Does Tampa Have What Josh McCown Wants?

March 2nd, 2014

The man who could be the winningest and highest paid quarterback on the Buccaneers in a matter of days, Bears veteran Josh McCown, talked to the Chicago Tribune about what he seeks in his football future.

Reading the feature, Joe couldn’t help but think McCown is a fantastic fit for Tampa Bay. The guy is eager to mentor but hungry to compete, and capable of playing standout ball for a stretch, as he evidenced last season. That’s the combination Lovie Smith and Jason Licht say they want. 

Yes, McCown is a backup quarterback. No question. Do the Bucs need a backup? No. They have a less expensive good one in Mike Glennon. But McCown is a better backup than Glennon and has far more to offer any rookie quarterback the Bucs might (hopefully) draft.

Family-man McCown also talked about a scoring a final payday so he can do good things in the world as well as help his family. Here’s an excerpt:

But even with a pay hike, McCown also wants a chance to showcase his experience and leadership and insists that won’t require a starting role.

He’s looking for a team he feels good about in a city where his wife and four kids can feel at home.

He wants an opportunity to continue growing while helping teammates do the same.

In totality, the upcoming free agency move that McCown, 34, hopes can take him to the end of his NFL career will be based on football and finances, family and fulfillment.

“It’s finding that good mix between all of those things,” McCown says, lounging in a gray-and-white patterned armchair in the cozy living room of his new home near Charlotte, N.C. “That’s where I have to be careful with this, with making sure to ask ‘What am I after?’ If I go in with a push that this next opportunity can get me this or get me that, I might wind up in a situation where in the short term it feels good, but in the end it won’t be as gratifying.”

There’s more to the story, which you can access via the link above. As Joe learns about the deeply religious McCown, the more Joe believes McCown will fit in just fine in Tampa, playing for his old head coach who espouses the same values.

Given the Bucs have a new regime, McCown would be almost assured of securing a two- or three-year contract, which would have be enticing. The Tribune noted backup QB deals signed last offseason — Matt Cassel (two years, $7.4 million), Matt Hasselbeck (two years, $7.25 million) and Jason Campbell (two years, $3.75 million).

Regardless, the Bucs need to cover themselves in free agency at quarterback. They can’t go into the draft with nobody locked up to at least compete with the leader of the worst-ranked offense in the NFL last season.

28 Responses to “Does Tampa Have What Josh McCown Wants?”

  1. The_Buc_Realist Says:

    I would imagine that the first question from McCown would be what are you guys doing to fix that O-line??? especially Donald Penn aka ” The Real QB Killa”

  2. Unbelievable Says:

    MGMobbers freak out in 3, 2, 1…

  3. Harry Says:

    Nothing to do with McCown, but I don’t understand why Cassel voided his one year old contract. Can he really get that much more money at this point? Or were there non-financial reasons to get out of Minn?

  4. buchead407 Says:

    Penn was not the biggest problem on our line last year, he couldce played a bit better but we need atleast 3 new offensive linemen a center, guard or two and a tackle for competition

  5. Destinjohnny Says:

    What qb wants to go to a team with the worst o line In football raise your hand

  6. Eric Says:

    Then who do we get to replace Glennon as the third string QB?

  7. BFFL Says:

    Licht already said Glennon will be given every chance to compete as the starter. If that’s true, then there’s no way they draft a QB at pick 7 because a QB picked that high will most certainly be anointed the starter. Licht’s statement indicates to me that they will instead get a veteran QB in free agency. I also doubt they draft a QB in the 2nd or 4th round because they have too many other holes to fill.

  8. SAMCRO Says:

    That’s interesting, but I’m not convinced, that McCown can out perform MG8.
    Even though the competition benefits us. MG8 must win the starting job or how else will he prove the naysayers wrong, …plus …that’s what all the naysayers are afraid of … being wrong.

    Mike Glennon Mob,
    President

  9. BamBamBuc Says:

    Glennon would get a shot to compete with a QB taken @ 7, he’d just lose…

  10. pablo Says:

    “the leader of the worst-ranked offense in the NFL last season.”

