“I Prefer It”
January 2nd, 2015
Those still intrigued and/or banging their heads against walls over the Jeff Tedford debacle will be interested in this.
The former Bucs offensive coordinator was interviewed on sports radio in Canada recently and shed a little more light on his situation.
Tedford clarified that he was ready to return to work with the Bucs with four games remaining in the 2014 season. That’s about the time he and the Bucs officially parted ways.
I “was really able to go back [to work] with about four weeks to go [in the Bucs season]. But it would have interrupted the continuity of what went on,” Tedford told TSN.
Tedford, the new head coach of the BC Lions of the CFL, was asked whether he missed being a head coach.
“I don’t know that I missed it, I prefer it. I will tell you that,” Tedford replied. “I was in that role for a long time at Cal for 11 years. And, you know, not that I didn’t have a good experience in Tampa as the coordinator. The unfortunate health thing came through, but to be a head coach, and to run an organization, a football program is something I really enjoy the challenge. I really enjoy the whole team.”
Not wanting to disrupt the “continuity” of the Bucs offense also was part of Tedford’s official statement upon leaving Tampa Bay.
Insert your own punchline: What continuity? Abandoning the running game in the second half? Mind-numbing offensive ineptitude?
Aaron Rodgers, a longtime friend of Tedford, told Joe that Tedford left because he didn’t want to take the job of his protégé, Marcus Arroyo.
Something still doesn’t add up. What is clear, though, is that Tedford got sick, needed three months to recover properly, and wasn’t on the same page as Lovie Smith when he ready to coach again.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:48 pm
Tedford is a liar. We all know it. He deserves all the scrutiny and negativity regarding what he did to the Bucs.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:52 pm
Seems shady to me. Good riddance.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:55 pm
Tedford realized he did not want to be a role player after being HC….
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:58 pm
I think his tenure here was not quite as good as the Jeff Jags era , but I ‘d have to take a look back at thos 1st 3 preseason games.
January 2nd, 2015 at 6:02 pm
Fire Lovie, go get Chip.
January 2nd, 2015 at 6:04 pm
Aaron Rodgers talked to you?
Yes, feel free to click on that link and read. JoeBucsFan.com is credentialed media by the NFL and the Buccaneers. –Joe
January 2nd, 2015 at 6:14 pm
He told you everything you need to know. He’s a burned out coach who didn’t like retirement, but equally didn’t like being told what to do. If he HAD to work, he decided (after making commitments to the Bucs nd Lovie Smith), he didn’t like being a second banana…
He took a job he thinks will have minimal heat – US Football in Canada – where he can coast until he figures out what it is he REALLY wants to do…or, as soon as their is more heat than he’s comfortable with…he’ll walk away again.
It’s nothing new – the guy had a wake-up call – lot’s of folks make drastic changes in their lives after beating “the widow-maker”…Tedford’s no exception. He’s going to try to find happiness with what little time he has left.
He left this franchise in disarray – he skipped out on a coach who tried to accommodate him – I never liked the guy to begin with.
I do not wish him ill-will. To the contrary, I hope he finds what he’s looking for…I just say, good riddance.
January 2nd, 2015 at 6:20 pm
So…Tedford didn’t want to be Lovie’s gal Friday. Fits with my perception of Lovie as meddlesome on the offensive side, regardless of how he portrays himself in the press.
January 2nd, 2015 at 6:36 pm
I’ve said this a few times in various comments here. I’ve got some inside info when it comes to Tedford, I know a guy who knows a guy (take that as you well, I realize this is just a comment on a blog…)
Tedford is a horrible coach/play caller, who is actually very good at recruiting. He surrounds himself with “yes-men”, and is certainly not an “offensive guru”.
The reason his offense was such a secret was because he still working out the details himself. With statements in the vein of “Yes, we’re going to run a bit of everything.” Yes, double tights is something we’d like to use.” “Yes, we’d like to be uptemp…” etc, etc. Take it from me, this guy was not going to be the savior of our offense.
