“Surprising” If McCown Stays Healthy?
May 15th, 2014
Doubt surfaces on the beat
What to expect on the field from starting quarterback Josh McCown is unclear. He simply hasn’t started a full NFL season since he was drafted in 2003.
Thirteen 2004 starts with the Cardinals was by far his busiest year. Can he withstand punishment? That would surprise one prominent Bucs media voice.
Tampa Bay Times beat writer Rick Stroud expressed his skepticism on WDAE-AM 620 this week.
“Josh McCown’s not going to go through, I think it would be surprising if he went through a whole season without getting hurt,” Stroud said. “With all due respect, almost no quarterback does that.”
Stroud went on to say, “You’re going to see Mike Glennon in some spots. I think they recognize that,” and he said when the Bucs eventually move to Glennon, their goal will be for permanence.
“You kinda know what [Glennon’s] got and now you want to sort of fine tune things and let him take a breath. And then when he goes to play, it’s for good,” Stroud.
Joe wouldn’t wager on McCown’s durability. However, Stroud is off the mark painting a picture of NFL starting QBs dropping like flies and rarely starting a full season.
In 2013, nine of 16 NFC teams had healthy starters available for every game:
Colin Kaepernick
Russell Wilson
Carson Palmer
Eli Manning
Drew Brees
Matt Ryan
Cam Newton
Josh Freeman/Mike Glennon
Matthew Stafford
In fact, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan haven’t missed a snap since 2009. Cam Newton has perfect attendance through his career. Part of being a “franchise” quarterback is being on the field consistently. Joe hopes McCown can grind it out. There’s no reason to think he can’t, but no evidence he can at 35 years old.
(Listen to Stroud talk plenty about Glennon in the WDAE-AM 620 audio cut below.)
May 15th, 2014 at 12:04 pm
Never been impressed with that cat. I think tampa has the worst sports writers in the nation.
May 15th, 2014 at 12:06 pm
So if McCown gets hurt, we go to Mike “The Cannon” Glennon. The Cannon is our future.
And if McCown gets hurt, we can say “back to the Furture”.
May 15th, 2014 at 12:09 pm
Tampa is where sports writers go to retire and pick up a few extra shekels writing bout the local teams in between naps and early-bird specials at Denny’s…
May 15th, 2014 at 12:26 pm
You’re way off so Joe deleted. The Bucs didn’t have a starting QB miss a game. –Joe
May 15th, 2014 at 12:37 pm
Interesting that all QBs int the division went the entire season without injury….I guess that’s because we don’t get to the QB that well.
Speculating on a possible injury is really unnecessary…..who’s backing up LVD, GMC. I realize the QB position is most important but haven’t we agreed we have a suitable backup?
What about speculating about Lovie’s possible heart attack?…Haven’t we had many coaches go down during the season? John Fox & Gary Kubiak come to mind….
May 15th, 2014 at 1:11 pm
By your own statistics almost half of the QB’s missed parts of last year due to injury. So Stroud’s opinion is an educated guess or deduction. Hope McCown does not get hurt and does play well.
May 15th, 2014 at 1:14 pm
Poor DebbieDownerBucsFan, everywhere you turn you see black clouds. Hope the doc has you on some meds for this. There are so many rain clouds in your life you must feel like you are in Seattle. I think a good O-Line whine could keep you in the spiral of doom. Though passing on the gloom of others just isn’t the same as your self generated gloom. That’s when the real hopelessness of the franchise comes out. Just imagine how you would write if you were not FAN?
You must not be referring to Joe, or your mouse is faulty. Scroll around. There’s all kinds of Bucs optimism here. Joe can’t wait to get out to rookie minicamp tomorrow and share how exciting these guys look. –Joe
May 15th, 2014 at 1:17 pm
Sir, this is opinion-driven website. Hello! You hate the opinions yet you return over and over and over to read them.–Joe
May 15th, 2014 at 1:17 pm
Good quarterbacks know how to avoid injury. Of course, most all of those guys have good offensive lines too which help minimize opportunity for injury.
May 15th, 2014 at 1:27 pm
“What if” equals infinity.
May 15th, 2014 at 1:34 pm
McCown likely won’t need to stay healthy since he’ll probably be Glennon’s backup by regular season game 1. Glad the Bucs have both QB’s on the roster
May 15th, 2014 at 1:45 pm
Robert8, Robert7, etc. You are a coward and an idiot combined.
On to real talk:
“Tampabaybucfan Says
Interesting that all QBs int the division went the entire season without injury….I guess that’s because we don’t get to the QB that well.
