Clinton McDonald Will Play Sunday
November 12th, 2016
Dirk Koetter and Robert Ayers weigh in
Excuses are evaporating for the Buccaneers defense.
Heard on SiriusXM NFL Radio today, Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter said starting defensive tackle Clinton McDonald will return to action Sunday.
He’s been sidelined with a hamstring injury since recording 1 1/2 sacks and six tackles against the Broncos on Oct. 2.
“We’re slowly but surely getting back to where we want to be,” Koetter said. “I’d like to get all those running backs back healthy, but we’re making progress.”
Defensive end Robert Ayers spoke about McDonald’s return on the Buccaneers Radio Network on Thursday night.
“He brings a demeanor and an attitude and a mindset that, you know, that we need,” Ayers said of McDonald.
“He’s a very positive person to be around. He makes other guys better. You know, he’s not a guy that really cares about the stats or the accolades, or who got this or who got that. He just cares about results and getting it done and winning. He’ll sacrifice a lot of his things to see other people successful, you know, for the greater cause of winning. And as a guy that’s been in the league as long as I have, that’s rare to see and you really appreciate things like that. It’s fun to have him back, you know, his energy.”
Big talk there from Ayers, 31, who said he knows what McDonald, 29, is going through as a veteran batting injury — hearing the whispers that “he’s done” in his career.
Joe’s very slightly optimistic the Bucs will be able to breathe on Jay Cutler.
November 12th, 2016 at 11:05 am
That is great news, but our defense is still bad. Hopefully we will get an announcement later today that Doug will play as well.
November 12th, 2016 at 11:20 am
when the Bears run through the Dline like a hot knife through butter, we’ll wonder what’s next…total collapse
November 12th, 2016 at 11:48 am
I’m still surprised people are this invested in the team at this point. I gave up awhile ago on counting on good players to stay healthy and produce. It’s not just a loser mentality folks. We’ve got a serious problem with over payed underwhelming performers that couldn’t care less for Tampa, the fans or even the shield. The name on the front of your jersey represents so much more than the one on the back. I just hope all 53 start feeling that way.
November 12th, 2016 at 11:48 am
Here’s hoping for some impact plays from the D-Line.
Get on Cutler early and you can ruin his whole day. Let this jerk off get comfortable and he’ll slice you apart.
Go Sucs!
#lictmyb*lls
November 12th, 2016 at 12:00 pm
Hulk mad. Mad at Bucs for being soft. Hulk so mad after Atlanta game that he run through his garage. Now Hulk have to get job to fix Hulk-size hole in dumb garage. It hard for me to get part time job. Hulk have to answer dumb questions from stupid man about Hulk work history. Hulk have to explain smashing! Hulk have to get resume and Hulk HATE resume writing!
Hulk not afraid of puny Bears or puny Jay Cutler!
November 12th, 2016 at 12:06 pm
Why do we keep these injury-prone players? The exact same players are injured, year after year. We keep them and get rid of the healthy players. It don’t take a genius to understand that the best ability is availability. SMDH
November 12th, 2016 at 12:31 pm
Joe…….I don’t know how you did it but you somehow corralled 99% on the Negative Nelly Bucs “fans” here on this corner of the net. Some of you guys are really beyond belief. Go be Dolphins fans Please!
Do we suck? Yes. Have we sucked for a while? Yes. Is this good news for us? YES. Is it even possible for those of you who have no life to be Hopeful? If Joe puts up a ‘bad news’ thread I understand it, staying on topic. This is good news for us and if you Really are a Bucs fan you should be happy. If not then I feel sorry for you and I wish you wouldn’t pretend to support my team.
November 12th, 2016 at 1:07 pm
Amen SB I agree that’s all I here on here it will be something if we beat the bears and they pop right here screaming super bowl or sum stupid stuff like that guys I’m a big Buc fan but I also coached the game and this takes time yes I know we are all impatient but right now look at the positives we got the NFL leading receiver in tds and if Jameis keeps it up he will be the 1st QB to throw for 4000 yards from his rookie year to his second and he’s also on brace to throw for over 30 tds something we never seen and kwon is just a freak of nature and vhIII is becoming something special so look focus on the positives and for god sake stop being negative and enjoy the little things
November 12th, 2016 at 1:10 pm
Sometimes I wonder & worry about some Buc “fans”…….I know they think the Bucs suck….and they do right now….but I wonder if they think their neighbors suck….their parents suck….their children suck….their job sucks…..their spouse sucks….their grandparents suck and even Pablo sucks.
Maybe I’m simply cynical….hopefully, I’m just wrong….for their sake.
November 12th, 2016 at 1:44 pm
What The bucfan 88 just said.
November 12th, 2016 at 1:45 pm
Amen TBBF
November 12th, 2016 at 1:51 pm
This is Garabage football! YAY Lets waste our money!
November 12th, 2016 at 2:12 pm
I think this week it is the D’s turn to play good, they show up one week and take the next 2 weeks off.
November 12th, 2016 at 2:24 pm
since TBBF is concerned and stated “I wonder if they think their neighbors suck….their parents suck….their children suck….their job sucks…..their spouse sucks….their grandparents suck”… my neighbors are friends, my parents have both passed, but they were great, my children are all on their own and are very successful, my job is incredible, my spouse is terrific, and my grandparents all passed, but were loving. So, there you go my concerned friend. The Bucs are a disgrace and should be contracted. Teams should be required to show some progress over a period of 3 years or else they would be contracted. The Bucs will be perennial losers until the owners decide to stop their experimenting with green leadership and/or pathetic re-treads.
November 12th, 2016 at 2:31 pm
Hey rich. Why don’t you just go find another team to root for.
Thanks
November 12th, 2016 at 2:31 pm
Funny Ayers didn’t say that when McCoy was returning..
Wonder Why?
November 12th, 2016 at 2:39 pm
Ayers applaud McDonald and thru McCoy under the bus.
November 12th, 2016 at 2:54 pm
SB with Jameis … Couldn’t agree more. Getting Clinton McDonald back is awesome news and improves Bucs chance of winning dramatically if he can stay healthy. For some reason, richbucsfan seems to think that “the Bears run through the Dline like a hot knife through butter”. Guess what, Bears have almost 100 FEWER rushing yds this season than we do (773 to 864). And we’ve been using guys off the street (Jaquizz Rodgers and Antone Smith??). Tomorrow we get Doug Martin back potentially? Even if Doug gets limited carries, I’m thinking that Barber & James can do a good job carrying the rock. Bucs have a decent chance to win, but they have to play a solid game on both sides of the ball. I’m picking the Bucs to win 24-20.
November 12th, 2016 at 3:43 pm
Joe, like seriously, please update those icon(or whatever you call them)pics. I think Bucs will win tomorrow. I still am not sold on Mike Smith. 24-21 Bucs. GO TAMPA BAY!!!!!!
November 12th, 2016 at 10:39 pm
How could Ayers have said that when McCoy was returning?
He was still out with his own injury (which he sustained weeks before GMC went down).
November 13th, 2016 at 5:24 am
I hate that we talk about our defense sucking when we know it won’t change. The only change? At the end of the year when mike smith is done using Tampa as a stepping stone for something greater and we have to put all of our young talented defensive players through a third defensive scheme in as many years. Here’s to many many more years of an underachieving overtalented defense.