Lovie: McCown Is “The Starting Person”
March 12th, 2014
“There has to be a starting spot, a starting point, a starting person to go out there first, and that will be Josh [McCown],” Lovie Smith, speaking to JoeBucsFan.com this afternoon at One Buc Palace.
The context here was simple. Lovie was asked whether Josh McCown would be the starter, and Lovie danced a bit but rolled into a monologue about how there are “starting rotations” at every positions and gave the example that Gerald McCoy is the No. 1 guy at his position. And then Lovie gave his quote about McCown.
Joe talked to general manager Jason Licht who explained what a great leadership type McCown is, saying he’s got a little Kurt Warner in him when it comes to leadership and his approach to the game. Licht said McCown’s interview process was very much led by McCown at times. “He interviewed us,” Licht said.
Among other things, Lovie made it clear that McCown is not close to retirement or thinking about his post-football future. Lovie even said the 34-year-old will prove mobile in Jeff Tedford’s system.
“You’ll get a chance to see. Josh McCown has a lot of spring in his legs. He’s gonna play a lot of good football,” said Lovie, who called McCown a “good mesh” for Tedford’s offense. “I want to see what the guy can do when he has an entire season.”
Joe feels bad for the Mike Glennon Mob. Tip your bartenders well tonight.
March 12th, 2014 at 5:33 pm
Until pick #7 of the draft.
March 12th, 2014 at 5:34 pm
Davin Joseph Cut?
March 12th, 2014 at 5:35 pm
Told yall lol 😉
Unless my plan falls through and we draft a QB in the first!
March 12th, 2014 at 5:35 pm
Ok this makes much more sense. We’ll see whos starting once season comes around.
March 12th, 2014 at 5:35 pm
One of the accidently mentioned an “Ed” as being a Buc as well. Gives us a hint as to an upcoming announcement.
March 12th, 2014 at 5:35 pm
“Davin Joseph Cut?”
——-
Yep, and in a couple weeks, I project we will also cut Darrelle Revis. But keep that a secret.
March 12th, 2014 at 5:35 pm
Charles Tillman sighting at the TIA A terminal. Guess he’s leaving town without a deal? Sure hope not…
Go Bucs! Dominik sucks!
March 12th, 2014 at 5:37 pm
You’re looking at your 2014 Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting QB right there. Bank on it.
March 12th, 2014 at 5:39 pm
This reminds me of the Byron Ledtwich signing
March 12th, 2014 at 5:40 pm
That’s nice Joe. What about those other visiting FAs?
March 12th, 2014 at 5:42 pm
Again, Matt Flynn people. McCown could always lose the job. But yeah he is better than Glennon, only because he seems like a 34 year old version of Glennon.
March 12th, 2014 at 5:44 pm
I am fine by that, it will be week 3-4 when Lovie makes the switch. He will go back to Glennon. Glennon>McCown. There is no way McCown is better than Glennon, maybe he has more experience, but Josh McCown????? I hope we draft a QB in the 1st round now, as obviously Lovie doesn’t trust Glennon. But then again, Lovie said he would find room for Revis…..
March 12th, 2014 at 5:45 pm
Sorry but Glennon is getting screwed over if he’s not even getting a chance to compete.
March 12th, 2014 at 5:48 pm
It could be just a ploy by Lovie. Like I said we’ll see whos starting once the season starts. Lovie has said several things that have contradicted himself so he is clearly throwing smoke screens out there.
March 12th, 2014 at 5:48 pm
Suck it Mike glennon mob straight from the horses mouth don’t worry Joe I’m sure they’ll find a,way to try to twist his word to say that he meant to say that he’s the starter for glennons back up Hahahaha a Bucs Life baby see us n the playoffs sign Julius peppers and see us n the superbowl
March 12th, 2014 at 5:49 pm
Greg Auman
Asked if signing McCown precludes Bucs from drafting a QB, Lovie Smith said: “Not at all.”
This was on twitter. Interesting…
March 12th, 2014 at 5:50 pm
“Glennon sucks”
– Any real head coach in the NFL
March 12th, 2014 at 5:51 pm
Licht just said McCown came to lead the team on the field.
Unless we draft a QB, it’s no smokescreen haha.
Lovie pumped up Revis’s value because he wanted to get his trade value up too.
Other than that he is pretty true to his word broski
March 12th, 2014 at 5:53 pm
I like McCown, but he sure as hell isn’t the answer at the position. Definitely need to draft a qb, which I think we will, just not at the #7 pick. More like the 2nd or 3rd.
