“You’ve Got The Wrong Guy”
July 25th, 2016
In his first column for JoeBucsFan.com, eye-RAH! weighs in strong on the Bucs’ most polarizing figure, with quotes from Buccaneers co-chairman Joel Glazer.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
TAMPA — You’ve got the wrong guy, people.
After five long years in the NFC South basement, some Buc fans are looking for scapegoats. That’s understandable. That’s human nature.
So many coaches, executives and players have spun through that revolving door at One Buc Place in recent years, it’s hard to find a single figure to blame for all the disappointment and heartache.
Gerald McCoy is an easy target, and there is a growing sentiment that the No. 3 pick in the 2010 draft hasn’t lived up to expectations.
That’s the real issue for the McCoy haters out there. He is often compared to fellow defensive tackle Warren Sapp — and he comes up short. Since when is there shame in that? Sapp was a singular disruptive force, one of only five defensive linemen in NFL history to make two all-decade teams. The others are Reggie White, Bruce Smith, Merlin Olsen and Bob Lilly. Like Sapp, all are enshrined in Canton.
Sapp was one of a kind, feared by opponents for his hunting prowess and admired by teammates for his competitive nature. And if McCoy’s first six pro seasons don’t measure up to No. 99, he certainly doesn’t deserve to be mocked or ridiculed by Buc supporters.
It all comes back to the losing, and there’s been so much of it in Tampa during McCoy’s run. The Bucs are 29-49 when McCoy is on the field, and that’s not what ownership had in mind when McCoy was selected directly after the Lions drafted Ndamukong Suh.
With that in mind, I asked Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer to respond to the McCoy skeptics.
“Here’s what I know – Gerald’s a tremendous player and a tremendous person in the community,” Glazer said. “Gerald is a tremendous teammate. When I talk to fans, the vast majority appreciate the effort and what he does on and off the field. As an organization, we’re lucky to have someone like Gerald.”
At the age of 28, McCoy already has been named to four Pro Bowls and he has missed only four games in the past four years. Since 2013, he has averaged nine sacks, compared to seven sacks for Suh.
He played hurt for much of last season, but some fans don’t like his demeanor.
Hard To Laugh
Where Sapp liked to stroll through an opposing team’s pre-game stretch to announce his presence, McCoy has the audacity to help a downed runner back to his feet. Nobody seemed to complain about that when Hall of Fame defensive end Lee Roy Selmon loaned a hand.
Last month, a report, citing unidentified sources of course, suggested McCoy’s work habits are lagging. Finally, No. 93 had enough. McCoy took to Twitter: “Anybody who knows me knows that’s comedy.”
But it’s hard to laugh when the team you root for has gone eight years without a postseason game and 13 years without a playoff win. On a national scale, the Bucs have been largely irrelevant. That’s why Lavonte David’s varied skills are overlooked by so many for so long.
During one of my weekly radio appearances with SiriusXM host Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, he asked me last fall whether McCoy “had made a tackle yet” all season. That’s what you get when you lose in historic fashion. It’s not fair, but it’s reality.
“I think there are 31 other teams that would love to have a Gerald McCoy,” said Glazer. “Whenever you’re not winning, people are going to look at everything. When you’re winning, food tastes better, everyone is happier. From our standpoint, we’re very proud what Gerald’s done.”
Why aren’t you?
July 25th, 2016 at 12:35 pm
The Buc Realist Says:
November 9th, 2015 at 8:27 am
@Joe
Do you think some of this Hatred is that some of the Fans are trying so hard to recreate the late 90’s. They got the Dungy tree coach, they see GMC as Sapp. LVD as Brooks, Conte as the white safty. They still wear the old jerseys. They think that the Tampa-2 is the only defense that works. and now that everything is in place its not the same is it. History has not been recreated!!!
I wrote when GMC got his new contract that the Bucs always have to over pay. Its a bad franchise that loses. They have to pay an extra 25-30% over market value to attract and keep free agents. Look people this is Lovie’s defense and he needs 2 more pro-bowlers on the DL and maybe 1 very good rotational guy. Lovie only wins with over-whelming talent!!!!
July 25th, 2016 at 12:38 pm
The only problem I have with GMC93 is that he has said over 100 times that he is the leader!!! If you have to say….then you know the rest!!!!!!
I do like the GMC93 “double-teamed” jokes!!!! They are very funny!!!!
July 25th, 2016 at 12:40 pm
I think GMC skill is he’s fast in the trenches but no power to move a pile to help others around him.
July 25th, 2016 at 12:42 pm
Great writting. Unbiased reporting. Well articulated stances. I like the new Joebucsfan!
Quality backhanded and misguided slap at Joe. Golf clap. –Joe
July 25th, 2016 at 12:53 pm
@Realist
You know how much I respect your posts. Sometimes I fear you get caught up in a little emotion however.
I think this piece nails it. If the Bucs had averaged ten wins during his career GMC would be given the keys to the city. I realize he had a part in all of this losing but it wasn’t the major part, in fact his contribution to our losing is non existent.
But the part I’d like for you to clarify is the blanket statement about the Bucs being forced to overpay because of their historical ineptitude. It sounds good.
Sound’s somewhat logical, but forgive me if I remain skeptical.
Lots of players in all sports (see Steven Stamkos) love living in Tampa, love no taxes, and appreciate their organization.
The Bucs have the first two and seem to be on their way to the third.
Sorry but I feel your claim of the Bucs paying 25-30% above market value is just hyperbole. The Bucs have made some atrocious signings…and some good ones. But to average out all their FA’s as 25-30% above market value seems a bit hyperbolic to me.
In fact very recent history makes this look like a place players want to land. Ayers, Grimes, and Sweezy are all players who had options to go elsewhere. One could make an argument I suppose that we overpaid Sweezy but I prefer to see his contribution first.
