Bryan Cox, Jr., Passed On Bucs
May 20th, 2017
Bryan Cox, Jr., flew away from Tampa Bay
Interesting nugget out of the Charlotte Observer. (For the growing masses who have ignored newspapers for years, that’s the top paper covering the Carolina Panthers.)
Writer Joseph Person reported that former Florida Gators defensive end Bryan Cox, Jr., who went undrafted last month, received an offer from the Buccaneers following the draft. But Cox, whose famous All-Pro father coached pass rushers for Mike Smith in Atlanta and Greg Schiano in Tampa, was steered away from the Bucs and to the Panthers by his dad.
Draft day was a bit of a stunner at the Cox household.
“We were all just sick to our stomachs,” Cox Jr. told the newspaper. “We had a bunch of food prepared, but nobody ate. Everybody was kind of just moping around.”
The mood improved when the Panthers called a short time later. They wanted Cox Jr., a defensive end from Florida, to sign as an undrafted free agent.
He had similar offers from Tampa Bay and the Chargers, but Cox Sr. – an NFL defensive line coach for the past decade – was confident his son would thrive under the tutelage of the Panthers’ Eric Washington.
“He’s by far the best defensive line coach in football,” Cox Sr. said. “He’s not paid the highest like some of these guys are. But when you turn on the tape you see the physicality, you see the hand placement, you see the pad level. You see just no-nonsense football.”
Joe finds it very interesting that a strong defensive line coach like the elder Cox (his 2016 Falcons unit was stellar in last year’s Super Bowl) preferred his son’s potential blossoming in Carolina versus Tampa.
The whole story also illustrates why seventh-round picks aren’t just used toilet paper. They’re nice to have, and the Bucs could have used one on Cox. (See the success of the 2010 Bucs).
Lastly, keep an eye on Cox as a name the Bucs might sign to the practice squad if he’s cut by the Panthers after training camp.
May 20th, 2017 at 11:45 am
Everything for a reason
May 20th, 2017 at 11:45 am
I think it was more about Eric Washington than the Panthers. His father recommended whom he considered to be the best Dline coach.
Says a lot for ours, who can’t seem to get a pass rush going.
May 20th, 2017 at 11:48 am
why? …he clearly doesn’t want to be here
May 20th, 2017 at 11:51 am
Cox Jr. will tell Cox Sr one day..”I knew I should have been with the Bucs..They just got another ring while we stayed in the basement”..
Yep, I can see this convo taking place pretty soon!
GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!
May 20th, 2017 at 11:54 am
And Hayes is not an excellent DL coach??? OK, whatever Cox Sr. Good luck consoling your son when the Bucs are flashing their eventual Super Bowl rings your boys finger is bare.
May 20th, 2017 at 11:57 am
How many sacks did we have last year anybody know? And we’re did it rank?
May 20th, 2017 at 12:19 pm
I think he will learn more from Julius Peppers. It was a good decision by Bryan Cox Jr to join the Panthers.
May 20th, 2017 at 12:23 pm
His loss. Have fun losing with crybaby Cam Brian Jr…
May 20th, 2017 at 12:25 pm
@scotty
38 sacks, tied for 9th in the league with three other teams.
May 20th, 2017 at 12:28 pm
Father looking out for his son. Nothing wrong with that.
May 20th, 2017 at 12:28 pm
when the organization starts winning consistently stories like these simply go away. Bucs under the glazer kids have been embarrassing. why would any father want their child to play for a loser. the only way respect is earned is through wins. Ice Cream and Smiles dont count.
Jason licht – I want players who want to win at all costs
Winning makes the team and organization desirable. no state taxes and decent weather is for retirees not football players.
May 20th, 2017 at 12:59 pm
As a Gator fan I can say that he never played to his potential at UF. Im not sad he didnt choose us. He might turn out to be good but I kind of doubt it.
May 20th, 2017 at 1:06 pm
Mr. Cox, thinks the Panthers, are closer to the Super Bowl then the Bucs.
May 20th, 2017 at 1:37 pm
do you think cox senior has some ill will toward the Bucs for giving him the shaft?