March 12th, 2014 at 5:54 pm
Lol for all of you hating on Glennon, how is having a 34 year old career back up as a starting QB something to celebrate?
We have to be drafting a QB in the 1st now. Hope its Bridgewater
March 12th, 2014 at 5:54 pm
Josh McCown? It’s a Lovie fest obviously. I wish him success and Glennon too. At least we have competition to look forward to. The QB position will only improve up to and including whoever else is added.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Lol…glennonites mad.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:00 pm
Doesn’t matter… He has sucked everywhere else..he will suck here too..than they will be forced to give Glennon a chance which is what he (at least) deserves.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:01 pm
Yea….Josh (the other guy) was our starter for 2013 week 4 also….on Monday…but not on Tuesday.
Its very early yet folks…..but I agree, its McCown’s job to lose.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:01 pm
Yes, if you think McCown is an upgrade, you are wrong. If you think Johnny Football is coming here, that also ain’t happening. At least Joe can be happy till draft day……
March 12th, 2014 at 6:01 pm
I can easily see this as being yet another couple of years where The Bucs miss out on a long-term starting QB much like the Gruden years… Smith’s years with the Bears is evidence of that!
March 12th, 2014 at 6:02 pm
Anybody but Johnny Football Joe but Lovie let everyone compete wow take away 5 games and his Career QB rating is 79 don’t give anybody on this team a damn thing including Joe BFF Donald Penn competition or should I say legitimate competition is what gong to make this team better not anointing!
March 12th, 2014 at 6:03 pm
This is exactly like the Leftwitch signing! Oh yaaah!
March 12th, 2014 at 6:06 pm
Jared Allen, Alex Mack, Rodgera-Cromartie, Eric Decker, Hakeem Nicks, Ginn and now Steve Smith still available.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:09 pm
We now have two really good back-ups at QB. And the team isn’t paying that much for them. This is good cap management as is the Revis cut. 16 million was too much for him. They tried to lower his salary. Rebid said no. They tried to trade him ( with a lower salary) Revis said no. Rebid cares about Revis. And he should. But 16 million is too much for any player. So much cab be done with that money. It’s like being broke and paying the bank for the loan on the Lexus. Get rid of the Lecus and get a 4 year old Ford. So much better for the budget.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:09 pm
Or Emanuel Sanders, Tillman, and Miles Austin.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:10 pm
Leftwich? Hhhmm…
You guys know what the Bucs did in the draft when they signed Bryon Leftwich, right?
(Hhheeerrreee’sss Johnny!)
March 12th, 2014 at 6:12 pm
We all know how that turned out Joe 😉
March 12th, 2014 at 6:15 pm
I wonder how Tedford feels about having a career back up journeyman as the guy to helm his offense. Lovie obviously doesn’t value a solid starting QB if he truly believes McCown is his starter. They can always draft a QB, but soemthing tells me they won’t. And there we have it, still the 4th best starting QB in the division.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:20 pm
I said it all along we’d get a Vet in to compete. Now for them to draft Bridgewater (or another rook QB with MOBILITY and upside) and whoever starts can earn their job in this new offense. Come on MGM fans, do you honestly think that if Glennon by some freak accident beats out the competition they won’t start him. Of course they will, their jobs are on the line. But Glennon won’t beat anyone cuz he sucks. And if I’m wrong, i’ll be fine with that because he does play on my favorite team. I’m ready for this team to win and it looks like the GM and Coach are too.
Look on the bright side Glennon fans, at least Mike isn’t injured. Lol.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:21 pm
You guys know what the Bucs did in the draft when they signed Bryon Leftwich, right?
——————————
Yea they drafted a QB that wasted 5 years of our time.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:24 pm
Joe,
You couldn’t find a more recent picture of McCown?? He has been wearing number 12 since Marshall got to Chicago lol…
March 12th, 2014 at 6:25 pm
@MGM
I would honestly feel bad for you if I thought the kid didn’t peak in college… He has no upside
March 12th, 2014 at 6:25 pm
“Starting person”?? C’mon. 5 mil a year?? C’mon
I am not a Glennon fan, but if anyone expects better results with McCown under center, they are delusional. We should have just kept Orlovsky for 2 mil or whatever.