July 25th, 2016 at 1:00 pm
Gmc disappears when it matters most and his love of losng is maddening. I lost respect for 93 when he said his most miserable season was his only winning season. I was finished with him when winston was pumping up the team and 93 was pouting walking away from his teammates. He is fragile and more worried about tv time and meaningless pro bowls than team wins. He cried Schiano was a meanie so glazers gave him mr softee… nothing but excuses and smiles… produce when it matters… simple as that
July 25th, 2016 at 1:01 pm
@StpeteBucsfan
I will clarify, I think that in that huge signings, The NFL stars if you will, the VJ’s, GMC93, LVD54, Revis, Wright, and the big lineman that never played because of the toe that brought mrsa to the training room. All the big free agents were 25% over market. But if you realize that is what it took to get them here. Then maybe some will stop saying he needs to play like a 100 million dollar player!!!
Ayers and Grimes are small potatoes that did not have many options due to age and injury.
July 25th, 2016 at 1:16 pm
No state tax is so overrated first, these guys accountants that can navigate state taxes easily and florida is certaintly not the only state wothout state income tax. Second Tampa is not a young persons hip hotspot compared to other regions. Comparing a winning / class organization like lightning to a poorly run circus like bucs is irrelevant especially conparing hockey players to young hip football players completely different personality types. Bucs have to overpay until they win. Nothing else matters wins equal respect
July 25th, 2016 at 1:19 pm
New writer, same old news.
July 25th, 2016 at 1:24 pm
Didn’t we already discuss this?
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2016/03/joel-glazer-comments-gerald-mccoy-bashers/
July 25th, 2016 at 1:27 pm
Quality backhanded and misguided slap at Joe. Golf clap. –Joe
—–
Now that was funny..
——-
I do like the additional writing and opinions though..I’m going to love it even more when Joe(s) and Ira don’t agree!!
July 25th, 2016 at 1:37 pm
Ira’s IPO on JoeBucsFan was strong even though it was predictable. I’m glad to see he’s not among the lemmings who continually criticize GMC. Buccaneers ownership have failed to put a winner around him.
I heard Joe say this months ago and I believe it to be true that if Dirk Koetter doesn’t work out here the entire organization would have wasted GMC’s prime years.
July 25th, 2016 at 1:39 pm
The tax free only applies when they play in Florida, On away games, they are subjected to those other states law!!!!
July 25th, 2016 at 1:43 pm
D-Rome
DB55 Says:
March 25th, 2016 at 2:37 pm
I just hope he gets healthy and gets better players around him so he can stop jumping offsides in the red zone on 3 consecutive plays.
July 25th, 2016 at 1:45 pm
Ira, great article. Great to see someone take a non-emotional position on GMC’s value to the Bucs for a change. It gets old hearing unsubstantiated comments like “Gmc disappears when it matters most and his love of losng is maddening.” (Yup, that one’s on you tmaxcon). If Gerald ‘loved losing’ as you contend he would’ve shut it down halfway through last season instead of playing hurt like he did. And Realist, in comparison to what Suh makes, GMC is underpaid (even Dareus of the Bills makes more if you consider the guaranteed money). And over the last 4 yrs, GMC has several more sacks than either of them.
July 25th, 2016 at 1:47 pm
True!
Since Dominik first drafted GMC the organization has been bellyaching about getting him an edge rusher, yet they let one of the better ones in the NFL walk out the door for no good reason.
If all GMC needs to be elite is an edge rusher, that’s on the organization — past and present — for dropping the ball.
July 25th, 2016 at 1:47 pm
This article makes me want to fly down to Tampa and buy a Cadillac!😛
July 25th, 2016 at 1:48 pm
D-Rome
Just more excuses. True elite players make those around them better. Having better players areound still will not make up for his fragility and disappearing acts on 3rd down and second halves of games.
If he was so severly injured last season he should have never played in a meaningless pro bowl. Gmc priorities are way off…
July 25th, 2016 at 1:49 pm
So Ira puts Sapp’s status in historical context and Ira gets Joel Glazer on the record. Same old story?
Yep, you will find hundreds of references in Joe’s archives to quotes in a story in July from Joel Glazer. #sarcasm
July 25th, 2016 at 1:50 pm
Defense Rules
Please name 5 game changing or ctitcal plays that sealed a bucs victory. You can’t but give it a try.
July 25th, 2016 at 1:53 pm
DB55,
The following is a list of GMC’s penalties in his career:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McCoGe99/penalties
Perhaps I’m missing it but which game was it where he was cited for off-sides on three consecutive plays in a single game?
July 25th, 2016 at 1:56 pm
You can say just about the same for Lavonte David, can’t you? Joe can think of one game-saving play he made for the Jets.
The Bucs have a worse record with Lavonte David than they do GMC, but yeah, GMC is the cancer.
How come GMC gets all the hate but David gets a complete and total pass? No, Joe likes David a lot. But if you are going to irrationally dig for a scapegoat, why is David so innocent?
July 25th, 2016 at 2:04 pm
Joe
Gmc is the most overrated player in bucs history. is it too much to ask a supposed elite player to make 5 standout plays accross 6 years thats less than 1 game changing play a season. There also is no justification for his accepting losing the wsy he does. I am sick and tired of the supposed nice guys getting a free pass. He is paid to make plays not nit excuses.
July 25th, 2016 at 2:05 pm
Bc David plays with heart ALL GAME LONG!! His effort is there until the last second ticks off the clock. You remember that picture you posted of David after the 2014 loss to the saints? That pretty much sums it up.
July 25th, 2016 at 2:06 pm
“they let one of the better ones in the NFL walk out the door for no good reason.”
The reason was that the pop-star drafted 2 DE’s and to crowbar them into the line-up, the pop-star used the medical staff to fail and let MBennett hit free agency with no offer!!!!
July 25th, 2016 at 2:10 pm
D-Rome
Gut instinct says the bears game but based on the data in the link it more likely the Giants game. I earesed all the games yesterday to clear up room on the dvr or I’d go back and look at the tape.
Consider that sometimes the refs call it on another player so it may not show on stats. I will point out that the Bucs led the league in offsides/neutral zone infractions with 11 and I’m positive more than 50% of those were on mr nice guy.
I’ll keep looking to see if I can find time and date.
