NFL Notes: Buccaneers, Cowboys, Giants, Falcons, & Jaguars

Buccaneers

Former Buccaneers OC Jeff Tedford told JoeBucsFan.com that he was ready to return later on in the 2014 season, but HC Lovie Smith felt it would have disrupted continuity.

“I was ready to [return to coach] with about five games left,” Tedford said. “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.  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.”

Cowboys

• Ed Werder of ESPN reports that Cowboys OC Bill Callahan will pursue other possibilities,  which means it’s unlikely he’ll re-sign with Dallas during exclusivity period.

Falcons

• Jason La Canfora reports that Lions DC Teryl Austin is flying to Atlanta to meet with the Falcons for a follow up interview.

Giants

• Jordan Raanan reports that the Giants are hiring former Rams DC Tim Walton as their defensive backs/secondary coach.
• Giants GM Jerry Reese mentioned that they had WR Sammy Watkins ahead of WR Odell Beckham Jr on their draft board last year. (Ralph Vacchiano)

Jaguars

• According to Michael DiRocco of ESPN, the pool of candidates for the Jaguars offensive coordinator position includes: Vikings RBs coach Kirby Wilson, Jets RBs coach Anthony Lynn, former Bears HC Marc Trestman, Cowboys OC Bill Callahan, former Bills HC Doug Marrone, and Raiders OC Greg Olsen.