“The Buccaneers Dragged Their Feet”

July 24th, 2019

A Hall of Fame personnel man, the godfather of modern NFL scouting, took a little dig at the Bucs.

Gil Brandt cobbled together a new list of the 10 best free agent signings this offseason and Ndamukong Suh was nowhere to be found. However, the guy he replaced, Gerald McCoy, checked in at No. 10. And Brandt started his explanation with a dagger for the Bucs hierarchy.

The Buccaneers dragged their feet on releasing McCoy, letting him go in late May after reported attempts to trade him apparently went nowhere, and Carolina benefited, with the six-time Pro Bowler drawing a more limited market than he likely would have if he’d been available earlier in the offseason. McCoy’s presence should help Kawann Short get his career back on track after a disastrous three-sack 2018. McCoy, meanwhile, will be motivated to show up Tampa in their two NFC South showdowns. The Bucs were terrible on defense as a team last season, ranking 27th overall, and I expect McCoy to get back to form playing for a Panthers unit that ranked 15th in 2018.
Brandt sort of brings up an interesting point. Did the Bucs screw up by waiting too long to release McCoy, which allowed him to land with (and presumably help) a division rival?
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The Bengals, Ravens and Browns, for example, courted McCoy when he was cut. If that happened back in March, maybe those teams would have had more cash to throw his way to keep him out of the NFC.
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Or perhaps the Bucs didn’t give a hoot where McCoy landed because they didn’t think he was a good player any longer.
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Regardless, things should be awfully fun in Week 2, when the Bucs head to Charlotte to face McCoy and the Panthers on Thursday Night Football.

52 Responses to ““The Buccaneers Dragged Their Feet””

  1. The Buc Realist Says:

    The Bucs screwed up when they forced the dc to run a scheme to keep she-mc happy!!!!!!!!!!!! The Bucs screwed up when they built around she-mc with a bunch of over paid slappies!!!!!!!!!! The Bucs did screw up when they did not trade gmc and start the official and much needed rebuild like the “real” fans asked for so long!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. Lamarcus Says:

    GMC is garbage didn’t matter what team he went to. I just hope the Bucs run every play his direction.

  3. AlteredEgo Say: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    Isn’t it “drug their feet”?

  4. Jean Lafitte Says:

    Another outsider who makes his opinions on emotions, not facts. Such BS. He wasn’t here to see the condition GMC was in after games and how his worsening condition affected his play from week to week. He was regressing in front of our eyes. A non factor on a team that needs playmakers. He was taking up a valuable spot and was being overpaid. Gil Brandt will easily forget this hogwash when GMC can’t be that dominating force he props him up to be. Someone after this season should be willing to call him out on this slight to Bucs management.

  5. 813bucboi Says:

    Or perhaps the Bucs didn’t give a hoot where McCoy landed because they didn’t think he was a good player any longer.

    BINGO!!!!!!!!

    BA said himself….he aint the payer he was 5years ago……

    we shouldve traded his @$$ after the 2015 season….

    GO BUCS!!!!!!

  6. 813bucboi Says:

    *player

  7. Ndog Says:

    See what he doesn’t understand is that it was part of the plan to weaken the division rivals by limiting his options so he hopefully ended up there. Success!!!!

  8. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    They held onto GMC just to pi$$ off T—–x.

  9. El Buco Realisto Says:

    Its a shame that licht weight and the sheep, always “figure it out” a year too late!!!!!!!!!!!

    2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans already know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  10. SB Says:

    I am gonna LMAO when McCoy gets 5 sacks this yr in his two games against us.

  11. donuts Says:

    GMC is not worth the money he was due to be paid by the Bucs. Hence he got let go.

    Gil Brandt is 86 years old and was in the NFL last in 1988 (gone before Aikman and Emmitt). What has he done in the last 2 NFL decades worthy of such opinion hype? Not much. I am sure he is a great guy….but not a NFL guru or sage.

  12. JimmyJack Says:

    I was hoping Suh would be the draft pick over McCoy but Detroit grabbed him. In every year they two played I would have rather had Suh on my team over McCoy. This year is no different except we have the better player this time.

    Went ahead a rewatched the 2016 Dallas game(our last meaningful game) the other day. McCoy made no impact the entire game and was not even on the field during critical plays……Let’s job at see what Suh does in meanigful game when we get there. I bet he has a impact.

  13. Hodad Says:

    Why is Joe wasting his ink on McLoser? He’s not a Buc anymore, he shouldn’t be on this site.

  14. BucsFan727 Says:

    Hes a good player. Not dominate. And will finally play for something this year. Hes got his fire back after all the fun he had in Tampa losing and dancing around in his bat britches. I was done when apologized to Big Ben mid stride.

  15. JimmyJack Says:

    SB go find a corner to laugh in all by yourself if that’s how you feel.Just don’t try to hop on the bandwagon. You’re banned.