July 25th, 2016 at 2:13 pm
Joe
As far as lvd comparison i dont seem to recall him being labled as the face of the franchise or self proclaimed team leader. Lvd has room to improve but he has made far more critcal plays than gmc and his meaningless first half sacks.
July 25th, 2016 at 2:18 pm
DB55 Says:
March 25th, 2016 at 4:57 pm
Fun fact: 2012 gmc had Michael Bennett on the DL with him. Bennett had 9 sacks and Gmc had 5 sacks in 16 games.
I would also argue that the Bucs prob had their best roster in years that year too. With Bennett LVD Talib Barber Barron etc.
July 25th, 2016 at 2:28 pm
WHEN we start winning, this will all be forgotten. We put far too much emphasis on the play of one guy. Name ONE player on this defense that played to their potential, that didn’t make mistakes.
For reasons that most here don’t quite comprehend, myself included, people focus squarely on GMC and make blanket statements about his heart or his will. He’s a high-dollar player on a crappy team. That makes him an easy target.
I’m hoping that, no offense, he shuts you people up once and for all. I mean, as he goes we go. Double-digits for him means we’re doing something right for a change.
It takes more than ONE player to make a difference. Go look at Sapp’s teammates if you want an example.
July 25th, 2016 at 2:33 pm
Bucsfanman
Nothing would make me happier than to eat a big sh!t sandwich because mccoy has a great year but more likely than not he will end up on IR….
July 25th, 2016 at 2:36 pm
I for one am extremely happy we have GMAC. Dudes a beast and fu*k you if you have your head so far up your b-hole you can’t see that.
July 25th, 2016 at 2:36 pm
I for one am not excited about the new addition to JoeBucsfan. This piece is just like the stuff he wrote at the Trib, no real insights and no real glimpses into how Ira really feels about said player or team. I like this website cause the Joe’s take a stand and give unadulterated opinion on the Bucs. Never really got that from Kaufmann. Maybe the more he writes on this site, he’ll start to tell it like it is. That’s what I’m hoping for.
July 25th, 2016 at 2:39 pm
DB55,
I’m a fan of the Bucs and Gerald McCoy but I saw something interesting that (against my better judgment) I’ll share with people here.
According to Pro Football Reference Gerald McCoy has more penalties in six seasons than Warren Sapp had in his entire career.
Gerald McCoy: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McCoGe99/penalties
Warren Sapp: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SappWa00/penalties
I think McCoy is an excellent and important players to the Buccaneers but even I have to admit he needs to be more disciplined moving forward.
July 25th, 2016 at 2:40 pm
I’ll never understand it man. Everyone’s arguments against GMC are based on weird subjective opinions that you cannot prove – like he has no heart or doesn’t play with 100% effort. Until you’ve lived in the guys head you have no idea and are acting like some psychotherapist who can judge a person off of body language alone.
According to everyone that gets paid to study the game – he is one of the best DTs in the league without question. He has some pretty good stats to back up the notion as well along with All Pro / pro bowl honors. This team is worse without him starting and it isn’t close.
Also – to Realist’s point about contracts – GMC’s contract is one of the better ones when you look at top DT dollar. He signed for $5 mill less per year than what Suh got on the open market. Thats as close to an apples to apples comparison of 2 players you will ever get. Within 1 draft pick of each other from the same class at the same position and very similar production.
GMC’s deal = 7 years 98 million 51 in guarantees. avg $14 mil per year
Suh = 6 years 114 million 59 in guarantees. avg $19 mil per year
That’s a huge difference.
Also – to the idea that GMC is obsessed with being a leader – he has said multiple times how this team is Winston’s now.
July 25th, 2016 at 2:40 pm
tmax- In the eternal words of Cris Carter, “C’MON MAN!!!”
I’m in need of some football therapy!!! This off-season stuff just ain’t doing it for me. I actually found myself gripped to the TV during a re-play of Super Bowl 50. Denver’s defense was just plain ‘ol nasty! Ah, the good ole days!
July 25th, 2016 at 2:41 pm
“no real insights and no real glimpses into how Ira really feels about said player or team.”
I think it’s pretty obvious he feels great about McCoy and thinks that any fans bashing him are being irrational emotional idiots looking for a scapegoat
July 25th, 2016 at 2:44 pm
IndyBucsFan
If he is such a Beadt should be easy to come ip with 5 game changing plays over the last 6 years….
Sounds like you are the one with your head clearly planted in your arse or you would have presented facts….
July 25th, 2016 at 2:48 pm
Dayum Indy comes out swinging.
July 25th, 2016 at 2:56 pm
Love Ira’s writings. Always on spot. Scapegoats come when you lose. Ours was Lovie. One thing I’ve noticed though with Buc fans here, they never have blamed players. many other fan websites for other teams do.If we have so many great players, How come our record does not indicate so? McCoy needs help. Tell ya what..let him go and see how fast other teams swope him up.
Winning solves everything. Had our Bucs won 2 more games last yr, we’d be celebrating those ex coaches. (and there were at 4 very easy winnables last season) And I recall..it was all the coaches fault. That what makes Bucs fans so comical. They don’t really watch the games or the foolish mistakes our players have made over and over. Thats not coaching, that’s just mediocre talent.
July 25th, 2016 at 2:56 pm
Come on Indy lets see thos 5 plays…. i can think of 5 great plays sapp made against farve alone… a keyboard tough guy like yourself should easily be able to list 5 plays the beast made
July 25th, 2016 at 3:01 pm
Does Ira get to call us out for dumb comments as well? 😀
July 25th, 2016 at 3:06 pm
Welcome Ira, this first post of yours on JBF does remind me of Joe’s take on McCoy, saying what’s the shame of him not being Sapp, and I agree. McCoy did have a hold of Ryan’s leg to save that one win against Atlanta.
July 25th, 2016 at 3:06 pm
Le gauntlet has been le-thrown.
GMC is who he is. He’s a good DT on a bad football team. He’ll never make us forget Sapp but I’d rather have him than not have him. Some like him, some don’t.
@Mike Johnson- That’s my point. Win, and it goes away. Please win.
