The Draw Of Lovie Smith
March 17th, 2014
Last Wednesday when Bucs general manager Jason Licht stepped away from the podium where four new Bucs were introduced, Licht noted head coach Lovie Smith was perhaps his biggest magnet for free agents and his best salesman. This seemed to reinforce the notion that players love Lovie, when almost to a man, the new Bucs said Lovie was a factor in their signing.
The next day when Bucs starting quarterback Josh McCown and offensive lineman Anthony Collins had their turns behind the mics, McCown explained why players like Lovie.
“I think because he cares,” McCown, who played for Lovie in Chicago, said. “You spend five minutes with him and you feel like he cares about you as an individual and as a person. That matters to players. As long as I’ve played, if I’ve learned one thing it’s that relationships matter and the relationships that you can build in the building matter. As much as we talk about this being a business, the guys that I’ve played with through the course of my career – it’s resounding how much, when an issue comes up, how much you can look at why an issue happened and go, man, it’s because the relationship is fractured between the player and the coach and because the player doesn’t feel cared for. I believe that more than anything, and appreciate that so much from Lovie is that I believe he cares and the guys believe that as well.”
It’s great that players want to play for Lovie and that he was a draw for many of them. Already, Gerald McCoy has raved about Lovie on NFL Network. It’s always good when players respect a coach as opposed to fearing him.
At the end of the day, however nice relationships are, it doesn’t matter one red cent. It’s all about wins, whether a player loves a coach or wants to throw a Molotov cocktail in his car. It is all about performing and winning on Sundays (and the occasional Monday or Thursday or Saturday).
March 17th, 2014 at 4:29 pm
Neat stuff from Josh McCown. Again all we do not judge or compare McCown to Brees or Newton or Johnny Football.
The bar McCown needs to clear is the one set by guys like Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer.
Brad was a very smart player, class act, and an underrated athlete.
Smart player? Class act? Underrated athlete? Wonder which QB that might describe?
March 17th, 2014 at 4:32 pm
Most coaches with a lot of salary cap money to spend are “magnets”.
March 17th, 2014 at 4:35 pm
Players loved Raheem the Dream too
March 17th, 2014 at 4:43 pm
When do players ever say anything negative about a coach when they are actively playing for said coach.
Players only started to bash Chucky as they were walking out the door.
MInus Keyshawn of course
March 17th, 2014 at 4:46 pm
Ask Schiano if relationships don’t matter lol
March 17th, 2014 at 4:49 pm
I think there is always something to be said about relationships no matter what the job….it helps….that’s what leadership is….motivating others, and its easier to motivate someone when the relationship isn’t strained.
There is a very fine line with NFL player talent and sometimes coaching makes the difference. Hopefully Lovie will prove that with some of our remaining players…getting more out of them.
March 17th, 2014 at 5:01 pm
Treat a player like a man and you will see a man performing.
Treat a player like a child and you will see a Freeman performance…
March 17th, 2014 at 5:24 pm
^ Amen lol
March 17th, 2014 at 5:38 pm
It will be interesting to see how Mike Williams reacts to being treated like a man. Hopefully he will man up…
March 17th, 2014 at 6:19 pm
I lu.. lu.. lu.. lovie, for now anyway.
March 17th, 2014 at 10:21 pm
Joe, we need a qb. I know many comments here beat you up for talking Johnny football, but I’m all for it. Can’t wait for the draft.
March 18th, 2014 at 3:26 am
The Seahawks have the same philosophy!
All about love! And showing the players that the coaching staff cares about them as people!
And seattle is world champs joe!