Lovie Ordered Josh McCown Signing
June 13th, 2014
It is sort of a hidden parlor game, or an endless bar debate over bottomless glasses of beer: Who calls the shots with the Bucs?
Well, of course, the ultimate answer is Team Glazer. But no matter who is general manager and coach, Bucs fans demand to know who pulled the trigger on a draft pick, signed off on cutting a player or pursued a free agent.
The politically correct answer is, of course, it’s a team effort. But that does little to keep Bucs fans from twisting and turning in their beds at night, or to keep bartenders from hollering at patrons to pipe down, or to quell the waves of callers to sports talk radio.
In the case of Bucs quarterback Josh McCown, it was Bucs coach Lovie Smith who in no uncertain terms ordered general manager Jason Licht to sign McCown. That’s the suggestion from Greg Bedard of theMMQB.com.
While the Bucs spent a lot of money on free agents like Verner, Collins and end Michael Johnson, they feel the most impact will come from adding McCown at quarterback. He is providing the type of team-wide leadership that the Bucs have missed since, arguably, Derrick Brooks retired after the ’08 season. Licht didn’t know McCown well, but after he was hired, Smith basically mandated that team sign the 34-year-old journeyman.
“Lovie talked about it since day one when I was hired about Josh and how Josh was the type of person we needed in this locker room and on this team for the very reasons you’re talking about,” Licht said. “Of course I believe what Lovie said and trust him, but to see it firsthand within the first days that we actually signed him … the guy is just special. He lives, breathes and eats football. Somehow, he just has a way to capture the entire team. They all love this guy. He’s really one of the most special leaders I think I’ve ever been around.”
That’s high praise coming from Licht, who was around Tom Brady in New England for years. “And I say it meaning it too,” Licht said.
Now saying McCown is the biggest team leader since Brooks put the fear of God into opponents may be a stretch. Gerald McCoy has always tried to be a leader, and is. But Joe gets Bedard’s point.
McCown is basically an assistant coach on the field. He talks and players not only listen, but respond.
If Bucs offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford’s offense clicks, and the Bucs win, then Joe has no question that a big reason will be the moment when Lovie Team Glazer hired Licht and before he stepped in his new office, Lovie issued his first command.
June 13th, 2014 at 7:12 am
Lovie feels comfortable with Josh. I’m cool with that. I’d like Mike to at least get a year behind him.
June 13th, 2014 at 7:37 am
Lovie’s first demand was to fire the pop-star before he signed the dotted line. Then he interviewed and hired Licht, then he hand-picked his defensive end, then he brought on Josh.
June 13th, 2014 at 7:55 am
leadership that the Bucs have missed since, arguably, Derrick Brooks retired after the ’08 season
I hadn’t considered that until I just read it but it’s spot on. Ronde is a great dude and I admire and respect him greatly. He does a great job of quiet leadership but he is the “quiet” Barber and it was never his style to take over at team.
We have missed #55 more than we ever realized. Perhaps they should have taken that into account. Clearly DB physical skills had diminished, but if he had enough to even stay on the field his leadership would have made up for that.
Honestly I’m not an astute enough judge of his physical skills when he was cut and I’m such a huge fan that I realize I’m prejudiced.
I wasn’t a Bucs during Leroy Selmon’s time and by all accounts he was a truly special man. Leaving him out of it due to my ignorance, I have to say that D Brooks is my all time favorite Buc. He was such a class act as well as a huge talent. Sapp was a classless man with great talent. None of the others measures up talent wise against #55
June 13th, 2014 at 7:57 am
I read and re-read Licht’s words three times and I never got the impression that Lovie mandated, ordered, or forced Licht to sign McCown. Sounded to me like Lovie sold or campaigned for Josh and licht not having intimate knowledge of Josh agreed. Even being complimentary of Lovie in his approach to cavassing for Josh and how much Licht trusted his opinion.
If this was meant to say this was not licht’s idea and he had no say,but to do exactly as lovie demanded, I didn’t get that at all!
June 13th, 2014 at 7:59 am
correction: canvassing
June 13th, 2014 at 8:07 am
McCown was a good signing for the Bucs. The young players, and especially MG8 can learn a lot from him. His leadership skills and study habits appear to be top notch. I still firmly believe that Glennon is the starter at some point during the season, but learning from a guy like McCown will only help him when that time comes.
