Report: Tedford Lacking Energy
September 8th, 2014
TampaBay.com Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud, who doubles as a morning show host on WDAE-AM 620, got to the stadium on Dale Mabry Highway early yesterday and talked to healing offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford.
This morning, Stroud shared good news and bad on the radio.
The good news is Tedford is progressing nicely. Per Stroud, Tedford had “a couple” of arterial stents inserted to clear coronary blockages.
The bad news is Stroud painted a picture of Tedford being happy to simply be performing basic tasks and not yet ready for full-time football duty this week.
“[Tedford] said that he felt good just to be up and around,” Stroud said. “I mean you can tell that he’s obviously been through something where he’s been laid up for a while. The energy didn’t seem to be, you know, at 100 percent quite frankly.
Being “very tired” tipped off Tedford to his heart problems, Stroud said.
He was not confident Tedford would return soon. “I don’t know how much he’ll do this week, though,” Stroud said.
(You can enjoy Stroud’s full take below, via 620wdae.com audio.)
September 8th, 2014 at 10:08 am
This team is cursed.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:10 am
Tampa is cursed
September 8th, 2014 at 10:12 am
Where’s tickrdr to post when you need him?
I’d think the last thing a bad heart would need is to be subjected to watching what was on the field yesterday. Tedford needs to quit while he’s still alive!
September 8th, 2014 at 10:14 am
when they do that procedure they put you on ALL kinds of meds, blood thinners, major BP meds, probably heavy xanax to keep him relaxed…
dude is a walking zombie right now. it will take a few more weeks for him to get back to a form of himself. his thinking will not be sharp though, cause it aint like he can grab a red bull to shrug off the meds. I just had one done a few months back.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:15 am
I’ve been at every Bucs game for over 20 years now and all I kept saying during the game is that I just wanted the team to be competitive. To look like a football team that knew what they were doing. Honestly didn’t even care if they won, I just wanted to see some glimmer of hope that they were moving forward. Nothing. Absolutely one of the worst times I’ve had at a game and I couldn’t believe the QB performance or lack thereof. But I think the biggest disappointment for me was the defense. I was 100% convinced that we would have a shutdown D that would keep us in games and instead we got another group of guys that can’t rush the passer and can’t defend the pass.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:15 am
Joe,
You might want to get a doctor’s opinion on how long it usually takes for someone to resume a normal work schedule. From what I’ve heard it may take weeks so his feeling tired may continue for a while.
A doctor can’t say much without knowing Tedford’s exact condition. What we know is Tedford is about 14 days out of a serious procedure, and it’s unclear whether he actually had a heart attack, which would be a different scenario. Joe wishes Tedford well. He’ll be back when he’s ready. –Joe
September 8th, 2014 at 10:17 am
@Reality
Ditto
September 8th, 2014 at 10:21 am
Is the lethargy part o his game plan ?
September 8th, 2014 at 10:25 am
Is it inappropriate/insensitive of me to point out that this team is clearly capable of causing heart problems for all Bucs fans and by watching performances like yesterday we are putting our own health at risk? No? Good.
(In all seriousness, get well soon, Tedford!)
September 8th, 2014 at 10:27 am
Rasta:
Sure seems like it! I think Josh McCown must have had the same procedure Tedford had.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:29 am
Clean house today and bring back Jon Gruden…..OK……wait until after the game before the bye week…give Jon time to put his staff together…I am freak’n SERIOUS….
September 8th, 2014 at 10:35 am
Many persons recover within a week after stent placement and actually feel much better thereafter.
Everybody case is different. Age, genes, lifestyle all factor in.
Get well coach, but please remember, the heavy stress from an NFL workload may not be conducive to your long term health.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:39 am
Quit dreaming, the Bucs have 2 years of Lovie at the very least. Besides, who could believe Gruden would ever work for the Glazers again.
Quit Dreaming Part 2…. The Cannon will remain unfired until mid-season at best.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:40 am
So many jokes about this offense taking a nap yesterday, but I’m not going to make them.
Get well Tedford, though I think it’s a longer road to recovery for you than another week or two. I’d rather have a bad offense than a dead offensive coordinator, honestly.
