What Does McCoy’s “Scar” Feel Like?
September 20th, 2014
Yesterday, Lovie Smith talked about how Thursday’s massacre at the Georgia Dome was one of those rare humiliations that will leave “a scar” on every Buccaneer.
Joe’s concerned about how that scar may or may not heal on Gerald McCoy.
The reality is the Bucs would have loved to ink McCoy to a new restructured contract months ago. But it hasn’t happened, despite discussion between McCoy’s people and Bucs general manager Jason Licht.
McCoy is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. It’s been widely reported that the cost to “franchise” McCoy and force him to be a Buccaneer in 2015 would be ghastly $18 million. Joe surely would franchise McCoy if it came to that, but it’s not Joe’s money to spend, and the Bucs may have no interest in that direction.
McCoy is a prideful, motivated man who wants to win. He appears to love being a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, but every man has goals and a price.
Would another season of losing drive McCoy away to the open market?
Joe was in the morgue-like Bucs locker room Thursday night in Atlanta. Joe and another media member walked toward McCoy, a team captain, to talk about the game. McCoy acted first before Joe or the other media guy said anything; McCoy nicely and with a smile said he wasn’t playing on the field and had nothing to say. “Talk to them. They were out there,” McCoy said gesturing toward teammates.
It was a rather un-McCoy kind of response, one that jolted Joe with fear that McCoy might start pondering his future.
September 20th, 2014 at 7:44 am
I don’t think because gerald mccoy didn’t want to talk to media after the falcons game translates or suggest he is pondering leaving tampa. I highly doubt it actually. Mccoy has a valid point in saying talk to them they were in the game. He is showing respect to his teammates. His family has lived in tampa, his mentors all live in tampa, no taxes on those fat contracts in tampa.. Theres really not a reason for him to want to leave really besides join a bandwagon team. McCoy seems to have pride and idolize sapp. Also, who wants to leave lavonte david? its a 100mil contract its not gonna happen overnight. I bet it goes all the way up until the night free agency starts. Mccoy and david can’t get out of tampa just imagine what brooks and sapp would have to say.
September 20th, 2014 at 7:45 am
I worry about that too. If I was McCoy, I’d take the first train out of town, and get as far away from this dumpster fire as he can.
He probably would have been DPOY by now if he wasn’t on this sh!thole team.
Here’s to hoping he’s a better man than me. Maybe Sapp can bully him into staying.
September 20th, 2014 at 7:54 am
After a beat down Thurs night, McCoy deflected the questions? I agree Joe that this is un-McCoy like as he is the one that typically will answer for the team no matter the circumstance. Either way, he has major leverage over the Bucs right now and will scorch them if he decides to stay a Buc. While Lovie may be able to persuade him to stay if the Bucs start getting on the right track, I do not see that happening this year. It would be complete leap of faith on Gerald’s part to remain a Buc and believe in Lovie to solidify this team and defense over next few years while GMC is in his prime.
September 20th, 2014 at 8:01 am
Thanks for the web site. Just a heads up on this edit:
“but every [has] man goals and a price.”
September 20th, 2014 at 8:13 am
Bucs will have to pay a king’s ransom or watch him walk. Let’s be honest…his play has been stellar, but he does get injured quite a bit. Not sure there’s an easy answer here…
September 20th, 2014 at 8:24 am
Trade him before we lose him and get nothing. Love the big guy, but he’s not stupid, the Bucs are the first perennial loser he’s played for, he’s going to want to go to a winner while he’s still in his prime. Face it, this Bucs team is much further away than one or two years, Lovie won’t last, and we’ll be starting over with a new coach in a year or two.
September 20th, 2014 at 8:27 am
Saying “go talk to them” doesn’t sound like much of a leader.
September 20th, 2014 at 8:32 am
I doubt there’s really a dollar amount that could make McCoy want to stay on this pathetic excuse for an NFL Franchise. I do believe he’s a very high character individual that plays for a lot more than just the $millions he can make being so good at what he does, but even with that, I can’t see him, or any other player worth their salt wanting to stay on this team if they don’t have to.
Here again, the lack of Bucs action on his contract, coupled with Licht’s disappearance since the first game of the season, simply shows they’re trying to get everything lined up for a move to London. Just wait, no team can be this inept, without trying to be.
September 20th, 2014 at 8:56 am
McCoy is good but he’s not great. He doesn’t elevate the play of those around him nor is he that strong of a leader.
If he chooses to leave, then so be it. It’s not like his play here has raised the team to greatness.
September 20th, 2014 at 8:57 am
Fire Lovie today and bring in Derrick Brooks as interim HC…..
September 20th, 2014 at 8:58 am
Hell they played and he didn’t – no it’s not sound bite mantra but they should be accountable!
I wouldn’t blame him for leaving!!!
