Josh McCown = Rich Gannon?
March 19th, 2014
Clearly when the Bucs signed the former Bears quarterback, journeyman Josh McCown, they had visions of his 1,829 yards in eight appearances last year dancing in their heads. But was that just a fluke or a harbinger of things to come?
The fluke element is a fair question, given that McCown is 34 and rarely had played like he did for Bears quarterback guru Marc Trestman. McCown explains that Trestman opened his mind and his eyes to things he never was aware of before — things he has brought to the Bucs. Those are also fair points.
So Joe wonders whether it is too quick to label McCown the next Rich Gannon?
The former NFL MVP with the Raiders, the same quarterback the Bucs throttled in their last playoff win, the Super Bowl victory in January 2003, and the same quarterback who had his career ended by Derrick Brooks, was like McCown, a journeyman who showed little of the star quality he displayed before Chucky got a hold of him in Oakland. Gannon, though, was 31-27 as a starter before landing in Oakland; McCown is 16-22.
But Pat Kirwan sees similarities. The former Bucs scout, Jets linebackers coach and player personnel director, and current co-host of “Movin’ the Chains,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, typed a notebook column for CBSSports.com and believes, yes, McCown very well could be the next Rich Gannon.
Josh McCown is now the starting quarterback for the Buccaneers and he is starting to sound like Rich Gannon did when he and Jon Gruden were united. McCown is 34 and realizes it’s now or never for him. But what has gone unnoticed is what a mentor he will be to Mike Glennon or whoever the team drafts.
“I’ve been in the same place Glennon is right now and I will encourage him to compete for this job so he makes me and this team better,” McCown said.
Only time will tell if McCown performs anywhere near what Gannon did with the Raiders. Joe thinks it is foolish to believe McCown can be an NFL MVP. That’s really jumping the gun. The key here, of course, is Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford.
Tedford has a documented history of building quarterbacks — in college. Tedford has never coached in the NFL before. He’s not Chucky (yet). Though we are starting to get a picture of what the Bucs offense may be, expecting McCown to be an NFL MVP with an unproven NFL coordinator is a reach.
March 19th, 2014 at 1:09 pm
Not sold on McCown. Only so so IMO. I see Glennon hitting the field when the dust settles.
March 19th, 2014 at 1:15 pm
i hope his buc career is remembered more along the lines other career backups who kept a seat warm for half a season or so for an eventual franchise QB
March 19th, 2014 at 1:16 pm
I like the McCown signing and I think he will have a good season, but is he the next Rich Gannon? I would not take it that far. I think he is a solid short term solution at the QB position who would be able to win at least 10 games, IF, and that’s a big if, the rest of the team pulls their weight and plays good around him.
March 19th, 2014 at 1:17 pm
Lol Manziel is getting lit up on ESPN today.
I’m thinking he’ll be available at #7, but the Bucs won’t take him.
March 19th, 2014 at 1:19 pm
I don’t like the McCown move and I really don’t like the money they gave him. If they draft a qb, I hope that Glennon is already gone or he is involved in a draft day trade. Really don’t need a 3 way qb completion. I say McCown starts the season, but Glennon takes over by mid season (if they don’t draft a qb)
March 19th, 2014 at 1:20 pm
You put a good team around, and I believe he can win 9-10 games. But if the rest of the team sucks, it will probably be another down year.
March 19th, 2014 at 1:21 pm
Wouldn’t that be nice
March 19th, 2014 at 1:33 pm
Look at it from Love trains POV. Go with a vet qb or a 4-12 qb? Love train would love to have had Tomlin’s situation with Big Ben. Now they hoping for at least 8-8 and drafting a franchise qb to groom. Probably Jimmy G. Round 2
March 19th, 2014 at 1:35 pm
mccown is gannon if we had gruden. With tedford and lovie, mccown, may be…. mccown.
March 19th, 2014 at 1:41 pm
Forget Gannon. Just be a 2014 version of Brad Johnson or better. That’s all we need him to be.
March 19th, 2014 at 1:47 pm
“Only time will tell if McCown performs anywhere near what Gannon did with the Raiders.”
Heck, we’re just hoping McCown plays as well as Mike Glennon. During McCown’s twelve year career he’s outperformed Mike Glennon exactly once.
March 19th, 2014 at 2:10 pm
Lovie Smith and GM Jason Licht are at UCF for Bortles’ Pro day. It would be nice if he fell to seven. IMO best QB in the draft.
March 19th, 2014 at 2:18 pm
Its easy guys we are going to draft a QB.
if they dont a sign a high profile receiver they will draft
Manziel,if they sign a receiver they will sign a high accuracy guy
like Garapolo.
Probablly they will trade Glennon but not now cause it would be
too obvious what we will draft if we trade him now.They will trade
him draft day for more picks.
March 19th, 2014 at 2:57 pm
So this guy averaged 28 more yards than Glennon last year. Boy that’s an upgrade considering the talent he had and the talent Glennon had. Way to gift McCown the starting job Mrs. Howell.
I read that McCown thinks he’s better than Cutler. What a maroon.
March 19th, 2014 at 3:03 pm
I think McCown absolutely can be the next Brad Johnson/Rich Gannon…. Effectively distributing the ball to our playmakers… And with our Dominating D, that should be an effective combination to win more times than not. Hopefully, we can even ride this combo to a championship or 2.
March 19th, 2014 at 3:36 pm
All of the QBs will be there at 7 – they all will slide.
March 19th, 2014 at 4:20 pm
The numbers look more comparable than I thought when you compare the two QB’s. The only bone of contention I would have is that while Gannon had a few years of positive play as an occasional starter/ascending backup McCown rocketed to the top for half of one year, not really showing the same ascension like Gannon had with the Chiefs.
March 19th, 2014 at 4:25 pm
We will have to wait and see what lovie and company are building. There are to many unknowns to even speculate at this point. I’m excited for the preseason we will see then what kind of product were going to get
March 19th, 2014 at 5:04 pm
Gannon had much more success before going to Oakland than McCown has had in any of his stops including Chicago.
March 19th, 2014 at 5:59 pm
Hoping this happens
March 19th, 2014 at 6:39 pm
McClown…if he could HAVE…to would have….by now…the absurdity of it all…..
March 19th, 2014 at 7:05 pm
Rich Gannon was a Gym Rat, and hit the Gym Hard.
March 19th, 2014 at 7:30 pm
Yeah, about the Rich Gannon and Josh McCown comparison… I should get full credit… I stated that on several of the first Josh McCown signing posts.
March 19th, 2014 at 10:53 pm
^ nobody cares.
March 19th, 2014 at 11:26 pm
Cute mort. Call someone out in a chat room. You showed him. Man he must be embarrassed…. mort pointed out that comments and credit are meaningless! What a isionary! (But dont give him credit for it, b3cause none cares…right?)
Makes me sick when people pass off petty jabs at people from anonymity of the internet as if it is clever. 12 year olds figure this out on youtube all the time…congrats on finally reaching their level.