Other than being at most a par college play caller, he’s not a good guy. Treats his staff horribly, is generally very ego-centric, and is a bit of a weasel.
Thus, being healthy enough to come back (long before week 12 or 13) and not is no surprise. He wasn’t worried about stepping on Arroyo’s toes, but associating himself with this atrocious offense. Hate to break it to you guys, but if you watch any Cal film from his tenure there: the offense we ran this year WAS his. I have no doubt that Arroyo did just as poor of a job as Tedford would have.
I mentioned in a comment at the beginning of the season, long before it was publicly released, that he had two stents put in his heart. Telling you guys, this is legit.
Be happy he’s gone. Hopefully we can find an awesome coordinator, draft the right QB, and get the swiss cheese OLine to firm up.
Thanks for running this site Joe, it’s one of the best if not the best Bucs site around. Maybe a little more Mariota coverage though? = )
– TheCalBucsFan
January 2nd, 2015 at 6:53 pm
I still haven’t read ANYTHING to change my opinion, that Lovie didn’t want Tedford to come back.
If Tedford came back and McCown turned into Peyton Manning II, with only four games left, it would not have gotten the Bucs into the playoffs, but would have sent them spiraling down the draft order.
If Tedford came back and the Bucs still looked anemic (VERY likely), then Lovie wouldn’t have a ‘crutch’ with which to hobble in front of the Glazers.
I still do not believe that staying ‘out’ was Tedford’s idea/choice. I believe he went along with it for Lovie, and took the opportunity to get away. “I’ll agree to not come back if you’ll let me out of my contract”.
He didn’t want to ” take the job of his protégé”??? Really?!?! Who, on this entire planet, believed that Arroyo still had a job? The Bucs offense would have needed to (miraculously) put up 400yds and 30 pts per game, in those last four, for Lovie to even CONSIDER Arroyo as the future OC.
January 2nd, 2015 at 6:55 pm
Surprised that Tedford and Liar Smith didn’t get along more. They are both terrible liars.
January 2nd, 2015 at 6:57 pm
I do find it interesting (read:bulls(p)it) that he said he enjoyed being a head coach and the challenge of it vs being an OC.
After he was hired by the Bucs, I remember reading multiple articles talking about how much more success he had as an OC and that Cal was better when he was just the OC, and that he preferred that over head-coaching where he had to deal with so many more responsibilities beyond creating offense.
This effing guy… Good riddance! Let’s get people in here who actually want to be here.
January 2nd, 2015 at 7:22 pm
Lovie should have left with Tedford.
January 2nd, 2015 at 7:26 pm
Unbelievable
And there lies the challenge. Finding good people who want to be here.
January 2nd, 2015 at 7:47 pm
I wouldn’t want to coach under lovie either! We have become aware that the truth is subjective to lovie,. and we are not having to deal with him every day! He reminds me of a “type” that I have known who wrap themselves in some protective vest of “christianity” yet are not truthful. Yea,.. they are always good at justifying their character, but when it comes down to it,.. just more of the same crap!
January 2nd, 2015 at 7:59 pm
If you believe Tedford was the primary party responsible for the decisions on offensive talent, then everything fits.
He undervalued the talent we did have, while overvaluing the free agents we acquired… Lovie followed his advice, and the offense stunk. Then Lovie doesn’t want Tedford back cause he’d have fired him anyway.
You really think Lovie felt capable of grading out the offensive roster and evaluating the offensive free agent field on his own? Tedford had to have had the lion’s share if not even total say over offensive personnel. Makes total sense.
And gives hope that with the right O/C this time, not just some buddy from the basement, Lovie could be a winner here.