But is it healthy for Tedford to be subjected to the kind of horror that Josh McCown displayed yesterday? I say it sarcastically, but in a way I’m sort of serious. If this stuff keeps going, the stress level is going to go through the roof. If Tedford has a serious condition that’s exacerbated by stress – being around the Bucs may literally kill him. That’s the kind of tragic comedy I don’t want to read about.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:41 am
As a cardiac Charge Nurse,
I can tell you that he will be back to full health soon. Granted everyone is different, but after having a Heart Catheterization with a couple stents,
most go back to business as usual after 10 days. No heavy lifting, little stress as possible. Trying not to get over heated and over exerted.
He’ll be as good as new soon. Really good he came in when he did or he was probably looking at Open Heart Surgery (speculating).
Go Bucs!
September 8th, 2014 at 10:42 am
It could be several weeks before Tedford is back to full speed. It’s a demanding job being a coordinator in the NFL. The hours and the stress don’t work well with heart problems. This organization can’t seem to go into a season without some sort of problem.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:42 am
I predicted 6-10 with a quarterback change.
I did not expect the defense to play that poorly.
I also predicted that one of our 6 wins was going to be our first game.
If we can’t win against the Rams. All predictions are going to get blown out of the water for the rest of the season.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:45 am
I would assume most don’t have a high stress job like this one though!
get well soon.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:47 am
http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cardiac-catheterization/basics/definition/prc-20023050
Explains the procedure
September 8th, 2014 at 10:53 am
T-DUB – are medications to reduce anxiety prescribed to ensure a patient’s stress level is kept to a minimum? I’ve known a few guys who got just that, but it owed as much to their personalities I think.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:54 am
multiple stints…….and while it may sound simple enough….the fear in the back of your mind is the worst parts. it takes time to get the confidence back up that the ticker isn’t going to explode.
as someone else said, we don’t know if he had a heart attack, which would make it a much bigger issue. I am not optimistic he’ll be in the booth calling plays on Sunday. his health should be priority #1! get well
September 8th, 2014 at 10:55 am
Jo mama, I predicted (and posted) a 6-10 prediction with an 0-5 or 1-4 start. But I had hoped the QB would be more stable than that. We were bullied and beat down yesterday.
September 8th, 2014 at 10:56 am
McCown lost that game. Period. I know the defense didn’t play as well as we all would have hoped, but they still held the Panthers to only 10 points in the first half. Even with McCown’s idiotic turnovers. The D played better in the 2nd half and really only gave up 7 more points. Rainey’s fumble automatically put Carolina in FG range. This offense lost the game for us outright and was responsible for 10 of the 17 points scored yesterday.
The defense is not completely blameless though for sure. Pass rush is pathetic and just overall, we were getting pushed around and out physicaled on almost every play. It seemed we had a defender down on his back injured every other play. McCoy is getting ZERO help and I know on paper McCoy’s numbers looked good, but he didn’t have a great game either. He is quick and blows by the blocker on run plays, but is moving so fast he runs right by the running back. On pass plays, he, like the rest of the line, are a non-factor. He did get an 8 yard sack, which I guess negated his 2 encroachment penalties that he seems to get at least twice every game. Having said all this, there’s still hope that our D can step up. Our offense? I’m not so sure.
September 8th, 2014 at 11:03 am
So the garbage oline that do-no-wrong Lovie and his lapdog GM slapped together with overpaid/under productive players gave our OC a heart attack??!! I think it has caused most of the fanbase heart problems too. Heartburn anyway.
September 8th, 2014 at 11:05 am
How much energy does it take to call bland plays? And I don’t blame Tedford, I’m sure he knows how to draw up a modern play. I blame Lovieball.
September 8th, 2014 at 11:25 am
LOUIS FRIEND,
anxiety to reduce stress.. yes that is a possibility.
This is a REAL scare for the patient, folks. So it may have taken a little out of him mentally. Surely, those loved ones around him told him to rest a little and that football will always be there.
He needs to rest.
and, what needs to happen on the field is smarter decisions and some more catch drills for our d-backs.