June 13th, 2014 at 8:11 am
I absolutely love what Derrick Brooks has done for this team but the decision to release him was the right thing to do. Sometimes a team needs to bottom out in order to be in the position to pick up great not good talent.
June 13th, 2014 at 8:24 am
Even if this is true, that Lovie mandated the signing of McCown, I don’t believe that means he has, or even wants, Parcels type control over the roster. It’s not hard to imagine a coach, particularly a new coach with an established record in the league, being insistent on the most important position on the field, plus one or two other players, to help make sure his way of doing things is understood and followed by the rest of the team.
I think Bedard is sitting on a non-story.
June 13th, 2014 at 8:48 am
Brooks didn’t retire Mr. Bedard.
He was cut so the great Geno Hayes could be developed. Thus began the brilliant run of the rock star and Raheem.
Sorry, when you start with such a misinformed blunder I can’t take anything you say seriously.
Very glad we have Josh though. Just what the doctor ordered.
June 13th, 2014 at 8:53 am
@The_Buc_Realist
I didn’t realize that you had Lovie wiretapped.
June 13th, 2014 at 9:15 am
Lol sensitive….Joe you had to know mgm mob would get butt hurt over this article keep up the good work Joe haha
June 13th, 2014 at 10:20 am
Why do you think the MGM would get ‘butt hurt” by this article? If anything the MGM is happy with Glennon having a true professional journeyman QB to pick up pointers and proper NFL habits from before supplanting said journeyman sometime in the near future. Don’t cry for McCown either, he seems like a good guy, team player, and has $5M guaranteed reasons to not be bitter about his impending backup role in Tampa
June 13th, 2014 at 12:50 pm
10 Best College Quarterbacks That Never Made it Big in the NFL (Answers.com)
I think we will be able to add JF to this list. MG might not make it but JF would not have been the answer. Im sure The Joes were convinced one of these guys were can’t miss either.
June 13th, 2014 at 2:17 pm
Joe errs on the side of conflict, almost always. It’s always about who’s winning the struggle, right? I reject this idea. Power struggle is not inevitable, and searching for it in personnel decisions made by the front office isn’t reporting, it’s sensationalizing. Joe has never seen a fake controversy he didn’t like, and no, Bucs fans don’t keep themselves up at night trying to figure out who’s pulling the strings. What this spin is called is appealing to the lowest comment denominator.
June 13th, 2014 at 2:24 pm
Gotta admit orca it is entertaining. It’s a blog with Hooters chicks, Bucs info, and a place to ramble (sometimes even stir the pot a little with a few overly sensitive types…not you, but there are some in general). Entertainment worth the price of admission, kudos to Joe even if his evaluation of QB’s is sketchy at best 🙂
June 13th, 2014 at 2:34 pm
It’s entertaining, otherwise I wouldn’t visit this site every day. I can’t get enough of Bucs info even though I haven’t lived in Tampa for 15 years. But I find Joe’s focus on controversy and conflict (when there is none), to be unnecessary.
June 13th, 2014 at 3:48 pm
McCown will have success here.
He will be one of the prime examples in the future used to describe a “late bloomer” in the NFL when it’s all said and done.
Just watch ;), MGMers may be waiting a while!
June 13th, 2014 at 4:17 pm
You may be right PR, but I’m riding the Glennon train until the wheels fall off. I’m also more convinced McCown is more Schaub than Gannon (which is fine as long as it’s the good Matt Schaub instead of the one that was a pick six machine on the Texans last year). Can’t hold the Cannon on check for long
June 13th, 2014 at 4:18 pm
Damnit…in check for long
June 13th, 2014 at 8:43 pm
MGM is delusional if they think Glennon is starting this year or next year. (barring a McCown injury) Bucs are winning the Superbowl THIS year & McCown will be our QB.
June 13th, 2014 at 8:45 pm
And the ‘Cannon’ has probably the 15th best arm in the league. Wow. (I do like him, though)
June 13th, 2014 at 8:50 pm
I think we are hurting at QB no matter which one starts.
Just happy to be on the right track…Go Bucs!