“I Think That’s Complete Bull”
July 25th, 2017
Gerald McCoy has a defender
A prominent former Buccaneer is not on board with what Bucs icon Ronde Barber said recently about Gerald McCoy and defensive tackles.
You remember the shade. Barber engaged in a conversation about “badass” Buccaneers past and present and McCoy didn’t make the cut, per Barber’s chatter with Martin Fennelly of the Tampa Bay Times.
That commentary likely irked McCoy and drove him into a Twitter freakout on Monday morning.
Here’s a snippet of Barber’s take:
“These kids are stars from the outset, whether they’ve done anything or not. It’s hard to find throwbacks, where you go, ‘That guy is a badass.’ Where do you find that now? It’s such a show-off sport,” Barber said. “Our nice guy on defense was a badass. (Former Bucs linebacker) Hardy Nickerson was the perfect gentleman away from football, but on the field, the guy was scary. How many times did he hurl spittle on someone? When I think of playing angry, I think of Hardware.
“Nobody like that jumps out on today’s Bucs. They’re not there. I would say the quarterback (Jameis Winston) fits the mold. He is clearly that guy, the leader. … I love Gerald (McCoy), but for a defensive tackle to drive a team, he has to have a huge personality. I mean like the personality of (Warren) Sapp or a John Randle.”
Ex-Bucs tight end Anthony Becht wasn’t buying everything Barber was selling.
Becht, a veteran of 167 NFL games and a current contributor to the Buccaneers’ official website, let loose on WHBO-AM 1040 yesterday with host Rock Riley. (Yes, that Rock Riley.)
“Well, you know, with all due respect to former players like Ronde Barber and those others that made comments, and even for me, I mean, look, Gerald McCoy is making a lot of money to play at a very high level. Every time I turn the tape on, this guy is the guy that catches my eye on our defense,'” Becht said.
“Now if you’re telling me that someone has to be a rah-rah guy, has to punch somebody in the mouth, has to grab somebody by the jersey to make a team or an engine run, I think that’s complete bull, to be quite honest with you. I don’t need him to do that. I don’t need him to change. I don’t need him to be vocal. I need him to go out there and do his job. Get sacks, put pressure on the quarterback, be a disruptor in the run game so that all the other key components on defense can do their job easier.
“And that’s what he’s done since he stepped on the football field for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So I think he just needs to shut down anything he’s hearing on the outside. The Bucs are respecting him because they are paying him a lot of money to do his job. Everything that I see him doing is at a very high level.”
Interesting stuff. Becht added that McCoy may be the best player at his position in the NFL. “What else do you need?” Becht asked rhetorically.
Joe’s written countless times that McCoy is an excellent player who has nothing to apologize for. He’s not a Hall of Famer, ok, most All-Pros and Pro Bowlers aren’t.
At this point, Joe just hopes McCoy tunes out the noise and focuses on his craft — and his knees.
July 25th, 2017 at 10:40 pm
The stick carriers agree! Let’s not forget the Oakland game and how we got gashed up the middle when #93 came off the field. That’s one example of where we would be without him.
July 25th, 2017 at 10:50 pm
At the end of the day the dreamers can’t except the fact that McCoy is not a leader. Just because Reginald Roundtree said he was the next Sapp doesn’t mean you had to buy it but the dreamers bit it hard. It didn’t help that they painted murals of the guy and handed us GMC cup s for our beer but that’s not what makes somebody a leader. The Buccaneers were foolish to dub him as the leader and if they knew how to run a team they would have brought in somebody who could lead the team on the field.
McCoy is a follower IMO and there is nothing wrong with that. Just because he didn’t live up the the standards that existed in the dreamers dreams don’t make him any less of a player. Thankfully we have Licht now who knows what he’s doing. He has his leader on defense with Kwon and is building around him.
If the dreamers had a clue they would have realized many moons ago that McCoy was never going to be the mold of player they had wet dreams about. It was easy to see early on in his career. They prove their cluelessness everyday when they say how this team would improve if they got rid of their only pro bowl player. Wake up dreamers, that’s the opposite. Letting go of talent actually makes you worse……I don’t even know why I have to tell you this. How is it even possible to even be that dumb? Miracle they are still alive with all the paint chips they must a eaten.