Go Bucs!
September 8th, 2014 at 11:25 am
They are a friggin joke, except who’s laughing.
September 8th, 2014 at 11:29 am
I told you this Florida sun is a killer. Bad move practicing at 4p in the afternoon. Add age and the pitiful play in the preseason it’s enough to give any older person a heart attack. Tedford quit while your ahead take a medical settlement and go home to your family. We will suck with or without you. I’m sure your family needs you more than the nfl does. #godspeed
September 8th, 2014 at 11:42 am
T Dub thanks for the explanations. I have been where coach is. But I did have a massive heart attack at age 35! Recovery time depends on individual conditioning. Coach will be fine in a couple of weeks. Folks please remember, a life is more important than losing a game to the Panthers … And yes coach’s procedure does impact the entire team, Anyone think of that?
September 8th, 2014 at 11:49 am
I now believe Tedford’s heart dropped when he realized just how bad McClown actually ran an offense.
Afterall, he DID want Carr in the draft…
Now he has McClown with his first ever shot in the NFL at age 35 or Mike Glennon who weirdly does well on one drive then poorly on the next. And wtf Glennon… all you had to do was have a great pre-season against backup players playing a vanilla defense.
Glennon made his own bed too by failing his pre season opportunity.
Or maybe the offense just sucks for the NFL?
September 8th, 2014 at 12:00 pm
Our Offense could have used a couple of stints yesterday! And Joshy Boy looked like he took a couple hits of acid before the game.
If I could describe the overall effort of the team in one word, it would be “Pathetic”. And the sad thing is that Glennon sucks too. We have no quarterback for yet another season. Wide open receivers deep down field with no one to throw them the ball. I think Joshy Boy needs glasses because he obviously can see more than about 10 yards. I say again, Pathetic.
September 8th, 2014 at 12:03 pm
Been there, done that. Had a stent procedure 12 years ago now. In my case exhaustion and slight tightness in the chest when exercising led to going to ER, 1-hr. later they are doing to rotto rutter procedure.
Recovery? It was as if I had traveled 8 time zones and just couldn’t get the fog out of my head for at least 10-14 days. The meds had a lot to do with that and if his list of pills are similar to mine, he’s also taking low blood pressure meds because they supposedly benefit a stent recipient, even if high blood pressure is not one of their health issues. Also there’s a blood thinner to avoid clotting. How his body responds to any kind of stress, physical or emotional, will be changed forever by these meds, he too will take them for the rest of his life.
When or can he be back to the man he was before? Doubtful, my rehab started with lifting 1-lb. weights that seemed too heavy, and now 12 years later I’m limited to a 25 lb. limit. Do I pay attention to that and obey? No, but the days of bench pressing as much as I can as history and the blood pressure med help govern my heart rate to around 140 bpm max, aerobic exercise only, no anaerobic allowed.
Finally, there’s a chemical balancing act that needs to take place between the biology of the person and the meds taken that can take weeks, months, even years since the body chemistry naturally changes as we age. He will need to learn to lean more towards rest for that balance to occur sooner and that’s not very conducive to a NFL coaching position. I suspect the hardest thing for him to do right now is pull back on the reigns of being a tough guy, testosterone-driven, macho-man coach, take a long look at his family and loved ones, realize they are what’s most important and then tell the Bucs, “get back to you next season”.
A new OC coach can always be hired, but to his family there is only one husband, father, and/or grandfather. Put them first Ted, us Buc supporters will understand. May God bless you with a speedy recovery.
September 8th, 2014 at 12:05 pm
My 5-11 prediction is looking pretty optimistic right about now.
The Yucs are Back!!!
Open Letter to GMC: Get out while you can. No one around you wants to play in the NFL. You can’t make them better if they don’t want to be. And Congrats and very hard earned Sack, going 1 on 5 for the most part while our DE’s just stood around and got beat.
September 8th, 2014 at 12:22 pm
@CalBucsFan
Thanks for your sharing your story and your perspective. I think you’ve got a healthy perspective, let’s hope Tedford is just like you are.