July 25th, 2016 at 3:10 pm
D-rome
Well looky there I guess my head isn’t really that far up my rear end. Remember we live in a post-factual world. Facts don’t matter only a persons FEELINGS matter. Looking at you Indy.
July 25th, 2016 at 3:11 pm
Lord C
Fact: he avg 31 tackles per year that’s less than 2 tackles per game over his entire career.
Fact: 2012 gmc had Michael Bennett on the DL with him. Bennett had 9 sacks and Gmc had 5 sacks in 16 games. Some much for putting player around him.
Fact: he jumps off-sides all the time and get run-over on the goalline consistently.
Fact: of his 8.5 sacks in 2015 only 2 came in the second half of a game. Jacksonville to be exact.
July 25th, 2016 at 3:12 pm
I like GMC, but it’s unfortunate that he’s paid so much for what they’ve gotten. Whether it be through injury or his average to slightly above average DT play for our team. I like him on the team though. So like I always say. I’m no GMC hater.
July 25th, 2016 at 3:14 pm
Then there’s always DB55 coming in with “Facts” like he’s prosecuting GMC. lol
See Ira I told ya this pace was a madhouse.
July 25th, 2016 at 3:23 pm
tmaxcon … Not sure why you’re hung up on some arbitrary criteria (5 game-changing plays in 6 yrs?) but it appears to be just a distraction on your part. Use that same criteria for Suh. For Dareus. For Atkins. Pick any other DT in the league. Point is that it’d be rare for any DT to have an average of 1 game-changing play each season. I’m not even sure that most fans could pinpoint 1 game-changing play per game … period.
What was the game-changing play when the Bucs got trounced last year in their first game against the Titans? Was it the 5th play of the game when Mariotta hit Wright for a 52-yd TD less than 2 mins into the game? Or was it the Bucs 3rd play of the game when Jameis was intercepted by Sensabaugh who returned it for a TD and put the Titans up 14-0 less than 3 mins into the game? Not really, there was still 57 mins left in the game for the Bucs to come back. Point is, identifiable game-changing plays don’t really happen THAT often far as I’m concerned.
July 25th, 2016 at 3:29 pm
“DB55 Says:
July 25th, 2016 at 3:11 pm
Lord C
Fact: he avg 31 tackles per year that’s less than 2 tackles per game over his entire career.
Fact: 2012 gmc had Michael Bennett on the DL with him. Bennett had 9 sacks and Gmc had 5 sacks in 16 games. Some much for putting player around him.
Fact: he jumps off-sides all the time and get run-over on the goalline consistently.
Fact: of his 8.5 sacks in 2015 only 2 came in the second half of a game. Jacksonville to be exact.”
On first fact – Ok. I don’t really care though about that stat. Suh has averaged like 36 tackles per season. Tackles are probably the worst stat to go off of for DTs. You can’t measure the effect of forcing double teams and things like that if just looking at tackles.
Second fact about 2012 – noted. But then again I’m not arguing he is a bum player that has needed a good DE. I’ve always maintained his play is great. It’s better than 90% of the rest of the team at their positions. So I honestly don’t really care. That was also his first full season in the league after injuries plagued his first 2 seasons; and he’s averaged ~ 9 sacks a year in the 3 years since.
3rd fact – agree to disagree unless you want to prove he’s one of the most penalized d-lineman in the game on average.
Last fact – OK? You do remember getting blown out a lot last year right? When 2nd half sacks would have been pretty meaningless and in moments we were likely not playing McCoy as much? I get the idea of this but think you’re over-blowing a cherry picked stat. Also – for whoever said he’s never done anything meaningful in terms of plays that win the game – Jville comes to mind.
July 25th, 2016 at 3:33 pm
Lord C- You just saved me a whole bunch of typing. GMC is in the top 5-10 at his position. Does there really need to be anything else said?!
July 25th, 2016 at 3:38 pm
87
It gets to me when people discount ME, Dougie, LVD and a host of others but praise McCoy. koetters quote says it all.
“I want a bunch of guys that are going to play hard-nosed, emotional football.” – Dirk Koetter
July 25th, 2016 at 3:41 pm
Lord c
I’ll never understand it man. Everyone’s arguments against GMC are based on weird subjective opinions that you cannot prove
————
Which is it brother that I can’t prove them or you don’t like them?
July 25th, 2016 at 3:43 pm
Defense Rules
I completely disagree that dt cant make game changing or impact plays sapp is in the hall because of them.
3rd and 8 with 2 minutes left and your stud dt plants qb for loss forces a punt… thats a a game changing play….
When the team needs a play the most gmc is nowhere to be found he has made 2 to 3 impact plays his entire career… watt, donald and other defensive studs make them weekly. Even lvd has made those critcal impact plays more frequently.
July 25th, 2016 at 3:44 pm
Lord c
3rd fact – agree to disagree unless you want to prove he’s one of the most penalized d-lineman in the game on averag
————-
Please see D-Romes post at 2:39p
D-Rome Says:
July 25th, 2016 at 2:39 pm
DB55,
I’m a fan of the Bucs and Gerald McCoy but I saw something interesting that (against my better judgment) I’ll share with people here.
According to Pro Football Reference Gerald McCoy has more penalties in six seasons than Warren Sapp had in his entire career.
Gerald McCoy: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McCoGe99/penalties
Warren Sapp: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SappWa00/penalties
I think McCoy is an excellent and important players to the Buccaneers but even I have to admit he needs to be more disciplined moving forward.
July 25th, 2016 at 3:45 pm
Lord c
3rd fact – agree to disagree unless you want to prove he’s one of the most penalized d-lineman in the game on averag
————-
Please see D-Romes post at 2:39p
July 25th, 2016 at 3:59 pm
Drops Mic!!!
Brovo Joes, you have the best “Custodian” in town thats for sure!!!!!! And that just felt like some good old fashioned spiritual house cleaning….
Ok guys Lets do this…….
July 25th, 2016 at 4:03 pm
“Gmc disappears when it matters most and his love of losng is maddening.”