July 25th, 2017 at 10:53 pm
Keep beating that big old soft horse Joe.
Maybe that’ll toughen him up!!
Not.
July 25th, 2017 at 10:55 pm
Geez I’m a Hardy Nickerson fan…but spitting on people does not make you bad Ronde. It makes you a classless jerk…can you say Bill Romanowski?
Can anybody imagine Leroy Selmon spitting on somebody? How about Reggie White…that slack DT who also happened to be a Minister.
July 25th, 2017 at 11:01 pm
a. Marc doesn’t speak for all stick carriers.
b. Is this the same Anthony Becht that gets paid by the Bucs to do their game day?
I like McCoy, a good player. But he just does not consistently stand out on film to me like so many people say he does. I don’t mind him helping opponents up, but I question his second-half motor and I just see too little ferocity in his game.
I’m just a casual fan, calling it the way i see it…
July 25th, 2017 at 11:02 pm
Hey joe, it’s not “all do respect”, it’s “all due respect.”
July 25th, 2017 at 11:05 pm
Not a good take, Im a little disappointed he took that stance in my opinion. The team is pointing upward heading into training camp and instead of pump
July 25th, 2017 at 11:06 pm
Stpete,
I don’t see how getting one player’s honest opinion is deemed “spitting on him”.
If he said, “McCoy is garbage” or “a threat to the culture” or a “soft ass”, that would be insulting him. But what’s wrong with constructive criticism? Isn’t that what McCoy came out and said motivated him, after being approached by a HOFer in the offseason?
… we’re such a soft culture
July 25th, 2017 at 11:07 pm
Thank you Ronde! You lit a fire. We need inspired play at DT!!!!
July 25th, 2017 at 11:08 pm
A third of Sapp’s sacks have come in the fourth quarter. Just by Joe’s rudimentary grasp of math (Joe still has a strong urge to punch a nun), that’s pretty good.
Then you factor in all the lousy teams GMC has played on, just what team holding a lead is going to throw the ball to allow GMC (and others) to get more sacks and let the Bucs back in the game?
So that number of GMC’s sacks in the fourth quarter, if the Bucs had been worth a s(p)it all these years, would be even far better.
July 25th, 2017 at 11:10 pm
Not a good take, Im a little disappointed he took that stance in my opinion. The team is pointing upward heading into training camp and instead of pumping his Buc’s up, he takes an unnecessary shot at the one elite player we have on our team. I love Ronde but he sounds like a hater dissing our team on the rise. Maybe I just expect better. Either way it’s not a good way to get votes for Canton.
July 25th, 2017 at 11:10 pm
McCoy haters need to find a different hobby. They’re clearly out of their minds when it comes to football.
July 25th, 2017 at 11:17 pm
Enough with the stereo typing of leaders. If the Bucs go win a super bowl with GMC everyone will talk about how great he was until they put a team around him.
I dont want or need a player to be savage spitting on people in order to be a bad ass. And all you that think so have been living in movie fantasy land for too long. Stop pretending football is a soap opera! Have you forgotten Dungy already? You need single minded determination and that comes in all kinds of styles. GMC is not the problem.
Barber is only making a point about how difficult it is to lead from positions other than QB. Let’s talk about more important things than not picking our star players.
July 25th, 2017 at 11:18 pm
“Nit picking”
July 25th, 2017 at 11:50 pm
GMC is a great player. Hope he stops listening to the noise out there.
July 25th, 2017 at 11:51 pm
Jesus, get practices going already so we can quit hearing all this pissing and moaning about McCoy.
Good not great player that isn’t a HOFer, guess we’ll see this year if he plays better with better talent around him. Hopefully some scheme shifting does him some good.
Now can we STFU about this already, it’s not the kind of BS this team needs heading into camp with HBO camera crews around. Drop it Joe’s, for the good of the organization and it’s fans.
July 26th, 2017 at 12:04 am
Verner got signed.. goin to Miami!
July 26th, 2017 at 12:12 am
I like dirty players that spit on on their enemy’s and take cheap shots. Hatred can really drive a player. Good to have a few guys like that around. Does that make me a classless jerk?