    Love it Joe !
    Duck the Mike Glennon
    Mob

  11. BoJim Says:

    Competition is good.

  12. Trubucfan22 Says:

    I really hope Bortles falls to us.

  13. Bucfan#37 Says:

    Okay… I’ll bite. I still think Glennon is the starter in 2014.

  14. SeanyMac in SC Says:

    I say dump Dan O and get McCown. At the very least its an upgrade at back up if not the next QB starter.

  15. zam Says:

    I don’t think he’s intrinsically as good as the numbers he produced last season. Would not be a good signing.

  16. Aubpierce Says:

    I hope the Bucs sign McCown to compete with Glennon and don’t know who will win, or care.The three things I do know are the offensive line, the defensive line, and wide receivers stunk last year.As much as I respect Jackson he must correct the dropped passes.At least three in the last game.If the problems above can’t be corrected replace them with competent players.

  17. bigpoppabuc Says:

    This kind of signing would make a lot of sense and it almost seems inevitable. I still fear father Dungy is in Lovie’s ear about bringing in Vick. That would NOT be a good pickup.

  18. 1976Buc Says:

    My guess is McCown is not interested unless there are some guarantees of upgrade at OL. Good news is I think upgrade at OL is coming anyway. McCown would not be interested in coming to his last stop in the NFL and leave with a concussion and every tooth in his head rattled game after game.

  19. StPeteBucsFan Says:

    I do not think this team is Super Bowl ready with any Q.B. We still desperately need an edge rusher. Our O line needs retooling!

    I love the idea of signing McCown. He’s a respectable Q.B. who won’t lose games for Lovie’s defense. But then that is also Glennon’s strength. So let’s give Lovie a year to whip to defense into championship shape and then concentrate on Q.B.

  20. Jon Says:

    He’s going to be a Buc. Mark it down.

  21. Kevin Says:

    I would like McCown to come here. Maybe even win the starting job. But let’s not forget that he had Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Marshal, Bennett, Forte. We need better playmakers on this offense for ANYONE to be successful at the QB position. Another reason to give Glennon another shot as well. With the O-line and lack of talent on the offensive side, anyone that says Glennon didn’t do a damn good job as a rookie in that situation is a fool. Can’t wait to see what happens

  22. Buc1987 Says:

    They may very well have the worst ranked offense next year as well.

  23. PRBucFan Says:

    BamBamBuc Says:
    March 2nd, 2014 at 12:57 pm
    Glennon would get a shot to compete with a QB taken @ 7, he’d just lose…

    EXACTLY

    That’s whats going to happen too lol.

  24. Thomas Says:

    okay, here’s the deal on this:

    I keep seeing the talking heads say that Glennon can ‘Make all the throws’. If you consider deep passes that the Wr has to stop on his route and come back for as making the throws, then yhes he can.

    Mccown CAN make all the throws- including hitting the Wr downfield in mid stride for deep td passes.

    He would be an immediate upgrade and MUCH better than what we have. I have the sneaking feeling that either Bridgewater or Manziel is going to fall to us…and we will pick him, grab Mccown and trade Glennon to a team that wants a guy who can ‘Make all the throws’.

    Other guys are starting to make their way up the draft boards and by the time its draft day, don’t be surprised it someone is sitting there when we pick that will make us REALL happy.

  25. NY Buc Says:

    I like it…(1) it means no Mike Vick, and (2) it probably means the Bucs will address more immediate needs than QB with the #7 pick. Still think Schaub is a better QB if he’s available, but McCown would make a good backup to MG8 too (I am a MGM’er after all).

  26. PRBucFan Says:

    McCown would beat out Glennon

  27. Buqsfan Says:

    Wait for the Johnny Manziel talk come and watch his male groupies drop there panties. You Johnny groupies could be worst then Tebow male groupies.

  28. Capt.Tim Says:

    Think Tebow would easily beat out Glennon! At least he took a bad team to the AFC championship!
    Lol.
    Seriously, it all depends on what the new Regime thinks.
    If they are offering McCown the starting job, as was stated in an earlier post, then Glennon isn’t their guy.

    Either way, bet they draft a Rookie QB by end of round Two