————-
Not taking the bait, not taking the bait, not taking the bait! Okay, I’ll take the bait just this once. I can think of 3 games off hand where McCoy played well late. Against Miami on Monday night he had a sack on the last series. Against N.O. last year on the road he was blowing up everything until the next to last series when he got hurt. Up until then, he was dominant in the 4th. Last year against Atlanta he had the pressure on 4th down to seal the game.
As for his love of losing, that’s the most hilarious thing I’ve heard. You keep saying it, but your reasoning is beyond laughable. Obviously you’ve never been a competitor or played any sports, so you wouldn’t understand what he was saying when he said he was miserable the season they were winning. I would love to explain it to you, but I know you won’t understand anyway. It hurts any competitor to not be able to play. It has nothing to do with winning or losing. There have been numerous players that have said the same thing that couldn’t play in the Super Bowl, and even though their team won, they were miserable. The Honey Badger said the exact same thing when he got hurt in the Arizona Cardinals series about last season (All or Nothing). I guess he loves losing too.
Bottom line is you are never going to change your mind about McCoy. Maybe he turned you down for an autograph or something and you just can’t let it go. I don’t know, but that’s on you. Everybody with any football knowledge would do anything to have him on their team, so you’re twisting of words and facts is completely meaningless. Now you go ahead and continue repeating yourself, while all those with common sense continue to laugh at you.
July 25th, 2016 at 4:11 pm
Amen agree with Ira here..
July 25th, 2016 at 4:18 pm
No one is realistically going to remember a single play even if it was significant 2-5 years ago. But I seem to remember GMC game winning play vs ATL game last year when he sacked Ryan with time ticking down on their potentially game winning drive.
July 25th, 2016 at 4:18 pm
Hawaiian
Nothing makes me happier than reading your rants about a good not great fragile dt ….. i can’t wait when 93 ends up on IR AGAIN and you defend that
July 25th, 2016 at 4:19 pm
Since when is a sack not a game-changing play? Not like Gerald even has to get all the sacks he does to help us win anyway.
Some of yall talk about Gerald like he gets overpowed and blown of the ball. Open your eyes and youll see its the exact opposite.
July 25th, 2016 at 4:38 pm
” i can’t wait when 93 ends up on IR AGAIN and you defend that”
————–
So many things to point to with this statement. First of all, so you want him to get hurt just so you can be right? And you claim to be a Bucs fan? Besides, he’s only missed 4 games in the last 4 seasons, so the basis for your argument is stupid. He’s played hurt, but he’s still led the team in sacks every year. A DT shouldn’t lead a team in sacks. It’s not what the purpose of a 3 technique is. His job is to disrupt and funnel everything to other guys. But of course I’m sure you would argue that as well, because I’m sure you have a far superior football mind to everyone else.
July 25th, 2016 at 4:40 pm
I certainly wish we had some production out of someone else on the Dline like GMC…..then perhaps we would have a winning team.
Count me in the “GMC is good….but not Sapp” category…..
July 25th, 2016 at 4:53 pm
Hawaiian
Dont twist words sir, you are smarter than that. . Of course, i dont want any player to get hurt but history proves 93 gets hurt every year so i am playing tne odds. Second i have never posted he should lead team in sacks. My problem with 93 is he disappears when it matters most 3rd downs and second halves of games. Never said i was smarter than anyone but rant on fine sir.
July 25th, 2016 at 4:58 pm
tmaxcon … ” Hawaiian … Nothing makes me happier than reading your rants about a good not great fragile dt ….. i can’t wait when 93 ends up on IR AGAIN and you defend that.”
After that last remark about 93 ending up on IR again, don’t think you should be accusing Hawaiian of ‘rants’. (I do assume that you didn’t really mean that about GMC).
July 25th, 2016 at 5:11 pm
What are you talking about that he disappears? I almost get the feeling like some fans expect McCoy to get a game winning strip sack and taking it to the house in the waning second to get any credit……….Maybe that’s a stretch but it really seems that McCoy is getting judged on only sacks. Sacks are a horrible gauge for McCoy…….it ain’t his job to get sacks. Don’t confuse the fact that if McCoy doesn’t take down a QB it doesn’t mean he has disappeared.
McCoy did his job all year long for the past several seasons, calm down with this disappeared nonsense.
Disappeared is a adjective that shoul only be reserved for our ends and our entire secondary……..Total agreement with the headline of this article.
July 25th, 2016 at 5:11 pm
LMAO @ tamaxon I think the FL sun is starting to fry your brain son. The whole point of this is to point out that while he is in fact NOT SAPP he is still one of the best 3 techs in the league. And if you’re even in the top 10 best anything in the league you’re a beast. Sapp was a once in a generation player. I personally would rather have GMAC over every 3 tech minus Aaron Donald and the panthers Dt. I’m guessing a lot of GMs feel the same.
And don’t call me a keyboard warrior, nothing was said directly to you, so don’t be a child about things.
July 25th, 2016 at 5:14 pm
“Lord c
3rd fact – agree to disagree unless you want to prove he’s one of the most penalized d-lineman in the game on averag
————-
Please see D-Romes post at 2:39p”
Interesting and disappointing – but I still love having Gerald McCoy on this team lol. He’s still one of our best players.
He gets way more hate than Lavonte / Doug Martin / etc even though you could cherry pick and break those guys down to look badly just as easily.
No one is arguing McCoy is Warren Sapp. No one is arguing he is the best DT in the league as far as I’ve seen here. But it is a consensus opinion he is one of the best DTs in the NFL right now. At various recent moments in his career a lot of sportswriters have ranked him as either the best DT in the game or top 3-5. Even if he was just top 10 at his position that is better than where we are at with everyone else on the team besides Lavonte. Not sure why that isn’t good enough for some people – or why it is worth spending energy on.
If cutting McCoy would somehow make the team better – I’d understand this line of thinking and hating the guy so much. Do any of you really think Gerald McCoy is the reason for the franchise being bad? How or why would we be better off without him?