  16. pick6 Says:

    if the league needed to fear a motivated mccoy, he would still be a buc. he knew going into last season that was fighting for a $13 million non-guaranteed salary for 2019…i think that’s bigger motivation than piling up some stats vs the team that sensibly deemed him not worthy of top 5 pay at his position.

  17. Wesley Says:

    Carolina is dumb, dude has become a very average player.

  18. Mike Johnson Says:

    LMAO here. Of couse our Bucs screwed up. hasn’t that been our Forte over the last few years? Licht knew the minute Arians was hired. He could have put together a trade..some sort of package. If not for a player at least for a 2nd or 3rd rounder. No McCoy ain’t great. But watch us miss him. And I bet all of yas, He has some lights out games against us. WHo?..will be next yrs scapegoat?
    Buc life baby.

  19. JimmyJack Says:

    This is a lame prediction anyways. All’s Gil Brandt is doing is making a safe pick for his list so he don’t have egg on his face later.

    Of course he won’t go out on a limb and put Suh on his list cause he is joining a defense that was just ranked 32 two years in a row. McCoy is joining an established good defense and is a safe pick to not flop and embarrassing Brandt……….Just like the previous article that ranks Byron as a top coordinator. It’s a safe pick cause he is working for a proven offensive guru with Bruce and has established weapons for the offense………This is generic analysis with safe picks.

  20. Magadude Says:

    It was time for McCoy to go, much as I liked him. He was really about two years overdue. When he showed up in 2017 first thing on Hard Knocks and said his knees hurt, that was pretty much it for me. Lost his luster, time to move him.

    We need Suh to be a guy to bring some moxy while also producing–they would not have gotten any of this with McCoy. So McCoy being call a good move to the Panthers doesn’t mean it would have been good/better leaving him here. Just changing the evironment can change the player. But if not careful, Suh has the capacity to be the Swaggy/DJax. Hopefully he can instead mentor or be a team player enough to help in development of upcoming D leaders like D. White.

  21. Race to 10 Says:

    So what they dragged their feet he was the property of the bucs, he signed up for it and it made him a rich man

  22. fernando diaz Says:

    they took time as the new regime asses the situation.
    we need to move on from McCoy, not worth the $$$$$$.
    the business of the NFL, it happens ask Mason Foster

  23. Defense Rules Says:

    GMC = old news Joe. Time to turn the page.

  24. Pelbuc61 Says:

    Should have been traded 2 years ago. Nevertheless, good riddance!

  25. Loyaltotheend Section 312 Says:

    Poor GMC and his over $100 million dollars wah wah wah

  26. TampaBayAllTheWay Says:

    Weak…stuff. This ain’t “news”. Sad.

    Like almost all lazy things on here, in last 3 weeks. And report Bucs stuff that PFT hasn’t ALREADY reported.

    Rachel..is knowingly running far far away, for good reason.

  27. TampaBayAllTheWay Says:

    There…is a way to talk directly to these supposed “advertisers” on here, boys and girls. It can, smartly, be done. Trust me.

  28. ATrain Says:

    SB

    If McCoy can get 5 sacks in two games against us then that will only PROVE he was a Lazy Player for us

    You GMC hold Loyalty to a guy who spit in Tampa’s face

    GMC could have taken 1/2 a million less than NC was offering and stayed here with the state taxes he is paying

    GMC proved he was a Baby when he got let go
    GMC showed he had NO LOYALTY TO THIS TOWN when he didn’t take the pay cut

    I HAVE A Bucket of BEER THAT GMC DOESNT GET 5 sacks all year

  29. Greg Says:

    Gil Brandt also says Cowboys and Eagles are the best two teams in the NFL so I’m going to take his word

  30. stpetebucsfan Says:

    Magadude

    Dang way to scare the bejesus out of us! Swaggy? DJAX?

    Possible of course but let’s hope not. I had one impression of Suh until I saw an interview with him at the French Open of all places. Yeah dude is a big tennis fan. He’s also very articulate…and comes across as a very decent man.

    That inspired me to do some research and he’s also very good at business. I’m not saying the money is irrelevant but he has a huge stash already…he doesn’t need it. He doesn’t come across as the guy who lives for fame and fortune and sports a lot of bling. DJAX? Swaggy? DJAX has certainly earned some bucks…Swaggy not broke but his deal here was financially important.

    Barring injury I feel good about Suh.

  31. DB55 Says:

    attempts to trade him apparently went nowhere,
    ————————–
    Never forget! Now, for the record I would have gladly kept McIceCream for 4 mil cuz frankly that’s all he’s worth.

  32. gobuxfla Says:

    McCoy is a crybaby, on and off the field. Good Riddance.

  33. Buczilla Says:

    Gil Brandt comes up with some goofy lists but this one doesn’t seem too outlandish. He’s deserving of the hof but naming Zeke Elliott one of the best running backs of all time on the site he writes for is downright silly. I take any of his lists with a grain of salt.

