“The Domino Quarterback”
February 18th, 2015
The Josh McCown free agent parade went through the Bears and Browns yesterday, and there are more teams to come.
This is what happens when you’re one of the first QBs into the free agent market, the free agency dinner bell doesn’t ring for another 19 days, and Josh Freeman is your current competition.
A good CBSSports.com video below dives deep into this year’s expected quarterback free agent market and McCown’s value.
Joe finds it relevant because the Bucs may be seeking a veteran QB to mentor Jameis Winston and serve as competition in camp for Mike Glennon, and potentially help give the Bucs trade leverage on Glennon.
February 18th, 2015 at 9:32 pm
Free > mclown but I wouldn’t be surprised if Lovies bring mclown back at 8m yr to be a mentor.
February 18th, 2015 at 9:43 pm
Hey check out Winston’s highlights. The guy threw a lot of INT’s but his arm and anticipation are top notch. Not to mention his ability to throw receivers open. He has some things to work on like not holding the ball soo long and sliding when running.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=t1hpBfQnmQ4
February 18th, 2015 at 9:45 pm
Not all INTs are the QBs fault but yes, they do fall under his stats. I’d still prefer Winston over Kapernick part 2
February 18th, 2015 at 9:51 pm
How Hilarious would it be if McCown ended up starting for the Browns and they trade JF?????????
February 18th, 2015 at 9:57 pm
I sure hope they both throw this weekend. Im a well known trade down advocate but Im hearing more and more that MM is a bigger, faster, Russell Wilson with a bigger arm. C’mon one of you QBs…….prove me wrong!
February 18th, 2015 at 10:09 pm
Errr. Didn’t anybody see McCown’s tape from last year???
February 18th, 2015 at 10:39 pm
I still think Winston didn’t have that 6’5″ receiver like Kelvin Benjamin, and the Bucs got 3 or 4 of those guys. The year he had K. Benjamin his stats were much better and wasn’t forcing things as much. Lets get Winston and a big ass Tackle that can compete with Dotson,..whom ever loses will be the RT. Lets build that OL and we have plenty of weapons to go with that up and coming D-Fense.
February 18th, 2015 at 11:00 pm
If Mccown can find success with another team good for him. He could be a decent back up assuming his new team has an oline, a running game and an offensive coordinator. Not being cynical but he would basically need an all pro cast around him to be effective.
February 18th, 2015 at 11:51 pm
honestly mccown doesn’t deserve all of the hate he gets for last season. I mean yes he wasn’t the best but he had no Oline to block for him. But I see a lot of positive things in our future if we get Jameis and a couple of high quality Olinemen in the draft and maybe some in FA. Our offense can be nasty with Jameis throwing to 2 kelvin Benjamin sized receivers on the team. Oh man I’m just so excited, just please L&L make the right choice in the draft and get the guy that is ready to be our franchise QB for the next 12 years or more. I’ve seen every one of his games, I know he’s thrown a lot of INTs but at least half of them weren’t his fault and we all know it.
February 19th, 2015 at 12:09 am
Joe, get in the world of reality. Pablo says there is no way the Bugs take loser Winston. You better get on the Mariota bandwagon.
February 19th, 2015 at 12:12 am
Joe I didn’t hear the Buccaneers say they were taking Winston I guess I missed that part. Lovie actually spoke well about both quarterbacks, in fact he sounds like he doesn’t buy into the whole nfl ready idea the media has been talking about. So finding a veteran to step in until which ever rookie they draft is ready would be a smart move. A really smart move would be to sit a rookie for a year or two, I know you hate that idea but it’s about the future not just next season.
February 19th, 2015 at 12:12 am
‘Joe finds it relevant because the Bucs may be seeking a veteran QB to mentor Jameis Winston’
True….but if we draft Mariota he won’t need a mentor….I’m guessing that’s why you left Mariota out of the sentence.
February 19th, 2015 at 12:22 am
“Josh McCown – the hottest name in Free Agency.”
In the words of Larry the Cable Guy – “I don’t care who ya are – that there’s funny”.
Actually its not that far from the truth. Sanchez? Hoyer? There is just a real shortage of of legit starting NFL QBs. There certainly aren’t 32 of them.
We are very fortunate to have our choice of 2 VERY good QB prospects in the draft. Don’t blow it L&L. Do the right thing. If you don’t take a QB – 90% of the fan base will never forgive you – unless both are obvious busts and then you will look like geniuses – but the odds of that happening are very very low IMO.
