“Make The Hall Of Fame”

August 16th, 2019

Oklahoma writer weighs in.

Yeah, earlier this summer Gerald McCoy made waves grousing about how Bucs defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is wearing what GMC considers his No. 93.

Recently, Warren Sapp fired off charged comments essentially saying GMC was way out of line. Joe can’t disagree.

But you know what? Other than Skip Bayless, it seems football fans across the country agree with Sapp. Hell, even in GMC’s native neck of the woods in Oklahoma, GMC’s words are not going over very well.

Being a true legend at Oklahoma, this controversy spurred columnist Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman to gently nudge GMC to reassess.

So, is Sapp right? Well, sometimes you hate to admit it, but maybe. Tampa Bay has retired only three numbers – [Derrick] Brooks’ No. 55, [Lee Roy] Selmon’s No. 63 and Sapp’s No. 99.

That seems to be a clear criteria. Make the Hall of Fame, get your number retired.

Unlike the loud crowd, Joe believed GMC was good — not great — but a good player. Good enough for six Pro Bowls (that’s as many Pro Bowls as Ring of Honor member Mike Alstott made). Good enough to be named All-Pro one year (Paul Gruber, Ring of Honor member, never played in a Pro Bowl and was never named All-Pro).

Will GMC make the Ring of Honor someday? It’s not a ridiculous prediction at all.

Retire his number? Ah, sorry, no.

51 Responses to ““Make The Hall Of Fame””

  1. Morgus the Magnificent Says:

    MDS !!! …it is strong with Joe

  2. zzbuc Says:

    As long as his carrer keep on like this, why would GMC be in the hall of fame?
    He has been a very good player, but he is not high end……He has a couple of more years…..
    On the 93 novel, is just stupid, why the bucs would retire his number????I just can´t find one single reason why the organization should retire his number, egomaniac!!!!!
    Shouldn´t we retire first Alstot´s 40 or Lynch´s 47, or Barber???? Get on the Line GMC there are many players before than you!!!!

  3. SB Says:

    Is the game being televised locally Joe?

  4. Swampbuc Says:

    Alstott made plays when the chips were down, multiple multiple times. He put the team on his back and won games with his play. Inspired his teammates.

    Geraldine never did that. There’s no comparing Geraldine, who only once made a play (against Atlanta in 2015) that contributed to a 4th quarter win when he grabbed Matt Ryan’s foot. He combined to force or recover nine fumbles — in ten years! Scuse me — not even Ring of Honor worthy, especially after his over sensitive butthurtness.

  5. tmaxcon Says:

    Pro bowls, hall of fame and every other personal achievements are rendered meaningless when you spend your entire career in the basement without a single meaningful win…. i know this is a concept low standard bucfan can not grasp but the object of NFL football is to win games not collecting meaningless awards….. that being said cancer93 fits right in the ring of underachievement right next to the other backups

  6. Wesley Says:

    Yeah he was good, sometimes very good, but not great.

  7. Bobby M. Says:

    I think he has a chance….but taking shots at your former team that paid you well for never leading a top ten defense or team to the playoffs, and doesn’t hold a single team record, certainly doesn’t help the cause.

  8. D-Rome Says:

    Will GMC make the Ring of Honor someday? It’s not a ridiculous prediction at all.

    Of course he will. He’ll be put in 10 – 20 years after he retires from the game. He was one of the best players in team history. His numbers and accomplishments bear that out. All that said, I don’t recall McCoy ever talk about having his number retired. There’s a huge difference between giving a number away right away and talking about a number being retired.

  9. Buc believer Says:

    GMC is just proving with his kindergarten act what a lot of us fans have been saying about him for years.

  10. LordCornelius Says:

    He only made all pro one year?

    For some reason I thought he made a couple but that is a pretty damning because I don’t even consider pro bowls accolades personally. wow.

    Probowls are popularity contests… no wonder he loved being on camera and the face of the team / being active on social media / etc. Dude loved his personal stats/glory.

    lol bye dude

  11. LordCornelius Says:

    “GMC is just proving with his kindergarten act what a lot of us fans have been saying about him for years.”

    Seriously. All this stuff validates everything that annoyed the fan base about him.

  12. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Isn’t GMC gone?

  13. Morgus the Magnificent Says:

    If McCoy plays poorly, the comments will be “We knew he sucked all along”…..if he plays well they’ll say “he should’ve played like that as a Buc”….lol

  14. Mort Says:

    Look i love Gerald, I’m from (and still in) Oklahoma, and agree he should be in the ring of honor, but not the HoF and not have his jersey retired. I don’t think any of that is an insult to the man. He has had a very good career as a very good player.

  15. Joe Says:

    SB. Of course

  16. Clodhopper Says:

    It is possible he makes the ROH. Like if we go another 20 years without making the playoffs and whoever the owners are in 2039 are desperate for some publicity, he might get in.

    He’s more likely to be in ROH wrestling though.

