Gerald McCoy Says Bucs GM Used To Consult With Him On Draft Picks, Free Agents

June 16th, 2022

Joe loves Buccaneers history and various historical nuggets that fall from the sky years after the fact.

Six-time Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy delivered one of those goodies this week during a trip to the set of The Herd.

McCoy is a free agent waiting for a phone call, he said, but in the meantime he’s having fun doing media analysis and interviews. (McCoy was fantastic on SiriusXM NFL Radio before the 2022 draft. Joe thinks he’s better on radio than TV.)

While chatting with The Herd host Colin Cowherd, McCoy was hit with the topic of player empowerment when it comes to personnel.

McCoy is all for it, and he noted that the Bucs regularly sought his opinion on personnel.

“When I was with the Bucs, when we would bring people in, the GM would call me, ‘Hey, we’re thinking about getting this guy, we’re thinking about getting this guy, we’re thinking about drafting this guy.’ [McCoy would reply] ‘Yeah, I like him. Yeah, I don’t know I like him,’ McCoy said. “I think you should just do that with your guys. They’ve earned that right.”

No, McCoy didn’t specify which Bucs general manager wanted his take on new players: Mark Dominik, the boss during McCoy’s first four seasons, or current GM Jason Licht, who was with McCoy for six years. Perhaps it was both?

Joe gets why a GM would seek a top player’s take on potential roster moves, but it is a bit of a slippery slope.

If you go there and consistently don’t roll with the player’s opinion, then that could backfire. It’s also unrealistic to reach out to all top players when your roster is loaded with talent like the Bucs have had the past few years.

Joe wonders how much weight the mystery Bucs GM(s) gave to McCoy’s opinion.

47 Responses to “Gerald McCoy Says Bucs GM Used To Consult With Him On Draft Picks, Free Agents”

  1. SB~LV Says:

    Yep.. just regular chit chat

  2. Capt.Tim Says:

    Lol.
    The Bucs Roster damn sure wasn’t” loaded with Talent” during McCoys tenure here!!
    You could count the NFL caliber players on one hand..
    It took Jason Licht a couple years- and by then, McCoy was in Carolina.

    Despite some if the Clueless who post here- McCoy was very talented and intelligent.
    And a very Loyal Buccaneer.
    His opinion would definitely have Merit

  3. WillieG Says:

    Yeah, that Swaggy Baker cat is a baller, bring him in!

  4. Winny Testaverde Says:

    I can relate. When I was the assistant manager/janitor at Long John Silver’s…I was asked about the street free agent Cap’n Tim ( 2nd cousin to Cap’n Crunch ). I said, heck yes bring that baller in…he could fry some mad hush puppies and cod filets. It never came to fruition…and it felt like The Cap’n was the one who got away.

  5. Marine Buc Says:

    McSofty 93 telling the worst GM in the NFL who to hire…

    I am so grateful for Jason Licht, BA and TB12…

    We were the Cleveland Browns of the South for 18 seasons.

    Mark Dominiks is only surpassed by Detroit GM Matt Millen as the worst GM in NFL history.

  6. DoooshLaRue Says:

    Whoopi knows all.

    Intelligent and snuggly soft.

  7. Bucnjim Says:

    Wow capt Tim has been here aa long as I have. Licht started having success when he stopped drafting workout warriors and concentrated of footall players. Hard to do teams like the Raiders still fall for that speed and strength trap.

  8. GOB Says:

    Joe is right. It’s a bad idea. Taking advice from players, who aren’t in the draft room, diminishes the hard work the scouts have done. After all, that’s what they’re paid to do. It sets a bad precedent. This isn’t a perfect apples to apples comp, but Brady pushed hard for Mohammed Sanu, instead of Manny Sanders at the trade deadline. We all know how that turned out. But for a grisly overthrown by Jimmy G, Sanders catches the winning TD in SB 54. Sanu had nothing left and cost the Pats a second round pick.