Unless this is just some strategic move that I can’t wrap my head around, this is the only FA signing thus far that I am not on board with.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:26 pm
LOL Walk.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:27 pm
I don`t care who the qb is as long as he play well and we win.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:31 pm
Let the best back up win
March 12th, 2014 at 6:37 pm
Of course he’s the starter. All starter’s have 2 year contracts. Haven’t seen the details yet, but if it has 5mil guaranteed, then it’s a 1 year contract. No doubt in my mind he’s the starter. Sure!
March 12th, 2014 at 6:41 pm
“a starting person”
WTF? Wow, our head coach really has a way with words!
When are all the Schiano haters gonna mock Lovie for this being Chicago Bears South?
March 12th, 2014 at 6:47 pm
@lightningbuc
Chicago Bears south is a lot better than what we’ve put on the field the past, what, 5-10 years. The Bears make it to the playoffs, this team couldn’t. At least Lovie is banking on a system that actually worked in the NFL unlike Schiano who used a system that never worked.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:47 pm
McCown is head over heels better than glennon will ever be. Not that McCown is good or anything but glennon is just bad. Lovie saw it as soon as he turned I the tape. That’s why he brought in McCown and can confidently call him the current #1 on the team. He will start until the qb we draft is ready to start, or until McCown sucks it up. But this basically leaves glennon, at best, as the #3 qb. He’ll bey my to be on the roster after the 2nd preseason game.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:47 pm
This qb is a shit bum 34 and always been a back up.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:55 pm
@lightningbuc -Chicago Bears South is a helluva lot better than Rutgers South and the Rutgerneers.
March 12th, 2014 at 6:58 pm
What a fuc*ing bum told people lovie will never win a superbowl he’s a fuc*ing idiot if he thinks this is any type qb
March 12th, 2014 at 6:58 pm
He said what I expected him to say…nothing more or less…still doesn’t mean that Glennon won’t be the starter this year! I’m sure McCown wants to start too…now it’s all about the competition between the 2, which will only make the Bucs stronger!
March 12th, 2014 at 6:59 pm
Clearly these statements by Lovie show they have no faith in Glennon. Not even going to have a fair competition to see who’s best, sad. This also tells me they intend on drafting a QB and it could be in rnd. 1 if one of the big names falls to us. I still think MG will be a good NFL QB but apparently not with the Bucs.
March 12th, 2014 at 7:10 pm
@Trubucfan22
I hope you wrote that on an iphone while working out…..
We will draft a QB this draft, Telford and Arroyo are not gonna sit back and pin their hopes on a 34yr old back-up starter at best!
March 12th, 2014 at 7:11 pm
“McCown is head over heels better than glennon will ever be.”
And you base this on what Trubuc, 5 games last year, or his illustrious career?
Again, I am not a Glennon fan, but Glennon>McCown (Josh or otherwise), and no McCown is worth 5 mil/year.
Might as well have kept Revis @ 16.
March 12th, 2014 at 7:12 pm
Any possibility Glennon could be traded sometime this year?
March 12th, 2014 at 7:20 pm
Lovie is a Dungy guy, and Dungy liked Aaron Murray alot last year. Maybe we draft him in the 5th rd and let him sit for 2 years to groom and develop.
March 12th, 2014 at 7:20 pm
When people say the Bears made the playoffs, do they realize the Vikings went to the playoffs more often during Lovie’s time in Chicago? McCown is is Lovie’s guy and that is that. Drafting aa QB in the first is a guaranteed controversy and Lovie doesn’t want that in any way. Him saying it’s not out of the question is a pro forma draft answer. Josh is our guy , like it or not. And from now on #5 shall be referred to as Joshua.
March 12th, 2014 at 7:23 pm
As to trading Glennon, I’d rather not, and especially not to who I think could be interested: Arizona. Give him time under Arians and he could become a very good QB.
March 12th, 2014 at 7:25 pm
I can’t fathom how McCown has spent this much time in the league and no one but Lovie has figured out that he is a Super Bowl caliber QB. Shocking……
March 12th, 2014 at 7:33 pm
I bet you feel bad for the Mike Glennon Mob. I can picture you doing a jig. It’s quite amusing.
March 12th, 2014 at 7:44 pm
All I can tell you is that he is first under center this year and the O line is not retooled, he will be the first one in a cast.