Speculating on a possible injury is really unnecessary…”
BIG difference. McCown is an 11 year backup who has never played more than a few games in a season (except maybe one until he what? Got injured).
The other QBs in our division HAVE played complete seasons.
And when McCown goes down, who will be the new backup? What about all the games everyone is claiming McCown will win for us? How is he going to “teach” Glennon when he is home healing?
I’ve been pointing to this possibility since the topic of getting McCown came up. The only way it made sense was if the Bucs drafted another QB so that a true backup would be in place if he got injured and the #2 had to step in.
Only having 2 QBs might be smart for teams that rarely have injured QBs, but not in Tampa, where injuries are the norm.
And to say we shouldn’t even worry about injuries at this point, that’s bullspit. We need quality depth in Tampa because the high temps and environment is conducive to injury. There may be a few exceptions each season, but those are outside the norm.
I don’t normally agree with Stroud, but in this he is 1000% right.
May 15th, 2014 at 1:47 pm
And by a true backup, I mean someone that can backup Glennon when he starts, or compete with him.
May 15th, 2014 at 1:54 pm
I think you guys are delusional. First off, it has been stated that McCown is going to start. In fact, it was likely an incentive to get McCown to sign. That is probably why Lovie said it.
Secondly, to think McCown will not get injured behind a poor offensive line? In a pass-heavy offense???
Wake up, people.
May 15th, 2014 at 1:56 pm
The way the leaugue rules are set up now too protect the quarterback more than ever, I think we can expect too have McCown a full season healthy. You just can’t put a hit on a quarterback like you used too. Stroud needs too think before he talks.
May 15th, 2014 at 2:12 pm
Sam, you make a good point, except the refs pick and choose who they enforce those rules against. The Seahawks broke the rules all season long, and even in the playoffs and superbowl. They even said that they would keep doing it until the refs got tired of calling penalties.
What happens when McCown faces teams that do the same?
May 15th, 2014 at 2:40 pm
“but not in Tampa, where injuries are the norm.”
Please show us some research to show that Tampa is a more injury-prone place than any other NFL city. Otherwise it’s garbage talk.
May 15th, 2014 at 2:41 pm
It’s a 100% crap shoot, it’s not given he will get hurt and it’s not a given he won’t. Some QB’s get hit 200 times and stand tough, some get hit 15 times and tear an ACL.
No way to predict this, it’s silly to try.
May 15th, 2014 at 3:32 pm
bucs seem to feel like they have a 1a and a 1b, although they will take all of training camp to decide who is who. mccown arrives in town as they guy taking starter snaps, but L & L have not made any clear remarks on whether they prefer to see it stay that way. i think the new regime’s best case scenario is that glennon overtakes josh before the season begins, but clearly they have enough confidence in josh that they are not banking on it. under whatever circumstances, if glennon comes into a game in a non-blowout scenario, i think it’s a good bet that he will be the starter from there on out
May 15th, 2014 at 3:42 pm
I’ve been saying this since we signed McCown. He seems like a great guy and he did play well in his limited starts last year…but there’s nothing to suggest that he will be the starter the entire year! He’s played in less than 1 full season’s worth of games over the last 5 years! Glennon has a real shot to play significantly this year because a 35 year old journeyman QB is not a sure bet to last an entire season! That’s just the way it is!
May 15th, 2014 at 3:44 pm
Maybe one reason Drew Brees stays healthy is because he is a workout warrior ?
Plus, he always has a good line, and gets rid of the ball fast.
May 15th, 2014 at 4:22 pm
@Destinjohnny
The worst…that was completely pointless to say if you’re going to say almost no quarterback does…..the worst off-season for the media ever unless your a Joebucsfan.
Who didn’t cringe with fear Everytime Glennon got hit last year. I hope Rick Stroud reads the sight, your slippin bro that was weak on so many levels
May 15th, 2014 at 4:42 pm
Why would he be so surprised? It’s not like McCown got hurt last year while he was starting for the Bears? Is Stroud saying as well if McCown gets hurt this year then that should be the time to start Glennon again but for good? I respect the work all local press do but sometimes I just don’t understand their thinking process… I understand McCown is 35 and hasn’t started a full season in a long time but from watching Gur’s McCown game reviews he makes good decisions most of the time(no one does it 100%) when he goes to take off and I think we will be pretty solid with pass protection with the new additions to the OL…
Off topic
Seriously Robert678 you make no sense you come on here and complain non stop about EVERYTHING.. Why not go to another site or are you banned from all them too?