September 8th, 2014 at 12:43 pm
We can only hope the Meds JT has been taking….suppressed any memories he saw at the game….it was all a very bad dream Jeff….
September 8th, 2014 at 12:45 pm
Coach Tedford’s health should be the main concern here. That being said, if he physically can’t perform the job he was hired for then somebody else should be appointed to that position.
September 8th, 2014 at 12:51 pm
Coach Tedford please get well and take care of your family affairs first!
If and when you are able to return we will be here and chances are we will be looking the same.
September 8th, 2014 at 1:39 pm
We should have fought hard and hit them right on the chin.
September 8th, 2014 at 2:01 pm
If he’s on drugs to keep him calm, who knows what kind of affect that will have on his approach to coaching. While I wish him the best, I don’t know that I’m wishing for him to return very quickly. Especially if his state of mind is out of whack from his surgery and anything else going on with him.
This might be Arroyo’s offense for a while.
September 8th, 2014 at 2:38 pm
Ray Rice glad to see you found a new job doing stand up!!!! Keep on swinging for the fences buddy, you will hit your mark sooner rather than later
September 8th, 2014 at 2:57 pm
Something in the water, background check on the waterboy.. Everybody there is weak and tired..
September 8th, 2014 at 3:06 pm
Was anybody else just deflated by that last 20 seconds? I mean I know it wasn’t the decider of the game and we had a slim-to-none chance to win, but good grief, throw a Hail Mary or something downfield. Those little check downs in the final few seconds just reeked of Buc ball the past 9 years. Tho I guess it did help McCown’s rating a smidge.
September 8th, 2014 at 3:40 pm
You need a game changer. A difference maker. Dougie and I will make a good “1-2 Punch”! ……..
September 8th, 2014 at 4:14 pm
I had stents put in years ago. The number I can’t remember, but it may have been 4 to 5. Please, don’t tell me that I’m full of shit.
I am now 70. I watched the whole procedure on my back. I was out of the hospital and on the golf course two days later. I don’t remember taking any meds; maybe, a blood thinner. I guess they do things different down your way.
Is it possible it may have been something more dangerous?
September 8th, 2014 at 7:43 pm
oldfart44 Says:
September 8th, 2014 at 4:14 pm
I had stents put in years ago. The number I can’t remember, but it may have been 4 to 5. Please, don’t tell me that I’m full of shit.
I am now 70. I watched the whole procedure on my back. I was out of the hospital and on the golf course two days later. I don’t remember taking any meds; maybe, a blood thinner. I guess they do things different down your way.
Is it possible it may have been something more dangerous?
——————————————————————————-
As usual I’m late to the party, and could not respond earlier.
As correctly pointed out by several posters, it is impossible to assess his illness/prognosis without all of the details. As to Mr. OLdFart’s experience, that is typically the norm for my patients following a routine STENT procedure (not stint—Josh McCown’s stint as the starting QB will likely be cut short, if he plays like yesterday.) Think of the coronary arteries as the “fuel lines” for your heart muscle. When clogged up with plaque, the muscle is starved for oxygen, and patients can have many different symptoms including chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, etc. If the muscle has not been injured, then opening up that artery with a STENT, restores the blood flow to normal or nearly so, and typically with total resolution of those symptoms. The patients typically feel better than they have in some time. In fact, I jokingly tell them they cannot jump on the trampoline, or go square dancing for 48 hrs after the procedure. Most go back to full activity thereafter without any problems.
If the muscle has been injured (i.e. a myocardial infarction or heart attack), then you certainly could have symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, no energy for some time after the heart attack, etc. Furthermore, there may be present any of a number of co-morbid conditions, which would contribute to a prolonged recovery time.
It is true that we place the patient on potent blood thinners DURING the procedure itself, but afterward they are typically only on dual anti-platelet therapy with aspirin and Plavix (clopidogrel), or one of the newer agents.
(platelets are tiny cells in your bloodstream which stick together to initiate a clot —– a good thing if you cut yourself shaving, but not if a clot is trying to form in your coronary arteries, or clot off your new stent.)
I know this is much too long to read, and I apologize for that. But if any are interested, I’ll try to answer any questions.
tickrdr