March 12th, 2014 at 7:48 pm
I said yest on Twitter that if the Bucs brought in McCown for $4m or more, there is no way he wouldn’t get the starting job. But Lovie took it even further to anoint McCown the starter even before camp? I like Glennon but it appears the writing is on the wall. The Bucs will draft a QB, possibly at #7 (or trade up) but for sure by round 3. Glennon may be traded, especially if they can get a 4th rounder that they are missing.
The new regime isnt going to give Glennon a shot, imo, and that’s a shame.
March 12th, 2014 at 7:56 pm
I see a competition, but for now McCown is #1 on the depth chart. The GM was on with Booger today & he said he sees a franchise QB in the draft, “not who everybody is talking about.” I see the Bucs taking a QB after round 1.
March 12th, 2014 at 8:42 pm
Don’t feel sorry for we Glennonites for we also heard that our defense would utilize Revis as an important cog. I’m guessing during the interview it was probably stated to McCown that it’s his job to lose in camp. We shall see how it all plays out at training camp, Matt Flynn was anointed the starter in Seattle at one time too, and then in Oakland. In MG8 we Mobbers trust.
March 12th, 2014 at 8:45 pm
At the very least he is a great bridge between what we had and our future QB. There are a lot of QBs to like in the draft that could be taken in round 2 or later and would have no pressure to start because McCown is here.
At the very most, McCown is that guy that has kicked around a few years despite excellent tools and then suddenly finally gets it and becomes an excellent starting QB. I’m thinking Rich Gannon2.0
Right now, I’m challenging all the complaining Bucs fans to do some research on McCown… compare his stats side by side with Gannon’s up until Gannon turned 34… I guarantee you that you will come away shocked at how similar their career paths have been. If anything, McCown has been a little better than Gannon was at the same stage.
I’ll go ahead and do a little of the work for the complainers, because they are usually the laziest of all fans.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McCoJo01.htm
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GannRi00.htm
In looking at the stats, at the same stage of the careers, they were both with four teams before settling. Gannon was drafted by the Pats, traded to the Vikes because he didn’t want to play DB, went onto the Redskins, then Chiefs and then when he got to the Raiders…he was an after thought… Gruden claimed that Gannon was the QB he wanted most… he cut Jeff George who was coming off a 4000 yard season. Gannon struggled for most of his career, always seen as not exactly what a team was looking for. He even had an entire season where he didn’t play at all (1994) like McCown. Like McCown he played for fairly bad teams (McCown’s were terrible before and after he left) and he performed okay, but not well enough.
McCown on the other hand, is a lot like Gannon, though McCown was not drafted to play DB like Gannon (he was traded by the Pats because he refused), Gannon tore an ACL and was never quite the 4.6 guy he came into the league as but like Gannon, McCown ran an official 4.59 40 at the Combine and otherwise blew it up with his physical numbers: http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=59990&draftyear=2002&genpos=QB
McCown has a much stronger arm than Gannon ever did, but other than that, they are very similar, both physically, in their background (team jumping, tiny college team-Delaware for Gannon, Sam Houston St. for McCown), and their career paths. I know this is hope talking here, but the Bucs really may have stumbled onto something here. Hopefully, Rich Gannon 2.0.
March 12th, 2014 at 8:46 pm
BTW, with no regard to Gannon 2.0, it wasn’t that long ago that Byron Leftwich was signed to compete with Luke McCown to be the starter, and the Bucs went and drafted a QB in the 1st round.
March 12th, 2014 at 8:50 pm
Epic fail
March 12th, 2014 at 9:03 pm
Lovie takes over a 4-12 team with no QB.
What exactly did you want him to do? Roll the dice just with Glennon?
Sign a different vet? If so, who? Only other one was Vick.
March 12th, 2014 at 9:04 pm
@brandon,
Love your thinking.
March 12th, 2014 at 11:30 pm
I just don’t feel comfortable with this guy as our starter. Now I really hope we draft a QB at #7 or draft Marcus Mariota next year.
March 13th, 2014 at 1:07 am
Trade glennon for a 5 or 6 if gabbert is worth about that….and try and get a third or forth for williams and draft a younger faster guy and maybe pick up Murray on the third day to sit behind mccown
March 13th, 2014 at 3:45 am
mariota sucks.
we need to draft a qb. glennon is not that good and the free agent qb’s this year and the next few are not that good either. draft a qb in round 1 and they can sit and learn tedford’s system and the nfl.
March 13th, 2014 at 8:08 am
I have no confidence in Josh “Threw more TDs than INTs only once in 12 years” McCown.