling the truth? Maybe he is just trying to not look bad and blaming it on the Bucs. Better off without Tedford.
January 14th, 2015 at 3:35 pm
We are way better off with Koetter and the #1 pick than wherever Tedford would have led us.
At 2-9 with 2 highly rated QBs expected to be coming out – I’m glad Lovie made the right decision to tank the rest of the year and move forward with a more NFL experienced OC.
Draft Jameis #1 L&L and all will be forgiven. At least until next season starts….
January 14th, 2015 at 3:39 pm
Lovie had buyer’s remorse with Tedford is what it sounds like.
Hey Joe if you contact Tedford again, ask him how many of those free agents were his idea, and how many were L&L specials.
January 14th, 2015 at 3:41 pm
This is all the evidence you need that the team is going to take a QB. They went out of their way to make sure that they didn’t get better on offense. No thanks to Tedford, sticking with McCown, tanking that Saints game.
Lovie’s smart enough to know you need a quarterback to win games these days, and he let this season go into the toilet to get one.
Now we just have to pray they pick the right one.
January 14th, 2015 at 3:43 pm
Three sides to every story….
Just saying.
Time to move on. Like it or not Lovie is here for at least 3 more years, IMO.
January 14th, 2015 at 3:51 pm
Joe sezs to Biff Barker:
“What crickets? Joe’s given him an “F” grade. ESPN gave him an “F” grade. The Bucs own the No. 1 overall pick. There’s not much more to say. You’re welcome to buy a billboard for 3,000 a month, or a half-page newspaper ads. Or internet ads on your favorite website.–Joe”
So how much money are we talking to take out those ads on your site Joe??? Might be worth it!
January 14th, 2015 at 3:51 pm
People who read this story pretty much will split sides along the hate Lovie, like Lovie lines. Big surprise.
There are people out ther who hate Lovie for other than coaching reasons and will depose him unless he wins a Super Bowl.
They make malicious comments about his coaching style and decision making that is counter to what is officially n record by thr coaches,players, media types and NFL executives who have spoken on the record about Lovie.
That type of thinking is what keeps them mired in mud for life.
January 14th, 2015 at 4:03 pm
K, so lets say Lovie gets fired today. Who would you hire? Lots of people want to get rid of the guy, so let’s hear what your ideas are. Keep in mind your coach will have to want to come here with the risk of getting fired after one year due to a cranky fan base.
January 14th, 2015 at 4:04 pm
@Greg,
It only cost $660.00 per month to get an ad on JBF.
Hurry up. Only one spot is available.
January 14th, 2015 at 4:18 pm
I’ve been saying since the home opener that Lovie is an empty suit !
January 14th, 2015 at 4:20 pm
We have to give Lovie a chance. He inherited a mess. You think he planed the heart condition for his OC? He was stuck.
Get Mariota in, get some line help, and move forward. We need someone for 3-5 years , or we’ll screw up another rookie QB.
January 14th, 2015 at 4:21 pm
“If calling stupidity stupid is awful then yes I am awful and I have no issues with that. I’m the same way in RL. And no band wagon fan here, Been a Die hard Bucs fan since I was 8 years old and hate to see this team losing year after year due to this type of incompetence. If mediocrity (which is putting this team nicely) is acceptable to you then so be it. But dont cry cuz the rest of us want better.”
No crying here, I’ve moved on to the offseason. You guys call everything the coach does stupid, constantly demeaning, now that’s crying/whining. So you’re like this in real life? When somebody doesn’t succeed in life you call them names and rail on them as stupid. Its never just calling out bad decisions, its “fire them, they’re incompetent”. He’s not getting fired this year, maybe after next season you’ll get your wish. Have you written letters to Glazers? Start doing it so you can feel like you have accomplished something, otherwise move on.
January 14th, 2015 at 4:21 pm
We need to give Lovie a push out the door….