  17. SB Says:

    Just wondering because I am on vacation and Never get to see pre season games in Montana.

  18. LordCornelius Says:

    Also can’t believe how well Alex Cappa is supposedly doing. That’s the best news of camp so far probably because RG was the biggest “?” for me going into this year and the worst starting position on offense last year.

    If Spence/Rojo/Cappa/VHIII or Stewart/Smith all become adequate starters or above average, that’s a huge indictment against the past coaches and Licht will probably jump in a pool of Hooters beer to celebrate. Gotta see it week 1 tho before it’s real.

    GO BUCS

  19. Pittsshore Says:

    Six pro balls on poor team just pretty damn good in my eyes. Not to mention, none of the teams that he was on had a quality quarterback starting for the Buccaneers. Apples/McGoo constantly put the defense back on the field Due to all of his turnovers.

  20. Morgus the Magnificent Says:

    It’s incredible how McCoy lives rent-free in Bucs fans’ heads

  21. Cobraboy Says:

    I’m not sure about today, but isn’t each team supposed to be represented in the Pro Bowl? Is that why McCoy has numerous selections?

    TTo me making the Pro Bowl is like making then Hall of Really Good.

    No cigar and a nearly meaningless resume enhanced.

    Gerald McCoy was good. He was and is not even in the shadow of great.

    It’s clear McCoy reads and believes his own press clippings.

  22. 813bucboi Says:

    i think booger and dunn belong in the ROH before gmc….

    i think booger was better than gmc…

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  23. DB55 Says:

    “Not even a damn wild card” – Sapp.

    At this point Brad Culpepper’s Jersey should be retired before Buttface McIceCream.

    Not only is McIceCream a itch he’s a sell-out too.

  24. Old School Athlete Says:

    I’m really ready to stop talking about GMC.

  25. Bucsfanman Says:

    ^^^THIS, so much this^^^

  26. ATrain Says:

    ******MCCOY IS A CAROLINA PANTHER*********

    He can be put in the LITTER BOX OF CAROLINA STADIUM

    JOE can we get BUCS NEWS ON BUVS PLAYERS. PRETTY PLEASE

    TIRED IF MCCOY

    GOOD PLAYER BUT HE IS GONE
    BYE HAVE A GREAT REST OF CAREER

  27. DBS Says:

    Of course it means something. It’s. constantly beaten in to us . Pro Bowler. Pro Bowler. Pro Bowler.. So it has to mean something and can’t be a joke right?

  28. Morgus the Magnificent Says:

    “Pro Bowler Jameis Winston”……………LOL

  29. LordCornelius Says:

    Pro bowl doesn’t mean sh**. Might as well list appearances on dancing with the stars or ice cream hand outs as accolades

  30. Ben real Says:

    Simeon rice should be next in the ring of honor … his number should have been retired and he should be in the hall … we shouldn’t be talking about McCoy

  31. Buccfan37 Says:

    Where did you dig up that horror show pic above? Scary and demented looking.

  32. Dusthty Rhothdes Says:

    Simeon Rice and Ronde Barber were far more impactful players for the bucs and in the NFL that deserve to be in the Hall way before old 93

  33. Alanbucsfan Says:

    Ring of Honor means you made a significant impact on your team’s organization- either by contributing to winning or laying the foundation for future success or by evoking fond memories and reverence from fans and NFL –
    Sorry, McCoy doesn’t qualify.

  34. Race to 10 Says:

    Note suddenly someone it’s changing the narrative that fans didnt like him because he wasn’t sapp now that sapp has called him out. Your saying finally what fans have always been saying he’s a good player not great but you ignored its all these years now you’re trying to peddle the fans as your own. Come on where’s the stupid fans dont like him because he’s not Warren Sapp comment now?

  35. D-Rome Says:

    Ring of Honor means you made a significant impact on your team’s organization- either by contributing to winning or laying the foundation for future success or by evoking fond memories and reverence from fans and NFL –

    Care to remind me how Paul Gruber contributed to winning or laying the foundation for future success?

  36. Ben real Says:

    Paul Gruber was an iron man on the Bucs and he was on 2 winning teams one in 99 helped lead the Bucs to the NFC title game thank you

  37. JimmyJack Says:

    How about the orginazation give it’s own fans a little credit and value our say if Gerald should get ring of honor? Why do they have to tell us who gets ROH? Why can’t we tell them?

    I’d love a poll Joe.

    I would firmly vote no for ROH.But if the majority wanted him then fine give it to him(and them). If some fans feel a need to have a day to honor and celebrate McCoys career then have at it. No skin off my hind……Just don’t expect me to celebrate with you…….I just promise I won’t boo it like some kind of Ass. Just don’t expect me to join the celebration. I’ll go drink 2 beers at that halftime.

    Just let’s the fans decide and give them what they want. We know what we are looking at. Don’t see what so hard about it.