July 25th, 2016 at 5:49 pm
Glad to be able to read the new EYE-RAH UNLEASHED here on JoeBucs. Welcome Ira, and happy you’re here. Loved the article, and would like to add that the only player GMC should be directly compared to is Suh, who the fact stats are in, GMC has outplayed since ever since he got past his first 2 freak accident years, ALWAYS with less legitimate and proven help. How can people even think to consider a hall of famer’s established in stone career stats against those of a player whose career might not even be half-way over yet? I’ve always been and will always be a GMC fan and supporter. Thats for coming out the gates here Ira spouting truth and telling it like it is. Look forward to hearing MANY MORE. Don’t forget your unfinished business with Lynch and soon coming business with Barber!!!
GO BUCS!!!
July 25th, 2016 at 5:52 pm
sportswriters have ranked him as either the best DT in the game or top 3-5. Even if he was just top 10
——————-
That’s funny bc bspn has Mike Evans ranked 11th best WR yet all I hear is that he can’t catch n he got k-y hands.
So riddle me this batman how come everyone else on the team is fair game except for #93 ESPECIALLY when I’m able to debunk every ridiculous statement or stat you and the rest of the fanboys make. What is it that make him beyond reproach? It’s the smile right? It’s gotta be the smile.
Consider dougie ran for 1400 yards last year and when it was time to re-sign him these same fans said he was a dime a dozen. If only he could avg 2 tackles per game then he’d be a real superstar.
July 25th, 2016 at 5:58 pm
And for the record #93 couldn’t hold #99 jock strap much less play like him. The only reason anyone would mistake the two is after reading some of these fanboy comments about how he’s all-world, triple teamed every play, 9 sacks every year all by himself blah blah blah all while playing with a broken nail garbage that you fanboys love to spew.
#PFUDOR
July 25th, 2016 at 6:21 pm
@DB55,
Who is saying everyone else is fair game but not McCoy. Do you ever see me criticizing Evans, Martin, David, or any of our other better players? I’ve always said the same thing – those guys aren’t the ones to blame. It’s the large number of lesser players and sorry coaches that have been the problem. It’s having useless guys like Bowers, Kyle Moore, Albert Haynesworth. You could even blame average guys like Jaqueis Smith and Will Gholston. Why blame the only guy who is consistently productive? I don’t get it, and I never will. It is easy to scheme against one or two guys with the rest aren’t very good.
Until McCoy gets a real pass rusher to help him, we will never know how good he is. You can’t name any other DT with a worse group of teammates than McCoy has had. But the players around the league that actually have to block him and all the coaches that have to scheme against him like him, which is better for me than a bunch of hater-arse anonymous fans that are keyboard warriors. His teammates must think he’s pretty good or they wouldn’t keep voting him captain.
July 25th, 2016 at 6:22 pm
Whats the problem with Geralds tackles? Did he miss a bunch…..i never noticed that. Sounds like some BS to worry about how many tackles he gets.
July 25th, 2016 at 6:31 pm
We got him some defensive end help so the clock is ticking, its put up or shut up time.But unfortunately I fear McSofty will continue wreaking havoc for the first quarter of the game then when we need a simple stop at the end of the game he will disappear..
July 25th, 2016 at 6:43 pm
OK we all agree this debate is growing a bit weary. The stats and opinions and even the “opinions presented as facts” are all very good but let’s just cut to the freaking chase and go on the record.
Simple question…forget stats…forget everything except the answer which needs to come in yes or no form. You all have already given plenty of reasons for your answers but I’d like to know the depth of your opinion and have you go on the record.
Question: Are the Bucs better off with GMC or should they have unloaded his salary to go after a different player(s)?
YES! The Bucs are better off.
July 25th, 2016 at 6:59 pm
Amen, Ira.
We are lucky to have McCoy. I wanted Suh when we picked McCoy, now I couldn’t be any happier that he’s a Buc. On the field, in the locker room, off the field, he’s everything you could ask for as a fan.
I love the Bucs, but our fan base leaves a bit to be desired. We have the faithful hardcore fans, but some of our fair weather fans don’t have a clue. If you don’t think McCoy isn’t a dominant DT, you’re just not watching the games. Yeah, this year he battled through injuries and was the All Pro player he was the past few years, but he still put together a solid season.
July 25th, 2016 at 7:02 pm
Hey St Pete, good question but first have to give Ira another kudo: First shot out of the barrel and his first topic has already gotten 75-plus comments. Can’t wait for the second one now. (Maybe we’re all getting a little punch-drunk waiting for the preseason to start).
Regarding your question, fact is the only other DT of GMCs caliber available when he signed his new contract was Suh. I’ll take GMC thank you.
Should we have drafted another DLineman this year to strengthen the DLine? No question in my mind. Plenty of excellent talent was available in the 2nd round. I like our new kicker, but I’ll always be convinced we could’ve gotten him in the 3rd round … he’s a kicker not a potential starting WR, CB or Safety.
July 25th, 2016 at 7:08 pm
Worried about stat lines of a DT…..Freaking hilarious.
Hey, teams had a rough time running on us last year……Maybe they should start running right at McCoy……..It may not work all game but it will during the 4th quater when Gerald “disappears” right?
Its amazing that McCoy has been disappearing like this for six years now and not one offensive coordinator has exploited it yet. They must need to get fired.
July 25th, 2016 at 7:19 pm
He’s being paid as a dominant player but he isn’t dominant. He doesn’t have much help on that line, so I give him somewhat of a pass. I still say, by the time this team is a consistent winner GMC will be gone.
I’m guessing as soon as his guaranteed money is gone in his contract he’ll be released, traded, or asked to renegotiate his contract, at which point he’ll walk.
July 25th, 2016 at 7:23 pm
If 93 doesn’t disappear instead of pointing out all the good in the community cop out garbage it should be really easy for the defenders to list play after play the fragile one has made in the second half of games. If he is so good in the locker room and we are so lucky to have him why did winston have to go off in his final press conference about players not wanting to win. If 93 is such a great leader / locker room guy why did he pout and walk away from teammates when winston was pumping up team… 93 is a good player not great and far from perfect… 93 is paid to play all 4 qtrs and win games not host movie night… too many fans confuse nice guys and popular players with actual results on the field. Parents and teachers are role models not football players…
July 25th, 2016 at 7:31 pm
The only sentence in the article that matters to me is that 31 other teams would trade for GMC. Not the opinions of the whiners on this page. Perspective is a MFer
July 25th, 2016 at 7:31 pm
When Warren Sapp played, he had the likes of John lynch, Ronde Barber and Derrick Brooks in the secondary. A lot of critics, when it comes to GMC don’t take into account how secondary can be a huge benifit to the pass rush. How is Gerald McCoy supposed to rack up 12+ sacks when qbs can throw quick passes against Lovie Smiths soft defense? The better the coverage, the longer the QB holds onto the ball, hence more sacks for GMC.