May 20th, 2017 at 1:47 pm
@ rayjay
Step away from the ledge dude. No where did it state the bucs dline coach was not excellent. Cox sr. said he felt the panthers dline coach was the best. Its his opinion and there is nothing wrong with that. That is not a slight to the bucs. I know we are excited as buc fans for the upcoming season, but calm down. We have not won a game yet and at this point its all on paper. How anyone can find disrespect in a man giving his son fatherly advise is beyond me. Again, step away from the ledge. This may seem crazy to you, but tampa is not the #1 destination for all players. Relax…its okay. Different strokes for different folks.
May 20th, 2017 at 1:57 pm
grafik, I was thinking the same thing. Oh well. Cox Jr has a very small chance of making anyones practice squad, if he’s lucky. I wouldn’t be concerned where an undrafted player signs. His claim to fame is the name! Lol
May 20th, 2017 at 2:16 pm
It is a business.
May 20th, 2017 at 2:30 pm
Who cares this guy will be lucky to make it on a CFL roster.
May 20th, 2017 at 3:24 pm
I think it’s more about where you best expect a decent shot to make the team, period, dot, end of story.
May 20th, 2017 at 3:31 pm
Didn’t Cox, Sr. coach for the Bucs for a short time under one of the failed regimes since Gruden left. It’s hard to keep track.
May 20th, 2017 at 3:58 pm
Bulletin board material for Jay Hayes!!!
May 20th, 2017 at 4:07 pm
Actually, the Panthers have lacked a pass rush the last couple of years. Don’t know what games Cox Sr. is watching.
May 20th, 2017 at 4:17 pm
Carolina was 2nd in sacks in the NFL with 47 in 2016.
May 20th, 2017 at 4:29 pm
Yep! It makes sense to me. Cox Sr. wants Jr. to make the team. Carolina offers a better chance for him to make the roster.
May 20th, 2017 at 6:11 pm
Watched his tape… wasn’t impressed
May 20th, 2017 at 6:33 pm
All of you that know me know I’m a Gator n Buc. 🙂 That said I don’t think he is anything like his old man. He was an average player on a Loaded defense. I wish him luck but he is not for us I don’t think
May 20th, 2017 at 7:24 pm
He seems like a player with some talent…and enough potential to be somewhat enticing…but at the end of the day you end up with average.
He’s not a game changer…not really dynamic. But there is room in the league for an average guy who stays healthy and is dependable. Not all the players are leaders and game changers.
May 20th, 2017 at 7:33 pm
Kid went where HE thinks he will receive the best coaching and where HE..will fit in. Its not you nor I trying to make it in the NFl. There are 31 other teams in this league. HE has freedom of choice and fortunate for him, 4 or 5 teams were asking him to sign. Good luck to the Kid..He’s not made any squad yet
May 20th, 2017 at 8:23 pm
Who cares? If he was anything he would have been drafted. He didn’t exactly set the world on fire at Florida
May 20th, 2017 at 9:41 pm
Lol he can go cry to his father when the Bucs are hoisting the Lombardi trophy at the end of the year.
May 20th, 2017 at 11:50 pm
He’ll be looking for a job in a couple months. No biggie
May 21st, 2017 at 1:48 am
Why do so many people have sour grapes? His dad wanted him to sign somewhere, that’s it. Big deal. Unless he says he didn’t want to play for the Bucs either cuz the Bucs let him go (Cox Sr.) or cuz he thinks we have way more talent than his son can keep up with, then let it be. 😉
May 21st, 2017 at 6:40 am
It makes sense to go to a team where fewer comparisons will be made to his father. This man needs to make it on his own. If he’s here and average he will never know if he’s being kept on the roster by the coach for real or sentimental reasons. At least some fans here will shout the later the first time he blows an assignment.
May 21st, 2017 at 7:03 am
Doesn’t have to be a bad thing. When he decides ro come to the Bucs next year he will bring ibsider knowledg.
At least we now know Licht went after him.
May 21st, 2017 at 7:07 am
I would rather have Stevie T than some undrafted, backup Florida lineman
May 22nd, 2017 at 12:10 am
Daddy sent Jr., Where he thought he’d make the team.
Believe me. He didnt care about coaching or how good the team is.
He cared about where he saw a hole in the roster- that his kid might fill.
He wants Jr. To get a contract.
Waaaaay more important than whos coaching him