Tedford, the former Cal coach, was expected to return this week, but the plan has been delayed as he takes medical leave and continues to rehab from having a coronary angioplasty to have two stents placed in an artery near his heart.

The procedure was done last month and Tedford has worked part-time since. In his absence, quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo has conducted the coordinating duties. 

Tedford was not in the Georgia Dome to see in-person the Falcons’ complete domination of the Bucs in Tampa’s 56-14 loss Thursday night.

Coach Lovie Smith, a defensive-oriented coach, handpicked Tedford, although Tedford had never been an NFL play caller. 

Whether it’s with Tedford, Arroyo or someone else, it’s quite obvious the Bucs need to find some solutions on offense. 

That could mean going away from veteran Josh McCown, who has a 65.8 passer rating and a right thumb that may require surgery to repair ligament damage, to Mike Glennon as the starting quarterback. Or it could mean more.

They’ve brought in Terrelle Pryor for a look as a possible backup for Glennon if McCown is sidelined. Pryor was not immediately signed.

Tampa is the league’s 30th-ranked offense, averaging a mere 271.0 yards per game and 14.7 points a game. 

 

KOLB TO HELP HURRICANE VICTIMS

What Kevin Kolb saw while on vacation in Mexico broke his heart and pushed him into action. 

The former NFL quarterback was in Cabo San Lucas last week when Hurricane Odile blasted through the city, destroying property everywhere. 

Kolb and his wife bunkered in the bathtub of their hotel room with mattresses over their heads as 125-mph winds howled outside. They eventually found their way to a shelter.

While they were safe, Kolb said many were not and the destruction was extensive. But what bothered him most was what he perceives as a lack of support from the United States.

“Now that I’m back, the thing that is most disturbing is no one here realizes just how bad it was down there,” Kolb told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “When we got to customs, we told him where we were coming from and he said, ‘Oh, I heard there was a little storm down there.’

“This is a tragedy. There should be a full humanitarian effort down there, and for some reason, it’s not being made out to be as big of a deal as it should be.”

Kolb hasn’t left without looking back. He says he plans to return to Mexico to help the hotel employees who helped them, while also losing much of what they owned. 

WILLIAMS APOLOGIZES FOR REMARKS

Eagles cornerback Cary Williams apologized to his teammates Tuesday and admitted he made a mistake in his postgame rant after the Eagles’ 37-34 win over the Redskins.

Williams questioned coach Chip Kelly’s practice habits in the locker room after the game Sunday, specifically Kelly’s bringing the team in for a light walkthrough early last week, one day after it played a Monday night game in Indianapolis.

Williams met with Kelly on Monday, then said Tuesday he spoke “out of anger and frustration.”

“I said what I said, man. … It’s out there,” Williams said. “I could have played better (Sunday). I spoke to my teammates and told them I was sorry for what I said. So, it won’t happen again. I won’t talk negatively about the team.

“We are 3-0 and that’s something to be proud of. I am happy we are 3-0. Things could have gone otherwise.”

Williams said he was being honest about how he felt, but that he could have chosen a better way to get his point across without making his feelings public.

“Obviously, honesty isn’t always the best policy,” he said. “Sometimes people take things the wrong way. But I realized I made that mistake. My teammates realize that and forgave me. I try not to lie. In that situation I don’t think I did. But in that situation, I should have kept it in house between me and 56 other guys in here and coach Chip. I made a mistake. I’m sorry for it.”

STEELERS SPEAK TO HARRISON ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin spoke to James Harrison about the “climate change” around domestic violence before re-signing the veteran linebacker.

Harrison was arrested in 2008 on assault and criminal mischief charges following an altercation with his then-girlfriend. The charges were dropped after Harrison completed anger management classes. He was not suspended by the team.

Tomlin praised Harrison for his growth since the incident and said he does not anticipate “it being an issue” following Harrison’s return to the team Tuesday following a brief retirement.

Steelers president Art Rooney II and Giants owner John Mara are overseeing an independent investigation into how the NFL looked into the domestic abuse case against former Ravens running back Ray Rice.

GOODELL MEETS WITH FORMER PLAYERS

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and chief assistant Troy Vincent have met with 11 former NFL players to discuss ways to improve the league’s personal conduct policy.

They met Tuesday with Hall of Famer Mike Singletary, plus Matt Birk, Eddie Mason, Patrick Kerney, Willie McGinest, Roman Oben, Marty Lyons, Charles Way, Tony Paige, Scott Turner and Robert Porcher. More meetings are planned between the league and former players.

Vincent is the NFL’s vice president of football operations.

The NFL has faced heavy criticism of its personal conduct policy after incidents this year involving Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, Greg Hardy, Ray McDonald and Jonathan Dwyer. Goodell repeatedly has said he mishandled the punishment of Rice for punching his then-fiancee in a hotel elevator, and the league is re-examining how and when it should discipline players for violating the policy.

Contributors: Rana L. Cash, The Associated Press