  34. Lamarcus Says:

    Let’s just say the coach called him out and he crumbled

  35. ModHairKen Says:

    We will soon find out whether Suh was better for this coaching staff than McCoy. My money is on Arians’ assessment. Not some talking head.

    McCoy could have offered to take a pay cut. He may have. We will probably never know. He was a good player in a bad era. Was he as good a DT as Paul Gruber was a LT? Is he Ring of Honor worthy? I don’t know.

    What I do know is Suh stomps people and McCoy buys people ice cream. Suh has been to the playoffs. McCoy has not. I like stompers more than nice guys when it comes to football.

  36. Magadude Says:

    @St Pete…didn’t want to jolt the ticker! I got a good impression on Suh also, and he’s vicious on the field. The only concern I have is he’s nearing retirement, more or less playing for his own needs….he doesn’t need to self-actualize any further. So I just hope, if nothing else, he is a good “team guy” which I’ve heard at times he’s not. I think he’ll be good if just plays football, buys into BA, etc.

  37. SenileSenior Says:

    Gil Brandt has been one of the great minds in football for many years. I have nothing but respect and admiration for the guy.

    However, he is 86 years old now. He may be still going strong like the famed battery bunny but time takes its toll. I am more the ten years younger than him and I have my “senior moments” frequently enough. I know whereof I speak. Hence my adopted moniker.
    _________________
    I see Suh playing well but not great. He does “pace” himself as far as I can tell. This may partly explain why he has missed only two games during his career so far.

    I do not see him as demonstrating the all out, all around game example that JPP showed us last year. (I think we will miss him for that as much as the loss of the potential 10+ sacks.)
    ___________
    Go Bucs!!!

  38. SenileSenior Says:

    I am more than ten years younger …

    See what I mean!

  39. Resha white Says:

    Wow are we talking about his Lame Ass… so sick of this dude word is out that a lot guys in the locker room didn’t want him back.. tell GMC too go kick rocks bare foot

  40. Bucsfan1988 Says:

    So, can somebody tell me how McSoftie got rated #75 this year in the NFL top 100 for the coming season?? Dude played like A$$ last year and he gets ranked???

    What in the hell is going on??? That’s some fake Shiznit to say the least 🤨😖

  41. Anonymous Says:

    Cause I’m SHE M C,
    I’m Dyno Mite,
    SHE M C,
    I’ll quit the fight!
    SHE M C,
    I’m a power load,
    SHE M C,
    Watch me implode!

  42. #1bucsfan Says:

    @tampabaybucsfan that was hilarious 😂

  43. sincethebeginning Says:

    I am almost sick already just at the thought of what this web site will look like leading up to and after both Panthers games this year.

    If GMC was a generational player I could easily understand this obsession. But he is not. Not even close.

    If GMC was better than Suh, then I might understand. But he is not. And you think GMC wants to prove something when he plays us? Ok. Well I’ll bet Suh will bring it just as hard in those two games for his own chance to prove something. And I’ll guarantee you Suh has more of an impact in both games than GMC.

    Not that it matters, though. This site will still keep the GMC “news” coming, I have no doubt.

  44. Buc1987 Says:

    Who cares?

    Answer : Some Joe.

  45. Buccaneerscotty Says:

    Most of you on this page are truly dumb assholes if you think McCoy sucked !!!!! He had NO help his entire career as a buc!!!! Look who sapp had around him tards!

  46. Sport Says:

    JPP called GMC out on the field in a game.
    JPP practiced inside to show younger guys how to do it.
    GMC told rookies to.enjoy it more.
    GMC wears kimonos.
    GMC prances around singing his fight song.
    GMC is probably a good family man.
    GMC was a good Tampa Bay Citizen.

    I wish him the best, except when we play him and like any good Buc fan, I hope we stomp his ass in the dirt on game day.

    Go Bucs!

    In BA I Trust!

  47. Bucsace Says:

    For the kind of money he was getting paid……he did suck

  48. stpetebucsfan Says:

    @Beginning

    Largely agree with your post except for one phrase…”not even close”. Agree completely GMC was not generational but I think he was that next level.

    He got all the run here because we set the bar lower with all these losses. And we got all these losses because we had a team of close but no cigar stars. Good guys…but just not enough to get over.

    GMC was always one of our top two or three best guys and so he got run. “In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king.”

  49. Morgus the Magnificent Says:

    The Bucs screwed up? Yawn. That’s like saying water is wet.

  50. stvcl Says:

    Gerald was never a game changer, never made “splash” plays early in a game that would set the tone for the defense, never made a impression on me other than disgust at laughing and joking on the sideline while the Bucs were on the wrong side of the scoreboard. Pedestrian interior lineman at best and in no way deserving of the ring of honor. Thankfully he is no longer here, let’s move on.

  51. Cobraboy Says:

    I long for the day Gerald McCoy is in the rear-view mirror.

    Move on, already!

  52. WestChap Says:

    Ugh! No more GMC articles please.