July 25th, 2016 at 7:34 pm
LOL….”he isn’t dominant.” Um…….That is not what Every OLman in the league would say, but they get paid to play. You guys don’t even get paid to watch so how can you square your mouths properly to negate a Professional’s word?
July 25th, 2016 at 7:40 pm
Saying 31 teams would trade for 93 is pure speculation and hardly factual. 31 teams would NOT trade for an overpaid always hurt dt nearing 30 years old.
July 25th, 2016 at 7:44 pm
I didn’t say it. Team Glazer said it tmax
July 25th, 2016 at 7:46 pm
31 other teams would be extremely satisfied with having Gerald McCoy on their team, everyone besides the Canton Greats.
July 25th, 2016 at 7:46 pm
And that is supposed to be credible…. hilarious
July 25th, 2016 at 7:48 pm
No tram is going to give up valuable draft picks for player with 93 injury history and age… again he is good not great
July 25th, 2016 at 7:49 pm
And there is No Doubt that any team would take GMC. Those that dislike him are SO unrealistic. Dude has had How many DCs? How many DL coaches. If you can say that inconsistancy makes for a good work place environment with a straight face then I will never play poker with you. When you include all the intangibles not to mention the fact that the Front Office NEVER bothered to get him a Linemate of his caliber when they knew what they had in the first place then an Imbecile would know that GMC is not the one to blame.
July 25th, 2016 at 7:51 pm
31 other teams would trade for GMC.
———–
Closer to 25 but who’s counting. Lol
July 25th, 2016 at 7:53 pm
Warren Sapp NEVER would have made the HOF without Rice, Brooks, Barber, and Lynch. So, to compare him to Sapp is Completely stupid. Sapp played with prolly 3 other HOFers at the same time by the time it is said and done. But Im sure having Great Teammates around you doesn’t help your game any does it?
July 25th, 2016 at 7:55 pm
“I want a bunch of guys that are going to play hard-nosed, emotional football.” – Dirk Koetter
July 25th, 2016 at 7:57 pm
Howdy DB…..How is life down in the FLA?
July 25th, 2016 at 7:58 pm
It’s the best state in the union bc Gerald McCoy lives here.
July 25th, 2016 at 8:00 pm
LOL……that one was a doosey. As I told you the last time you asked me how life was here, you couldn’t Pay me to live down there anymore. No offense, just too much crime and drugs and smog and corrupt police, and heat, etc. etc.
July 25th, 2016 at 8:01 pm
Regardless of what side of the mccoy fence you are on, he is out of excuses…. he either produces this year or licht will do yhe right thing. If he ends up hurt or on ir again he will have to renegotiate which i dont think he will licht will not hang on to broken goods
July 25th, 2016 at 8:07 pm
As Ira so eloquently pointed out. GMC has produced at a better level than Suh for the last four years. It is preposterous to put the lack of wins and equate it to his “lack of production”. One lineman does not a DL make. Never has and it never will
July 25th, 2016 at 8:10 pm
Suh is hardly the standard.. . 93 could not carry aaron donalds jock
July 25th, 2016 at 8:11 pm
I am a glass half full kind of guy but I also see TMaxcon side of it. I have followed Joe for years and we had several discussions (arguments) about Barrett Ruud. The guilty party here is the (Bucs) overselling great players but not franchise players. Jj Watt is a franchise player!!! He can single handedly win a game for the Texans! Anyone disagree? McCoy can not do that BUT he is a great player. Leader not really because I think that was forced on him. Hardy Nickerson was a leader that would not accept losing and he passed it down to Sapp, Lynch & Brooks.
July 25th, 2016 at 8:22 pm
SBwJ, I’m NOT a GMC hater, and I agree that playing wth great players helped Sapp, but the argument I always hear is that Sapp needed Rice to be great. Sapp was Defensive player of the year long before Rice was a Buc. Rice and Sapp are dominant with, or without each other. There are players that need others around them to be great, and those that help make others great. Sapp, in my opinion, is the second option. GMC I think is somewhere I between the two, closer to the second option. GMC is a really good player, but I don’t think he’ll be a HOF’er, regardless of who lines up next to him. I’d still take him before 99% of 4-3DT’s out there. He IS good.
July 25th, 2016 at 8:23 pm
Yall wanna throw around this disappeared comment and not give any compelling reason to come to that conclusion. And dont hand me his 4th quater sack numbers like thats supposted to mean something………DTs can affet the game in many ways.
Like when McCoy wrapped up Ryan on the last play(not a sack)……… or when he stuffed Gurley on a goal line stand in the 4th. Youd have to be a real azz to think to call him disappeared in hose moments.
July 25th, 2016 at 8:24 pm
tmaxcon Says:
July 25th, 2016 at 8:10 pm
Suh is hardly the standard.. . 93 could not carry aaron donalds jock
………..
Great!!….So lets compare Donald to Sapp from now on.
Oh that’s right he is not only Not on our team. But hasn’t made 4 consecutive Pro Bowls and been voted a top 100 player 3 times. Donald plays on a Way better Line with a Way better back end and better coach. Im sure none of that matters though. Just player vs. other player right? SMDH
July 25th, 2016 at 8:26 pm
Eric…you know I am whole-heartedly down with you and your openmindedness. Do you really think that Sapp made Brooks, Barber, Lynch and Rice????