September 20th, 2014 at 9:06 am
Honestly, not a single player should have came back to Tampa after that humiliation including the so called coaches . No words can make us forget. they literally looked like boys in men’s game. When did we become this soft. Please some body tell how is this mess is fixable.
September 20th, 2014 at 9:17 am
McCoy has never been on the sidelines of such a beatdown before as a pedestrian; he was there in the Georgia Dome when the Falcons put up 42 on the Bucs in a half during Rah’s last game as HC. He probably was in shock over how his teammates simply quit as they did for Rah… Auman has a nice article in the Times about how McCoy seems motivated to try and win some of us disillusioned fans back, he seemed to say all the right things if one is to believe the article. I would attribute his un-McCoy response to simple disgust of what he just witnessed and he chose not to say anything negative; did the reporters in the locker room expect him to point out how bad the team was or single any teammate out? Nah, Gerald did the smart thing and just chose to keep mum and then went out and gave the positive rally the troops spin the next day….
September 20th, 2014 at 9:25 am
He’s not worth a kings ransom. You have to be on the field to be the most valuable player. 5th year and McCoy is not durable at all. 2 bicep tears and a broken hand. No ones comparing you to Warren Sapp anymore, it took him one season before he went out and started registering double digit sacks…. McCoy isn’t worth the money, he’s a great player yea sure but at 12.5 mill this season uuum excuse me one sack in two games. He’s the best player on the team but with this talent that’s not saying much at all
September 20th, 2014 at 9:25 am
Why not pay a kings ransom for the only bright spot on this team!? I agree that he deserves a winning record but you have to do your part and pay the man what he’s worth at least! The gm didn’t have any problem paying mclown, and Johnson! Do the right thing and PAY THE MAN!
September 20th, 2014 at 9:34 am
is there anything worse than soft potential? sorry but broken has zero value…dude is always busted
September 20th, 2014 at 9:36 am
The idea of not doing whatever it takes to keep McCoy baffles me. He’s our best player. You din get rid of one of our few good players. That’s too stupid for words. Even if we got 2 first rounders, what have we done in the last few years to lead anyone to believe we would make good use of those picks? But no, let’s let one of the few bright spots we have on this team go. That makes perfect sense.
September 20th, 2014 at 9:40 am
He’s missed one game in the last 34 games and he’s always busted??? I’m sure he has soft bones.
September 20th, 2014 at 9:42 am
Do you think they’ll rename the franchise when they move it?
September 20th, 2014 at 9:50 am
If you were mccoy would you want to be here?
September 20th, 2014 at 9:53 am
Put yourself in GMC’s shoes. If a Super Bowl contender offers him a huge deal, he would be crazy not to accept it.
Would love to be his agent, wouldn’t you??
September 20th, 2014 at 10:39 am
@Tom Edrington,
The Bucs can keep that from happening by extending him now. Don’t know what’s the hold up.
September 20th, 2014 at 10:41 am
Wow. If we keep playing like this, i wouldnt be surprised if we fire Lovie after 1 season
September 20th, 2014 at 10:54 am
If you can’t say something nice you should be honest. GMC elected to do neither. Smart move. Leaders don’t pile on. Everyone in town is telling the Bucs what they already know, that as a football they suck. GMC will say what encouraging things he can in private.
September 20th, 2014 at 11:59 am
You guys on here suck as fans. You all talk about the franchise so badly. How bout you all go hop on another teams nuts. You complain about everything. Worst than females. I’m a die hard fan throughout it all but damn . I was at the game and I was Uber pissed at the performance and was embarrassed to be a fan but I’m over it. You complained about the glazers not spending money, they started, you still complained. Complained about Morris and Schiano era’s. Smith is here three games in, and yall writing off the season. Yall ready to run him out of town. You compare the bucs to other winning franchises, the difference is they don’t fire people after two seasons. Stop complaining
September 20th, 2014 at 1:07 pm
I’m sorry but there was talk of fans storming One Buc last season to run Schiano outta town….if Lovie is around next season and DOESN’T re-sign GMC, fans might as well burn One Buc to the ground because the franchise will die…and if a franchise isn’t even humble and smart enough to resign it’s best player, it NEEDS to die.
September 20th, 2014 at 1:29 pm
Amen Rashad! I couldnt have said it better. We need to back Lovie and support this team. We should not be talking about how we are going to replace him when hes not even been here three games. We ran Gruden out of town, and I even thought running Schiano out of town after two seasons was to soon. Now that we have Lovie we have to give him time. Hes just now able to evaluate his team so much of that will be addressed in the off season. Not much he can do now but work with what he has. Support your Bucs and believe! I bet the kinda man Gerald is thats what he would want too! Buc for life!
September 20th, 2014 at 11:13 pm
gotta love the “move the franchise” snark….why? because this market unlike miserable detroit or green bay has better things tomdo when its 72 degrees outside? if so..leave. the way i see it this franchise and its gutless ownership has become a national joke and thelast incheced we can watch the game in a much better enviornement…buh bye