There should be a Moron’s Mob(since EVERYONE has a MOB NOW :)) that should include everyone on here that complains about stuff that’s not even included in the article..
Founding member – Robert678(and whatever future numbers he gets too)
Other members – Phattitudes, Willy the Purple Helmeted Warror, Barry, SAMCRO(or Bruce lol) list will be updated frequently I can imagine 🙂
May 15th, 2014 at 5:39 pm
@destinjohnny- re tampa has the worst sportswriters….EVERY fan in EVERY city says that!!
May 15th, 2014 at 5:41 pm
Joe, Stroudt is not as off as you think. Based on your Own numbers, 44% of NFC qb’s did not start every game!!!!
UMMM, Joe’s numbers say nine of 16 NFC teams had their chosen starting quarterback available for every game. That’s more than half. –Joe
Makes sense what Stroudt says. By the way next draft we can afford to move up and get whatever qb we want! You saw me post it first, next draft we get our qb. Glennon is a band aid to the bridge.
May 15th, 2014 at 5:43 pm
Good point Bonzai. The refs have and always will favor certain teams and certain quarterbacks
May 15th, 2014 at 5:44 pm
Might as well add a Know It All Mob too.
May 15th, 2014 at 5:50 pm
@Buccaneer Bonzai-
never disagreed with you before but this time I must call you on something. You claim that a player is more injury prone due to high temps and environment. C’mon.. have you ever played? As long as you stay hydrated players are better off in heat than cold. The “environment”? Rather play on the field at Ray Jay or the frozen tundra in GB Chic or Wash? In the heat your muscles stay loose and don’t tighten up like when you are on the sidelines in below 32 degree temps. You had a lot to say today and unfortunately didn’t make sense on a bunch of it
May 15th, 2014 at 6:12 pm
I want “The Cannon” to play but don’t want to see Josh hurt. That goes for any player.
May 15th, 2014 at 8:13 pm
Nov. 21, 2013 Gregg Rosenthal NFL.com
“Mike Glennon is so far more advanced than RGIII playing NFL quarterback that it’s not even close,” Cosell told WFHS-FM in Tampa this week. “They shouldn’t even be in the same discussion.”
“When your quarterback makes difficult anticipation throws, everything about your offense tends to look better,” Cosell said. “For instance, I’ll give you an example of a throw that was made this week by Glennon. When he hit Underwood for 20 yards in the second quarter down inside the 10, that was a classic anticipation throw.
“He threw Underwood open. If I showed you the film and froze it just as Glennon was making his delivery, you’d say, ‘Who’s he throwing it to?’ That’s a litmus test throw that helps measure future success.
“That throw would not have been made by Josh Freeman. It wouldn’t have entered his mind.”
May 15th, 2014 at 8:54 pm
Glennon got knocked down hard a few times last year and always got up. With improved receivers and adequate offensive line protection, there will be improvement in the passing game. I count on it with either QB. The Bucs have a better Super Bowl record than the Seahawks.
May 15th, 2014 at 11:50 pm
@Phillip…I think you’re a moron too. How do you like dem apples? Why the name calling? There is no need for it at all. Joe never used to allow it when I first came here. Am I right Joe?
May 15th, 2014 at 11:53 pm
Oh I forgot. When it’s in defense of Joe it’s allowed. Damn I’m sorry Joe. I was out of line. Been there done that before.
May 16th, 2014 at 1:07 am
I think the bucs passed on a QB due to a win now mode and that McCown has looked very good to them. Why invest in a rookie if you believe you have a veteran that you can win with…say the bucs win 10+ games over the next 2yrs with McCown. Do you resign him or hand it over to Glennon with 1yr remaining on his contact?
May 16th, 2014 at 1:59 am
Didn’t know I was speaking to you Buc1987? But okay.. Must be that time of the month for you again…
May 16th, 2014 at 3:15 am
Whiney babies
Anyone can get hurt at anytime
McCown has given no reason for us to think he won’t be durable.
May 16th, 2014 at 8:41 am
The bigger question lost in all this McCown/Glennon debate is will the JMM (Josh McCown Mob) and MGM form a peaceful alliance with each other, or will it become a bitter smackdown like the Freemanites and MGM’ers have? There’s also the BSP (Brett Smith Posse) who believe their guy is the next Tony Romo/Kurt Warner, so they might be looking for a throw down with all the other QB fan groups on JBF. Amusing times ahead