Clarifying Brees-McCown Chatter
July 14th, 2014
Bucs LB Jonathan Casillas explains his comparison of Josh McCown and Drew Brees.
Last month, Bucs linebacker Jonathan Casillas, proud native of New Jersey, appeared on New York sports radio station WEPN-FM to talk — guess what? — Bucs football! Joe got word of this interview and it turned the NFL on its ears because Casillas compared former starting quarterback Josh McCown to future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees.
Wait! What? Drew Brees? McCown, 35, has basically only a handful of good games in his career.
Brees has been an absolute stud for years, has terrorized the Bucs ever since he signed with the Saints, and is widely regarded as one of the top four quarterbacks in the NFL, at worst.
This just didn’t add up, not even for Joe after several cold beers.
Casillas last week turned to SiriusXM NFL Radio to clarify his statements comparing Brees and McCown.
“I meant everything I said. I didn’t say this brashly or it was something I hadn’t thought about,” Casillas said. “I meant everything I said. I just didn’t want it to get taken out of context or get misconstrued. “I can’t compare the careers of Josh McCown and Drew Brees. It was not something I was doing. As far as being a professional … I think Drew Brees sets the standard. The younger quarterbacks, these guys look up to Drew and they follow him and the follow his protocol, not just the way he throws the ball, but the way he prepares, on the field, off the field, the way he conducts himself, the way he talks to people.”
Casillas said the way McCown mirrors Brees with his leadership qualities, his preparation, and the way his magnetism rubs off on teammates is “astounding.” In short, the way Casillas describes McCown is exactly the way Bucs coach Lovie Smith described McCown and why Lovie was so aggressive in bringing McCown to Tampa Bay.
Joe respects the hell out of what McCown brings and how Casillas describes McCown behind the scenes. That’s great, that’s good. But at the end of the day, it’s all about results.
If McCown cannot come close to replicating his performance last year subbing for bratty Jay Cutler, then it won’t matter how great of a leader and a person McCown is.
Look, there are hundreds of Eagle Scouts walking the streets who would walk barefoot on glass to be able to play in the NFL. The reason they aren’t quarterbacks in the NFL is because they can’t get the job done.
Leadership and character mean a lot and go a long way. It is results, however, that make or break both a team and a quarterback.
To hear more of Casillas’ interview, click the orange button below. Audio courtesy of SiriusXM NFL Radio.
July 14th, 2014 at 10:08 am
If the o-line gives McCown 3 – 4 seconds our 1st game is a Win. McCown has all the needed weapons. But does Tedford has the Magic??? I think so…
July 14th, 2014 at 10:25 am
Good post but something is missing…
…hmmmm….I’m trying to put my finger on it.
I know!
There’s no back-handed jab at the Mike Glennon Mob here?
wtf?
July 14th, 2014 at 10:53 am
That’s great that McCown and Brees have so much in common like leadership, preparation, political affiliation, evening wear, country music, etc. You know what they don’t have in common?…the ability to play QB in the NFL! What a joke.
July 14th, 2014 at 11:33 am
Someday the Cannon will get his shot…
err, nevermind.
July 14th, 2014 at 11:57 am
Why the constant attack on McCown? Such fear mongering and dooms day blather. Yes McCown has had a long an uneventful career. But what Lovie says, and is clearly demonstrated by McCown’s most recent tenure as a starting QB, is that this guy has changed. The light has come on and he sees the field in ways he didn’t before. Combine that with the widely reported leadership skills and there is something to be optimistic about.
If it was all just a bunch of fan and media hype it would be one thing, but there is evidence on the field, and an opinion by a coach that knows something about winning football, that McCown may be the guy to lead the Bucs to a winning season.
July 14th, 2014 at 12:27 pm
Please explain in great detail how this was an “attack” on McCown?
July 14th, 2014 at 12:30 pm
^^^i think he was complaining about me!
July 14th, 2014 at 12:34 pm
Joe
Some thoughts on this, I believe both QBs are about the same age and we are talking about this year and not years past so maybe McCown will blossom for his new team the Bucs, like Young did as a QB when he went to the 49ers. We can only wish as good or nearly as good as Young did.
Hopefully the team chemistry is there.