  38. Alanbucsfan Says:

    DRome-
    I would say Gruber was just about the only fond memory in a Black Hole era of Bucs history . He was an iron man, and maybe if the Bucs had better teams those years, he wouldn’t have been inducted, but he was a well respected, dependable player.

  39. BucsFan727 Says:

    Its about winning a championship. Winston can throw 3 ints a game and I wouldn’t give a crap if we win a SuperBowl in the process. Stats are for lossers and fantasy football. Players that have rings know it trumps all there personal stats. McCoy was never that game changer. His a one trick pony. Good luck Batman but as you can see he eas easy to replace. Ring of honour YES. retire number NO. He was a liability in the run game. He would run his butt right past the play. Its a team spot and we wasted his good years. Hes declining and pne trick ponys get taken out to the pasture to get put down.

  40. westernbuc Says:

    GMC didn’t say his number should be retired. Just watch the video. He was talking in the context of the whole process. They dragged their feet and waited until after the draft. There was never a real trade market for him at that price, so if Licht believed that he should be fired.

    GMC was bothered they never reached out to him, then Arians talked sh!t through the media, then gave his number away immediately to his replacement, a known mercenary.

    I get why Mccoy rubbed people the wrong way, he’s super passive aggressive. But he was one of the best Bucs ever. That’s indisputable.

  41. Cometowin2 Says:

    Not sure where all the hate comes from. Most hated Buc probably of all time. I appreciated his time here. Sorry you weren’t Sapp but who is. Maybe if we had ever put anyone around you like we did with Sapp.Have a feeling the real hate comes from Trump supporters. That’s my conspiracy theory.

    Go Bucs!!!

  42. Mike Johnson Says:

    Yet another edition from Joe on our latest, Whipping Post..GMC
    Whose next?

  43. orlbucfan Says:

    GMC is right.

  44. Cobraboy Says:

    @Ben real: Paul Gruber was an infinitely superior LT than McCoy is/was a DT.

  45. Cobraboy Says:

    Simeon Rice deserves RoH loooooong before McCoy.

  46. Ghost of Darrell Henderson Says:

    Pig Goff>MeCoy

  47. Rod Munch Says:

    If any of you dullards actually listened to the interview you’d know what Sapp said.

    Sapp said McCoy was very very good, but shouldn’t be mentioned in the breath with Barber, Lynch, Brooks and Rice since McCoy didn’t win anything. I like McCoy, but I also 100% agree with Sapp, McCoy was/is very very good – but he’s not a HOF level guy and I don’t think anyone would ever thing he was.

    But also what Sapp said in that interview is “I told you” on Vita, who said wouldn’t be able to handle the FL heat and would be injured. He also said Suh hasn’t shown him anything and pointed out how unproductive Suh was with the Rams last year despite playing next to the defensive player of the year. People tend to leave those two parts out for some reason, it’s almost like they’re too soft to hear the full thing since.

  48. Rod Munch Says:

    Sapp also said in that interview that there isn’t a team in the NFL that would have wanted Brian Dawkins on their team over John Lynch and it’s ridiculous that Dawkins is in the HOF.

  49. Rod Munch Says:

    Cobraboy – I like McCoy, but no, there’s not way he’s making the HOF and certainly no way he’s ahead of Rice on any list. They play different positions obviously, but Rice should be at least talked about for the HOF, McCoy is just short of that level.

    As for Gruber… come on. Gruber was a very good player, but he wasn’t a better LT than McCoy was a DT, that’s just ridiculous and fake news garbage. Gruber should have made the pro-bowl at some point in his career, but McCoy wasn’t just a pro-bowl guy, he was an all-pro guy, and one of the very best in the game.

    You anti-McCoy people just lose all credibility when you say dumb stuff like that.

  50. Clodhopper Says:

    DB55 Says:
    August 16th, 2019 at 11:13
    Brad Culpepper 😂😂

    Sometimes I wish there was a like button here. It’s good for instances like this. I got nothing to add but want to show appreciation for a stellar comment.

  51. Cobraboy Says:

    @Rod Munch: Gruber was one of the best LT’s to ever play in the NFL. He played on some really bad teams, and hardly ever gave up sacks. And he was quiet, hardly a “look at me” self-promoter so often seen in today’s NFL.

    Of course Rice and Sapp played different positions. But Rice was a vastly better DE than McCoy was a DT. No comparison.

    McCoy was good. McCoy was in no dimension great. He was the best the pathetic Bucs had. Beyond a quick first step, he was a thoroughly “meh” player that nobody really feared. Yeah, I know the coaches psych-speak of “we have to account for McCoy.” Newsflash #1: EVERY player has to be “accounted” for. NewsFlash #2: maybe they wanted to find McCoy to run at him. His team gave up massive yardage on the ground. Nobody feared McCoy.

    Once again: he was a good player. Not close to great. But he will never sniff the Bucs RoH or the HoF. He may not even make the Hall of Really Good.