  9. A Bucs Fan Says:

    McCoy never did live up to his draft status, but he was a good teammate and a good player on a very bad team for 10 years. I believe he was the face of the lost decade and that is why many fans look on him and his buc’s tenure with a jaundiced eye.

    The fact he was with a losing franchise and he was a nice guy is almost a double negative. Most of the time the big nasties or players with mean streaks get the most respect rather than the wholesome. Especially, cape wearing ones in a losing culture.

    Best wishes for his future.

  10. Cobraboy Says:

    I’d rather take player advice from a true Big Nasty who eats glass, than from a guy in a kimono who sleeps with action figures.

    Now we know one more reason why the “rock star” GM was so bad…

  11. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    I would say the blind leading the blind….but I don’t want’ to insult GMC……Dominick needed help….and it looks like he didn’t get it.

    Dominick ran off Michael Bennett for no good reason.

    And that Darrelle Revis mess was the worst….

  12. tampabuscsbro Says:

    Hey Marine remember that GM you are down talking is still known as a rockstar around here.

  13. Lokog Says:

    No wonder all we did was lose go “home “ gerald nobody cares for you here to me you’ll never be a buc

  14. Leopold Stotch Says:

    Well clearly he was about as good of a player GM as Lefraud James is.

  15. Steven007 Says:

    In general it’s a terrible idea. Expecting these players to know a lot about the current college players is silly. Just imagine, if Sapp were a current player and they asked him that about vea we would have never signed him if we expect this kind of thing to be true. It’s not.

  16. GOB Says:

    What’s wrong with you folks. He made the pro bowl six times, and 60 sacks.

  17. Tampabaybucfsn Says:

    GOB

    Seems like many Buc fans need to have a player to dislike…..D Smith is the closest we have to that now

  18. SB Says:

    ^^^^^ Friggin Arse Wipes putting him down because he wasn’t Warren Sapp!!!
    Idiots!!!!! Sapp had Brooks, Lynch, Rice, Nickerson, and Barber behind him.. Wake up Tards!!!!

  19. gotbbucs Says:

    Just because they asked doesn’t mean they listened. As a GM, you’d be foolish not to get the opinions of your pillar players on some decisions. Doesn’t mean you have to do what they want, but the players play the games and they want to feel comfortable with the guy next to them.

    You don’t think Brady has had a hand in pick some of these free agents that are currently or were currently on this team? Gronk? Fornette?

    GMC was a tool and didnt quite livebup to the hype, but he was one of the better players on an awful roster. Dominik I’m sure was grasping at straws. I’m sure Licht ran things by GMC too in those first couple years.

  20. Eckwood Says:

    Asked Gerald and asked many many more !!!

  21. Red86 Says:

    Aaron Donald………..

  22. Chris Tucker@Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa Says:

    GMC is a great consultant! He has tons of experience with Comic Books and BBQ, but not so much in picking players.
    Him and Mark Dominick together are like Stevie Wonder, driving Ray Charles around, LOL

  23. PassingThru Says:

    I heard that both the Pentagon and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors call McCoy for advice.

  24. Anonymous Says:

    As a BUCS fan for a really long long time why all the hate for gmc he was a monster with no real supporting cast he thankful for what the man brought to the organization.

  25. Dooley Says:

    Every Owner in the league should have an 8×10 of Mark Dominick on their desk and tell all potential candidates “don’t be him”. That’s it, that’s my comment.

  26. The real Gerald Mccoy Says:

    Y’all forever and a day will never appreciate what a player leaves on the field for a team quick to choose hate. This NFL business is easy come on down and try out. So I can blast y’all for not even making the practice squad😂😂😂

  27. GOB Says:

    gotbucs, Gronk was always going wherever Brady landed. They as much as planned it. I’m sure Lenny’s decision to join the bucs had as much to do with the roster, as it did Brady. How’d AB work out? They would’ve won the Superbowl without him. He undermined what was left of BAs authority, and made Brady look like a complete ass hat. It wasn’t the first time. Remember the one game in NE? I already mentioned the Mohammed Sanu adventure.