Both Winston and Mariota will likely be at least descent-good NFL QBs – and odds are that 1 of them is probably going to turn out to be a star. My bet for that of the 2 is on Winston – but do your homework and pick the 1 you believe in most for the the future of this franchise – not just for next year – for the next 10 years.
Get this QB pick right L&L – and you are likely to have some pretty good job security for a # of years.
February 19th, 2015 at 1:11 am
This is probably not the best place for my comments – but what the hey… After watching/listening to both the Bucs and the Titans responses re: the two QB’s in the draft, this thought struck me……the Titans are truly in the catbird’s seat this year ! I mean: if you look at Tampa Bay’s history in drafting QB’s in the first round – it seems obvious (to me) that the Titans, by taking the one that Tampa DOESN’T draft, will end up with the BETTER NFL player !
Plus, there is less pressure because CHOICE is a non-factor AND Tenn gets to pick BEFORE the Bucs in the 2nd round ! Now, if the Bucs were drafting 2nd, I would feel the same way about THEM being in the catbird’s seat…
February 19th, 2015 at 2:06 am
Am I crazy or is anyone starting to think that we could have traded McCown? Ok, it would have probably been just a 6th or 7th round pick but the guys at CBS reckon his market value is $4m-$5m and he was set to make $5.25m with the Bucs.
February 19th, 2015 at 2:12 am
If Tennessee was picking 1st. They would have a card with Winston’s name on it to the commissioner within 10 seconds of being on the clock. Bucs are quite likely to do exactly that as well. 2nd pick likely gets some extra picks with a trade down if desired. 1st pick takes Winston and gets one of the best QB prospects besides Luck in many years.
February 19th, 2015 at 2:20 am
@Pickgrin
If what you say is true about Tenn and Winston and the rumors that the Bucs are also leaning toward Winston – then, given the history of BOTH teams first round QB picks – I would say that Mariota is the one who will be the most successful !
February 19th, 2015 at 2:20 am
Lewis – I’m sure that possibility was explored before McCown was released. Teams know when they get a call like that you are about to release the guy anyway – LOL. His $5.25M contract was probably a bit steep for a trade as well.
McCown’s true market value as a capable back up is closer to $3M than $5M. Bucs over paid for sure. The league is desperate for even decent QBs though – so maybe he can get that much. We’ll see. Bucs did him a big favor by releasing him so early – so he can go on his little tour of visits with no other FA competition available yet and solicit a # of offers over time for comparison.
February 19th, 2015 at 2:26 am
Sam – I hear ya. Been a die hard Bucs fan for over 30 years. Lotta “lean” years and a bad decision or two in that time – LOL
Seriously though – I think 9 out of 10 teams that don’t have a top 10 QB would take Winston in a heartbeat if they had the #1 pick this year. I believe you will see him separate a bit from Mariota over the next 2 months as the consensus #1 pick. Mariota may well fall just a bit. But Marcus is a definite and legit talent that won’t get past the 5th or 6th pick if he doesn’t go #2.
February 19th, 2015 at 8:47 am
He’s visited thre teams so far and no contract has been offered or signed. Does that tell you anything. Teams are constantly bringing players in to look at.
If he is such a hot commodity, you would think some team would have already signed him.
His agent is really spinning the PR wheel on this.
February 19th, 2015 at 10:09 am
ddneast – The sports guy on local CBS station – (10 news?) reported night before last that Buffallo offered McCown a contract which he left town without accepting. That he had 3 or 4 other visits to make and would be deciding on which offer to take if he has more than 1 to choose from. So he’s checking out all his options 1st before accepting an offer. smart man. I hope he lands in a good situation for himself and his family. He may not have been a very good Bucs QB – but he was put in a very difficult situation playing behind that terrible line and taking all the hits he did in 11 games last year. Good luck Josh.
February 19th, 2015 at 2:27 pm
QB mentor is a nice option to have, but in reality is a luxury.
Glennon has already showed he knows how to study film and is obviously a better QB than McCown ever was (other than the anomaly of McCown’s five 2013 starts under QB whisperer Trestman). Take McCown’s 2013 games out of the mix, and he has a career 71.3 QB rating to Glennon’s 83.7. McCown’s success in 2013 was more due to Trestman than to himself, since he went right back to throwing at least one INT to every TD he threw when he came to Tampa. Glennon has thrown at least 2 TDs to every INT over 2 seasons. Hasselbeck? Yeah, good mentor, but if he has to play, how much confidence do you have in a guy who will be 40 at the start of the season and has thrown only 56 passes since 2012. The way forward is with Glennon and whoever the Bucs take with the #1 pick.