“Sleep Is For Losers”
October 22nd, 2015
Gerald McCoy has high standards when it comes to life in the NFL and the way players should approach their jobs.
Last night on the Buccaneers Radio Network, McCoy was asked what he loves most about being in the NFL.
McCoy went on a long, passionate rant about how he constantly is in a state of appreciation for being in the league. It’s not sacks and tackles for loss that warm McCoy’s heart most, it’s the daily blessing for the chance to play.
But McCoy translates that into working like a farm animal at his craft — and smiling in the face criticism.
“It doesn’t mean you can’t look at this game like a kid looks at football,” McCoy said. “Kids don’t worry about if they miss a tackle whether the media is going to write bad about them. You know what I’m saying. They just go out there and enjoy playing the game. We stress ourselves way too much playing this game.
“Yes, it is a performance-based business. But that’s why you prepare the best you can. In the offseason, put in the work. Why are you staying in sleeping in? For what? Sleep is for losers. Rest is not, but sleep is. You can rest.”
McCoy went on to specify that “reloading” is the necessary time off to get yourself 100 percent, a steady diet of rehab activities, rest and then it’s back to training.
It was a neat little peak into the mind of McCoy.
McCoy also was asked what he did during the bye week, and McCoy said he accompanied his wife to an industry convention she attended for her profession.
Asked what he did when she was tied up in business activities, McCoy said he stayed in his hotel room because he has no business walking around Vegas without his wife. A hotel bed and football on the tube suited him just fine.
October 22nd, 2015 at 8:50 am
@McCoy … “We stress ourselves way too much playing this game.”
I’d say that the media more than does its’ part in making sure that players get stressed out. You can have 50 great plays in a game, but screw up once big-time (Lavonte David penalty at the end of the 2013 opener against the Jets that cost the Bucs a win) and guess what the media headlines. Here was the headline in Newsday after the game: “Lavonte David’s personal foul penalty costs Buccaneers dearly.” Never mind that Lavonte had 2 sacks and 1 INT and a bunch of tackles.
October 22nd, 2015 at 9:22 am
by definition, whatever the bucs have done the last 5 years is for losers.
October 22nd, 2015 at 9:30 am
If sleep is for losers, these guys have been in deep hibernation the past two seasons…..
October 22nd, 2015 at 9:30 am
You have to lose to learn how to win to appreciate the winning.
October 22nd, 2015 at 9:46 am
Maybe A Little More Sleep Would Help The defense hold 4th quarter leads and make some critical stops on 3rd downs.
October 22nd, 2015 at 1:08 pm
I wish GMC would care a little less about what the media and others say about him. I think that’s weakness on his part.
October 22nd, 2015 at 1:44 pm
They’re getting payed millions of dollars… Stress themselves too much my a**. I want a guy like Sapp that got po’d when he sucked or they lost the game. That’s problem with this team. They’re ok with mediocrity and below average results.
October 23rd, 2015 at 6:34 am
This is part of the problem with McCoy. Everything is great. He does not seem to have a sense of urgency if the team is losing? At least we don’t see it on the field or on the sidelines as a fan? To be a winner you must plan to win, prepare to win and most of all, expect to win. Tough times don’t last, tough people do. If you don’t have confidence, you will find a way to lose. Winning is a habit. Winning is everything. This team has to build on the last victory. It is time for Jameis to bring that winning success he had in college to this team. It is about time for Jameis to lead his team in a come from behind victory.