Then you can’t compare GMC cause he has a “Brooks” at best in LVD who has been Horrifically mis-used in the last two years
July 25th, 2016 at 8:30 pm
Warren Sapp had two DL coaches and One DC for his Entire Bucs career if I am correct. His Front office Surrounded him with help. Of this I am SURE I am correct. GMC has been hung out to dry by this organization. Sad truth. The lack of DE talent brought in since he was drafted is beyond Hideous
July 25th, 2016 at 8:32 pm
I am going to work on my son’s tree-house now. Peace out my Bucs’ Brethren!
July 25th, 2016 at 8:42 pm
What we seem to be comparing is superstars to great players. Huge difference! Teams need a Superstar to really lead others.
July 25th, 2016 at 9:02 pm
It is simple don’t compare McCoy to anyone just watch him play. There are way to many games you find yourself saying at the end did McCoy play today, was he hurt? That is not what you want out of your “franchise player”. Ask yourself this, last year when we played the Rams on national TV did McCoy show up? When we were falling apart at Washington did McCoy step up and make a play to turn the tide? When we were in the playoff race and at home vs the Saints last year did McCoy make a play to help is beat a bad team playing on the road? Forget the crap Ira and Joe try to box us fans in with comparisons, just watch the games and anyone can see McCoy is simply not living up to his draft spot, contract, or hype. I am Bucs season ticket holder, huge fan and I want more than any fan for McCoy to be great but I know how I feel when watch him play and it is usually disappointed.
July 25th, 2016 at 9:03 pm
SB, I was just trying to address the “Sapp needed Rice to be great” crowd. GMC is a top DT right now, but Sapp was all-time great. GMC isn’t there right now, and he doesn’t have to be. I’m still a fan.
July 25th, 2016 at 9:20 pm
For the record no I don’t want McCoy cut BUT we can just as easily lose without him as we do with him. In fact our only winning year recently was without him so what kind of a difference does he really make?
July 25th, 2016 at 9:24 pm
Over 100 comments on Iras’ first article! Guess he already knows what fires us up! Lol!
July 25th, 2016 at 10:12 pm
Never could understand the hate for GMC. He’s a fine football player, and even better human being. It’s unfortunate for him, that with the exception of one fluke season, he’s been saddled with absolute crap around him. Once again, after a great run of ten or so years, this franchise is the laughing stock of the league. News flash…it’s not because of GMC. I get though, it makes things easier for the casuals.
July 25th, 2016 at 10:17 pm
I fully believe that Larry Fitzgerald is the Greatest WR ever to never have even a Great QB much less elite. Dude would have been a HOFer with Favre, Manning, Brady, or Brees maybe a few other too. Alas though Larry Fitzgerald will Never be Michael Irving etc, etc,. If anyone believes that one single player should be the end all for a Team’s W/L record then they might need to re-assess their reasoning a smidg. Just be grateful we have a top 5 DL and that Lovie is gone, and that we have a boosted Secondary, and LB Corps……………..Resentments are just anger turned inward and all of you with resentments about drafting a guy like GMC have issues. Look at the whole picture. There is a forest amongst those trees believe it or not.
July 25th, 2016 at 10:26 pm
There is no such THING as a Superstar on a losing team ……lol. You can’t be a Superstar unless you have a good team. Is it that hard to understand? Fitz is the closest example I can think of.
July 25th, 2016 at 10:32 pm
The haters really are pretty comical, but they sure do suck me in damn near every time!
July 25th, 2016 at 10:33 pm
Sorry.2013
http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?archive=true&conference=null&statisticPositionCategory=LINEBACKER&season=2013&seasonType=REG&experience=&tabSeq=1&qualified=false&Submit=Go
July 25th, 2016 at 10:38 pm
That GD LVD can’t win us games!! He lost focus last yr and he admitted it. Said the entire team had lost it. Damn him for still putting up Top 5 LB numbers for his whole career and we STILL Lose!….Dude has been through 3 HCs and I don’t recall how many position coaches. Dude is kicking ass but does America see it ? No…….GMC constantly impresses his peers while LVD continuously puts up numbers and gets ignored. Lets get rid of these bums cause we are Losing………..
July 25th, 2016 at 10:39 pm
Ok Joe. I see my links are being erased. Just using them to prove a point.
July 25th, 2016 at 10:39 pm
My bad though
July 25th, 2016 at 10:42 pm
I guess I am extraordinarily Fired Up for some Bucs’ Football this Year!!!! #Stoked
July 25th, 2016 at 10:49 pm
Blaming GMC for losing is like blaming Schiano for ruining Josh Franchise’s career! Big Dogg?
July 25th, 2016 at 11:00 pm
Its hilarious how personal some of you guys take it when another fan does not like a player as much as you do. Its hardly hate when a fan thinks a player is good but not great. I love the bucs and always will. players are a revolving door my loyalty is to the team not individual players. In 5 years mccoy wont even be rembered by half the fan base. he will go back to Oklahoma and you will have to find another player to fall heaf over heels for….
July 25th, 2016 at 11:31 pm
Welcome to JBF Ira! As much as I love the Joe’s, sometimes we need someone like you to offer a different opinion. I look for McCoy to have his best year this year, since he has been in Tampa. Yes, we have a horrible schedule, but I think the better coaching, and the new defensive acquisitions we made this year will allow GMC to really come into his own.
July 26th, 2016 at 12:14 am
Past post to tmax erased. OK, it is almost 10:15 here. I love you as a Bucs Brethren tmax. It’s all good. I look forward to much happy banter between us as we win 10 games this yr.
GO BUCS
July 26th, 2016 at 2:55 am
Joe writes what interests Joe.
Ira writes what interests fans.
I like the new JBF.
July 26th, 2016 at 3:00 am
I hope McCoy stays McCoy. I like the guy. He understands that football isn’t life and life isn’t football. Your job doesn’t have to be who you are and your character doesn’t need to change to make other people happy.
Players like Selmon and McCoy are the good guys. The Sapps of the league are douches. The HOF is meaningless in the scheme of life. Long after the NFL has been forgotten by history the good guys’ character will follow them, but the douches will be nothing but rotten bones in a grave somewhere that no one cares about.
July 26th, 2016 at 8:20 am
@StPete- YES!
What a wild one this turned into. In retrospect, is there any question who the detractors are?!