    On draft picks, no absolutely not. Teams have scouts for a reason. Sure listen to the players, like you listen to your children. Give them the illusion of power, but largely ignore it. What arrogant presumption to think they know better than the group of people that actually study the picks for a living. Sorry, but this one has ole GOB fired up.

  28. GOB Says:

    GMC probably wasn’t worth the third overall pick. But, labeling him as some bum, is ludacris. Playing for a junk organization doesn’t often bring out the best.

  29. GOB Says:

    @ The real Gerald McCoy, I made a practice squad, never a 53. You visiting any of the football camps that you sponsor? My grandson is signed up

  30. David Says:

    Cue the McCoy haters. Idiots

    Anyway, for those of us who want to have a real conversation, I would suspect most good GM’s consult their top players about potential free agents or consult a player that played with a potential free agent. If you’re doing your due diligence, it’s just another avenue for information.
    I would not really see why they would ask them about draft picks unless they played with a guy in college

  31. Big Red Says:

    You the reason we’ve drafted 6 kickers and 2 punters?

  32. Brett Says:

    Just because they ask your opinion doesn’t mean they use it.

  33. Goatfarmer Says:

    No wonder the Bucs sucked when McCoy was here if they asked him to weigh in on personnel.

  34. Mikejp Says:

    A smart leader is always listening other opinions. I think Jason Litch is a smart GM. He has been sending videos to Tom before the draft, so he could do the same to Suh, McCoy. Why not? A scout may has a conflict of interest or a bias towards a specific player. Moreover, Tom and Suh certainly have more football knowledge and skills than scouts. Thus, Jason just wants to add these players in his committee team to make a consensus to rank the candidate. As a researcher, I made most of the decision based on evidence and consensus between the team.

  35. DoooshLaRue Says:

    Shut up Whoopi.

  36. Matlok727 Says:

    So McCoy is to blame for that DE from cincy and not resigning Bennett

  37. GOB Says:

    Jesus, why have scouts at all. Just let the players select the draft picks. More over, let them sign free agents while you’re at it. How bout we let them pick the coaches to boot. If you think Brady has that kinda power, then the entire Bucs staff would’ve been fired, and Josh McDaniels would be the head coach. Him or Bill O’Brien.

    Once Brady gets a piece of a team, then he’ll make some of those decisions in earnest.

  38. adam from ny Says:

    i think he’s hoping to be a rotational hire for cheap…

    chance for that rang

  39. Bruce Blahak Says:

    What a b*llsh*tter! Never in my life saw someone so full of themselves, when they’re “just a body” in football pants. The guy sucked. Period.

  40. Mikejp Says:

    GOB, have you ever led any team or any group? Based on your logic, why the GM and head coach are the two persons who draft players? If you think a veteran player cannot help the scouting report, you are so naive in a team sport or team work.

  41. Scotty in Fat Antonio Says:

    Yes, definitely explains why we absolutely sucked while he was here. Sorry I hit you Ben (Roethlesberger).

  42. Eckwood Says:

    In an absolutely stunning uncovering of previously unavailable information ,“Eckwood” that’s right “ Me Eckwood “ has gone deeply undercover to unearth never before ;thought to be factual information to the Public ……….So did the ice cream truck manager !! That’s right Gerald it appears May have all along actually been a very important consultant for the ice cream truck management !! SHoCKER !!

  43. Goatfarmer Says:

    Take some more PEDs Geraldine. Maybe you’ll grow proper breasts.

  44. Buc1987 Says:

    Ask fans of other teams if they’ve ever heard of McCoy.

    Most say…. nope.

  45. MadMax Says:

    who?

  46. UKBuccaneer Says:

    A leader absolutely listens to and engages with his team. All of his team. You want guys to play fur you? They have to feel you’re worth playing for. An NFL team isn’t a college or high school team, and can’t be run as a dictatorship.

  47. LongSeason Says:

    It is not just that McCoy was asked and by whom. It is more important to know if McCoy’s opinions were more often right than wrong or more often wrong than right. That could point to whether he could be a talent evaluator as a scout or personnel manager for an NFL team.