January 2nd, 2015 at 8:15 pm
Everyone is traveling under the assumption that Tedford’s offense somehow would have been somewhat successful because it was so mysterious. For all we know, Arroyo ran it and Tedford realized it sucked and didn’t want to take responsibility for it. Maybe he had a say in some of those dubious FAs and draft picks. All I know is he didn’t finish what he started and he conveniently used his medical condition as an excuse to jump ship. Real stand up kinda guy. Keep finding the right players and coaches Lovie.
January 2nd, 2015 at 8:51 pm
I think Tedford challenged Smith on McCown and was put in his place. In short he and Smith disagreed on McCown. Fair Joe?
January 2nd, 2015 at 8:59 pm
Gotta give Joe props for building his audience to the point where he can gain NFL media accreditation. In a world with a zillion fan blogs all competing for market share it’s a solid achievement.
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:10 pm
Hope he goes out again. FUUUUUUUUUUUUKEM!
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:28 pm
As if Arroyo ever had a chance for that job permanently…what a joke…in fact, by leaving, he likely jeopardized Arroyo’s job for next year, unless the new OC decided to keep him on…highly doubtful…what a lying sack Ted is. Glad he is gone…though for Lovie to have put his trust in the flim flam man doesn’t speak particularly well about his ability to judge character.
January 2nd, 2015 at 10:33 pm
lol at you emotionally immature folks. you all have no idea what happened, including the joes, and we probably never will. he did nothing wrong. but keep pretending you all know what went down.
January 2nd, 2015 at 10:41 pm
You guys… (Shakes head)
…you make up your minds to believe what you want, and when the people involved contradict you, rather than admit you were wrong, you call them liars.
Is being right really that important to you? Sheesh.
And then, of course, you have the others who suddenly change their tunes and claim they said this was the case all along, hoping no one calls them on it with proof.
Unbelievable.
If you are going to make claims, back them up with links in the future.
January 2nd, 2015 at 10:50 pm
“Aaron Rodgers, a longtime friend of Tedford, told Joe that Tedford left because he didn’t want to take the job of his protégé, Marcus Arroyo.”
To the commenters:
So…that means Tedford made the decision to not return. Just like I told everyone when you all claimed Lovie refused to bring him back.
Waaayyyy back when Tedford originally got the surgery, I tried to tell you people he wouldn’t return. Not one person agreed, so anyone else saying they predicted it is a liar. Straight up.
@Zam
I think you nailed it. Same thing I’ve been saying all along, but the drones here don’t like it when their opinions are contradicted.
January 2nd, 2015 at 11:02 pm
I think it was power struggle and philosophy disagreements.
January 2nd, 2015 at 11:42 pm
continuity? I am sure he watched the games from his rehab/nursing facility. he obviously didn’t want to help his struggling rookie replacement. he obviously didn’t share his playbook with his replacement. how do I know this? mr. continuity ran a up tempo offense. the bucs offense was not up tempo. I think he bailed out to Canada once he saw the bucs o-line looked like a bunch of guys that never stepped on a football field in their life.
January 2nd, 2015 at 11:49 pm
Nothing to see here……
January 3rd, 2015 at 1:39 pm
1bucfan88, it’s not only how Lovie portrays himself as a coach, but it is also how the media, his colleagues and his players have said he is as well.
Lovie treats players like men and professionals and his coaches in the same manner. He let’s people do their job until they prove to him they can’t.
But you and others like you keep believing what your gut tells you despite all of the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
I have no doubt that you, like others who believe like you do, have a much ore intelligent gut than that small peanut sized brain inside your skull that rarely gets used.
Just remember, always, always, never let the facts get in the way of what your gut tells you.
January 3rd, 2015 at 3:41 pm
I was hoping to see what the guy offered, but he never offered anything. It was his offensive scheme. His boy QB coach couldn’t run it either. Time to turn the page. Maybe he will see if it works in the CFL and will try to come back as a Coach in the NFL. Then when he plays Lovie, we can call it The broken heart bowl. I hope for a better year next year, but I’m getting tired of this team. Just like Florida,…this is where ppl come to retire.