NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Lions, Vikings

Buccaneers

• Greg Auman could “easily see” the Buccaneers keeping OC Todd Monken in his current position under a defensive-minded head coach. (Greg Auman)
• Ian Rapoport reports that the Buccaneers would not be required to provide compensation to the Cardinals if they hire Bruce Arians as their next head coach.
• Rapoport mentions that though Arians retired while with the Cardinals, the team declined his option for 2019, meaning Tampa Bay can hire Arians without any obstacles.
• Vaugh McClure expects former Falcons special teams coach Keith Armstrong to follow Arians to Tampa Bay should they sign him.
• According to Jenna Laine of ESPN, the Buccaneers did not schedule an interview or have any interest in Notre Dame HC Brian Kelly for their head coaching vacancy after initial reports indicated Tampa Bay was interested in him.

Detroit

Lions GM Bob Quinn would not rule out the possibility of re-signing impending free-agent DE Ezekial Ansah this offseason.

“I think that remains to be seen,” Quinn said, via Justin Rogers of The Detroit News. “As I mentioned before, we go through our extensive personnel meetings here in a couple weeks with our entire team and part of that is the medical. Part of that is the, ‘How long is he going to be out? What do we think, when he gets recovered, is he going to be the same?’ All of these things kind of factor in, so I don’t have an answer today.”

Quinn praised Ansah’s resiliency after playing through injuries during his time in Detroit.

“I’ll say this about Ziggy, Ziggy fought through some things this year,” Quinn said. “Ziggy is extremely tough and I’m proud of him being a Detroit Lion because he, like Matthew Stafford, he played through some things that a lot of guys wouldn’t and I appreciate that.”

Vikings

• Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk writes that the Vikings could have a difficult time hiring their “first choice” for offensive coordinator, given there Vikings HC Mike Zimmer is entering the final year of his contract.