January 14th, 2015 at 4:25 pm
Welcome to Tampa Mariota!! It was lovies plan all along
January 14th, 2015 at 4:26 pm
They didn’t want him back with 5 to go because they had largely abandoned his playbook in favor of a McCown/Arroyo version of Chicago’s run-first, go-deep Twin Towers offense. That’s what Lovie didn’t want disrupted. The best way to bury the disfunction brought on by Tedford’s illness and Lovie’s decisions was to dump Tedford. Simple as that.
January 14th, 2015 at 4:26 pm
I like Lovie and am sick of the bashing but when Lovie says he didn’t want to disrupt the continuity, I think he meant that he didn’t want the offense to improve, because with five games left, the team had their eyes on the #1 overall pick.
January 14th, 2015 at 4:26 pm
is it like rule that if you’re from Texas that you have to be a liar? Armstrong, Clemons, Pettite, Bush and now unfortunately our bs coach Lovie….seriously
January 14th, 2015 at 4:27 pm
Pickgrin Says:
January 14th, 2015 at 3:35 pm
We are way better off with Koetter and the #1 pick than wherever Tedford would have led us.
At 2-9 with 2 highly rated QBs expected to be coming out – I’m glad Lovie made the right decision to tank the rest of the year and move forward with a more NFL experienced OC.
Draft Jameis #1 L&L and all will be forgiven. At least until next season starts….
————–
Post of the week, hit it right on the head.
January 14th, 2015 at 4:33 pm
Can’t blame Lovie for not being willing to let someone join the team again who didn’t bother to communicate until 5 games left in the season healthy or not.
You’ve gone the whole season essentially not running the offense his way and you think he can come in and implement a new scheme essentially (Tedford’s, cause what we were running wasn’t anywhere near his scheme) with five games left?
Lol False, not happenning.
January 14th, 2015 at 4:53 pm
[…] To read more from Tedford, click here. […]
January 14th, 2015 at 4:56 pm
Because our offense was sooooooo good why mess with it??????
Oh man!!!
January 14th, 2015 at 5:12 pm
Because no one was happy with him disappearing and expecting to be taken back no questions asked on his terms. Health related or not. There’s a way to go about it.
As was reported ever so clearly. He was able to return looooong before he said he was ready.
So Lovie wasn’t happy with him, so what, can’t blame the guy.
And if Tedford wasn’t to blame at all his “friend arroyo” and all his chosen staff, and the players would have gone to bat for him. Never happened.
January 14th, 2015 at 8:31 pm
@JOE
“Or internet ads on your favorite website.–Joe”
http://instantrimshot.com/
January 14th, 2015 at 8:33 pm
Continuity? Yes we sucked continuously without break. Why interrupt that?
January 14th, 2015 at 10:12 pm
See I really believe Lovie Tanked the season on purpose once he found out Tedford had health issues! Once he realized they weren’t going to be very strong he started to eyeball the QB’s at the top of the draft in 2015! Honestly it’s a smart move! You are in your first season with an organization you’ve had a long history with, so you know they won’t fire you after the first season no matter how terrible you are! Tank the season get a true Franchise QB and move forward! If you played your cards right, you turn the franchise around and everyone forgets about that one bad season!
January 14th, 2015 at 11:05 pm
BucIt941 …especially if the Glazers were on board with the tanking.
Maybe so..
January 15th, 2015 at 2:34 am
Lol I love the Conspiracy Theories.
January 15th, 2015 at 2:35 am
Your always on board for a good conspiracy theory 87 😉
January 15th, 2015 at 8:38 am
It shows what a moron Lovie is.
January 15th, 2015 at 3:44 pm
continuity……? in an offense ranked 30th? you must be kidding? One thing I can say about Lovie, he is the first coach I have tuned out in just one year. He is the king of say one thing, then mean another. I am tired of coach speak. If you don’t want to address the issue, then say nothing and move on.
January 15th, 2015 at 5:33 pm
You must not have been a Bucs fan for long then Dan rofl
January 21st, 2015 at 4:43 pm
[…] Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford told Joe he thought Lovie Smith and friends were concerned about his health in 2015 and beyond, so they wouldn’t commit to bringing him back, despite being healthy and […]