Oh well, if it does at least it keeps me a fan of cheap shot head butt hating Jamie’s Winston. Go kick some azz in 2017 B
July 26th, 2017 at 12:28 am
Mike10
You should know better than that. If you are just a casual fan you are NOT a stick carrier!
July 26th, 2017 at 12:33 am
JimmyJack Says
“I like dirty players that spit on on their enemy’s and take cheap shots.”
You mean like the Saints and their head hunting thing?
July 26th, 2017 at 12:37 am
Meh boring let’s play ball.
July 26th, 2017 at 1:06 am
@semenholessuck….thanks for your coments, I meant to say that the other day, just didn’t used the right words. Everybody and their cousins snapped at me on this site and on Facebook for disrespecting the culprit. Specially after misspelling his name. Go figure.
July 26th, 2017 at 1:30 am
McCoy needs to move to defensive end he is quick with great techniquenot enough upper body strengh to play inside
July 26th, 2017 at 1:31 am
Fitz:
When GMC lines up wide he wreaks havoc. Bucs have hinted they may have him line up at end once in a while, just to try to catch the opposing offense off guard, and see what happens.
July 26th, 2017 at 1:42 am
Marc, if training camp hasn’t started and I’m posting here at 2am, my fandom should speak for itself. Now, am I a paid scout? – I wish
July 26th, 2017 at 5:30 am
There is no such thing as the next 99SAPP… We had 97RICE…but Is Spence the next Rice? I enjoyed Sapp and Rice and I’ve enjoyed GMC And I will enjoy the next standout D-Lineman, but this year I’m hoping GMC and SPENCE can lead this defense to an unforgettable season!! ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE!!
July 26th, 2017 at 6:55 am
I think Ronde meant to explain differently. He means a guy that regularly dominates or takes over a game. Even with 11 guys on field , this one man can change the outcome of games all by himself.
Mike Evans in my opinion is that guy .He is “badass” and one of the most quiet guys off field (although he appears to have a good trash talk on it). Jamies is becoming more and more like a “badass”. This year is huge for him cause no more excuses with these weapons he’s got…
July 26th, 2017 at 8:28 am
And when we had Sapp we got to 1 Super Bowl and could never get back. A few playoffs that were one and done. And that was with who else on the team? It too the right coach. So you had a “badass” all those years and got it done 1 time. which means what? It Takes a TEAM and Coaches. Not just one player or a non “Badass’ DB.
July 26th, 2017 at 8:46 am
We need 93 fired up man.
Keep running what ronde said.
You Have to prod people
July 26th, 2017 at 9:05 am
lets see how he response…..adversity brings out the best….GMC should be looking forward to proving the haters wrong…..GO BUCS!!!
July 26th, 2017 at 9:24 am
Barber is correct. The NFL has become a show-off league, and being a badass means you gotta be a show-off too. You can’t be a badass receiver/running back unless you have your own customized-personalized celebration dance when you score a TD.
McCoy is not a show-off; therefore he is not a badass. Didn’t he get a un-sportsman-like penalty last year because of a celebration he did after a sack? He can’t even do that right.
July 26th, 2017 at 11:47 am
I agree with Ronde that a defense probably does “need” a badass, but I don’t think it needs 11 badass’ s it’s not a big deal if GMC is a nice guy … Ayers is a badass, Kwon is a badass … some believe Wilcox is a baddass (I can’t say as I don’t know much about him) … but if true, one badass at each level of the D is plenty… besides, Jameis is the ultimate alpha and badass and can keep everyone amply amped up, so no worries!
July 26th, 2017 at 7:27 pm
Yes Bonzai. I was a fan of the head hunters.
July 26th, 2017 at 9:54 pm
This is a non-story. McCoy isn’t a big personality leader – he’s just an extremely good player – and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. He’s not Warren Sapp – but who is? Barber is correct and what he said isn’t insulting in the least, it’s just the fact of the matter. Not everyone is a leader, that isn’t a knock, you can be really really good at your job and just not have that extra little something, it’s something you either have or don’t – and if you try to fake it everyone will know you’re faking. McCoy has nothing to be ashamed of – he earns his money and is a nice guy, he’s just not a team leader – and we don’t need one since Winston got in town.