Don’t Mock Josh McCown
March 11th, 2014
Ross Tucker is “sick” of it. The former affable former six-year NFL offensive lineman and Princeton grad is outraged and sick of the Josh McCown doubters. He is sick of those making excuses to not sign McCown. He is sick of people mocking McCown.
Tucker, who co-hosts “The Opening Drive,” heard exclusively on SiriusXM NFL Radio, went off in his recent SportingNews.com column claiming McCown is clearly the best quarterback in free agency and QB needy teams (Joe understands the Bucs may fit this category) would be foolish not to pursue his services.
Tucker takes on all the common knocks on McCown, including one of Joe’s talking points.
He’s a product of Marc Trestman’s system
On the surface this makes sense. McCown had by far his best season under Trestman’s tutelage. Trestman is known as a quarterback guru of sorts and has a tremendous track record. McCown was simply the latest example.
I’ll give you that.
But it still leads to one very important question: If McCown played so well because of Trestman, why wasn’t Cutler able to play at a similarly high level?
Well, bratty Jay Cutler is bratty Jay Cutler, who likely doesn’t need coaching up like McCown does.
Yes, Joe knows the NFL free agency rumor mill/smokeshop has the Bucs eyeing McCown. It just scares the hell out of Joe that a guy who is 34 happens to have his best year in the NFL — as a backup no less — while playing for a known quarterback guru.
When throwing cash at a quarterback who has had but one good year in the NFL, never mind his age, the name “Scott Mitchell” races through Joe’s mind.
March 11th, 2014 at 9:38 am
Mike Glennon has more QB starts in the last 3 years than McCown has had in the last 12 years.
March 11th, 2014 at 9:39 am
McCown looked great in his 5 starts last year, but Glennon also had a string of 5 starts that looked impressive as well.
March 11th, 2014 at 9:42 am
5 good starts, that’s all McCown has in him a season, of which he lost 2 of last season. We’d be better off draft both Mecklenberg and McCarron for what McCown will cost us.
March 11th, 2014 at 9:44 am
I’d rather stick with Glennon to be honest with you.
A 34-year old QB who hasnt been much more than a career back-up in this league doesn’t exactly make me excited to buy season tickets.
March 11th, 2014 at 9:47 am
The main reason I don’t want Mccown is that he will lose to Glennon in the QB competition. Therefore we will be paying 4-5 million for Glennon’s backup.
March 11th, 2014 at 9:49 am
Darrelle Revis for Ryan Mallet
Straight up
March 11th, 2014 at 9:53 am
Joe says
“Well, bratty Jay Cutler is bratty Jay Cutler, who likely doesn’t need coaching up like McCown does.”
That statement makes no sense to me. Why would McCown need more “coaching up” when he is older and more experienced?
Josh McCown would be a very bad signing. He would not compete with Glennon. Anyone who thinks otherwise is fooling themselves. No way would Lovie start a quarterback that will likely be playing his last year in the NFL and as a result fail to develop your younger QB.
Another, younger veteran QB might happen if it is serious competition, but not McCown.
Personally, I think Schaub is the best candidate. He has a few years left in him, he is the same kind of QB that Glennon is so can help develop him, and he has playoff experience.
My list of preferences would be only two names.
1. Matt Schaub
2. Mark Sanchez
I prefer Schaub because Sanchez is a different type of QB than Glennon…though he is younger and could start for a good long time.
March 11th, 2014 at 10:03 am
So you are telling me we should pay Josh McCown as the highest paid free agent QB this year but not pay Revis. This entire offseason is just stupid.
March 11th, 2014 at 10:06 am
Didn’t really want McCown but Mike and Mike made a good point yesterday that Rich Gannon was considered a journeyman like McCown prior to winning MVP so that got me slightly more intrigued
March 11th, 2014 at 10:06 am
@Bonzai —
Excellent point. People who want the Bucs to sign Vick don’t consider what that must mean for the next quarterback-in-waiting. Cannot design an offense for a run-first scrambler and a pocket passer back-up. We may not have a a-back this year, and it looks like L&L(&T) intend to swallow ten years’ worth of medicine a at once.
On the Mitchell front, reminds me a lot of Billy Kilmer and Earl Morrell. Joe, you ‘re too young . . .
March 11th, 2014 at 10:08 am
Or Revis for Kirk Cousins
March 11th, 2014 at 10:09 am
The problem is sample size. Throw away the one good year, and he is a HORRIBLE quarterback through the rest of his career.
This one good year came against 2 middle of the pack defenses and 3 bottom of the barrel defenses. And backups always have the advantage of catching opponents off-guard from a film/scouting standpoint.
March 11th, 2014 at 11:58 am
I don’t understand why people are whining about this. If he’s signed, at the very least, he’s an upgrade over Dan Orlovsky, more experienced than Glennon, and a veteran leader in the QB room. How is this a bad thing? People are dumb.
Everybody seems to think it’s easy to go out and find a rockstar franchise QB. Signing McCown would most likely not impact their decision to draft a QB or not.
People need to get a grip on reality. The sky is not falling.
March 11th, 2014 at 12:52 pm
I agree partially with Bonzai. Shaub is intriguing but I wouldn’t touch Sanchez. He is about as bad as Freeman. IMO.
March 11th, 2014 at 12:56 pm
Hopefully this doesnt happen. He has been a backup for 12 years for a reason. We already have 2 backup qb’s on the roster.