July 14th, 2014 at 1:19 pm
Anytime you bring in a 10+ year veterean with no history of success in the league, besides just a handful of games, to be a starter… there is going to be negativity. Especially at QB. It’s a scary and disturbing thought.
July 14th, 2014 at 2:24 pm
Thanks for making my case Couch Fan. “No history of Success”. Perfect demonstration of ignoring the most recent history. That handful that is so easily dismissed are likely the most telling as they are the most recent. Add that to the very clear statement that he sees the field in ways he didn’t before, and you may well have a significant change in quality. What matters more? The worst he played, or the best he played? What matters more? The most distant time wise he played, or the most recent?
Look, maybe he doesn’t get it done. But you can’t just assume that based on a selected history that discounts the most relevant on field demonstration, accompanied with both personal (his own)and professional (Lovie and others) recognition of his greater field clarity.
July 14th, 2014 at 2:56 pm
McCown is a backup caliber NFL QB that has been handed a starting gig. He may be the starter but he is still backup quality until he proves otherwise. Same goes for Glennon and he may get an opportunity to prove it this year if McCown shows his spots again!
July 14th, 2014 at 5:24 pm
A few years ago I watched a game at RJS, where Drew Brees got several seconds to throw against a weak Bucs Zone defense, where he simply shredded that defense. Josh McCown got six TDs against the two worst defenses in the league last year, with two of the very best receivers etc. in Chicago. I watched both games on NFL Game Rewind, and both reminded me of that Buc zone D referenced above, with guys wide-open simply sitting in the gaps in the zone for completions. In both games there was at least one pass thrown right to a defender who dropped it. I, too, am very anxious to see how he does against a defense ranked 2 (i.e. Carolina) and not 32!
tickrdr
July 14th, 2014 at 6:04 pm
How is what I said ignoring the most recent history when I clearly said “The handful of games from last year?… Defend the guy all you want but 5 games against bad defenses in 10+ years is not impressive. Doesn’t take much to impress you I guess.
July 14th, 2014 at 7:04 pm
I remain skeptical of McCown’s ability also. He can be good, I just don’t know. Seeing will be believing and I hope he does well. Lovie possibly brought him in and held on to Glennon just in case McCown falters. Smart move. I can’t wait to see how this position and season play out. Go Bucs!
July 14th, 2014 at 8:49 pm
It’s amazing how good QB’s become when they have weapons to throw to. Brandon Marshall and Jeffries tend to make any QB look better. Throw in a decent TE and you’ve got three talented big targets to throw to. Do you think Bradshaw was the magic for the Steelers or was it Swann and Stallworth who helped Bradshaw look so great? Great receivers make QB’s look better than they are and great QB’s are smart enough to throw the ball in an area where their receiver can go up and make a circus catch. It’s a combination of QB accuracy and receivers that can make a play on a ball that is in their vicinity. We have V-Jax, Evans, Wright, and a host of others so I can see how McCown could pick up where he left off in Chicago. These guys can go up and get balls that DB’s can’t get. McCown doesn’t have to be perfect, he just has to throw a good jump ball when he isn’t.
July 14th, 2014 at 10:30 pm
Oh good…we just need some guy to throw up jump balls for the players with actual talent to go get it. Makes perfect sense! Who needs or should bother to expect quality from the QB position?
July 15th, 2014 at 12:14 am
Thanks for you opinion Couch, but i’m guessing Lovie knows a little more about McCown than you. He certainly went after him like he thought it was a good idea. And yes, I found that impressive. There were certainly other options – like Johnny Football. No doubt you you think you know better than Lovie, but it’s your opinion that doesn’t much impress me.
July 15th, 2014 at 5:31 am
I’ve always believed that supreme confidence is a trait a QB needs to be successful. That confidence level elevates by building on those successes. It short, it feeds off itself. For ten years McCown had very little success and his confidence evaporated. He probably questioned if he even deserved to be a NFL back-up QB. But last season, regardless of the less than stellar opposition, he played exceptionally well and rejuvenated that “pep in his step”. Now, he’s “the man” and he is embracing the role. Others believe in him because he now believes in himself and visa versa. Hope here is that Josh 2.0 continues the positive momentum.
Same holds true for a player who loses confidence when the $hit goes bad. One need only to watch Scam Newton drape the towel over his head when things get tough instead of leading his team from the edge of defeat. Or Jay Cutler with his pouting.