Hot Seat
December 16th, 2014
Nick Kostos of BleacherReport.com believes Josh McCown is on the hottest of hot seats.
It’s been so bad this year that Joe is numb. It’s hard for Joe to get bent when stench is expected week in and week out; Sunday after agonizing Sunday.
The way Josh McCown plays Santa Claus with the ball — the last game he didn’t have a turnover was the win at Washington — is shameful and one can only wonder how he keeps his job.
Well, Joe’s good friend Nick Kostos, the executive producer of “Schein on Sports,” heard exclusively on Mad Dog Radio, part of the family of sports channels on SiriusXM Radio, posted in his weekly NFL feature on BleacherReport.com that McCown is on one of the hottest seats in the NFL.
It’s unfathomable that coach Lovie Smith and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to stick with 35-year-old journeyman Josh McCown as their starting quarterback. It’s ridiculous on many levels and does nothing for the future of the organization.
The Bucs are now 2-12 and face the pathetic reality of being eliminated from playoff contention in the outrageously horrendous NFC South. After Sunday’s loss against the Cam Newton-less Panthers, McCown is now 1-8 as the team’s starter and is clearly not the future at the position.
So why does Smith keep trotting him out there? … Playing McCown does absolutely nothing for anyone. McCown’s substandard play and losing ways should earn him a trip to the bench.
There would be only one logical reason why Lovie has hung Mike Glennon out to dry. In Joe’s interview with FOX NFL analyst Brady Quinn last week, Quinn sort of hinted at it.
It seems to Joe that Lovie doesn’t trust offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo coaching up Mike Glennon; that Glennon is better off not playing than guided by Arroyo.
It is the only thing that would make an ounce of sense. And man, if that really is true, how awful are things at One Buc Palace right now?
December 16th, 2014 at 8:51 am
Well, let’s see. GMC on injured reserve. Others too. We are no longer in contention for a playoff spot.
The only thing left to play for is the number one spot in the draft, so why risk it by putting in Glennon, who can possibly win one game?
I agree Lovie does not trust Arroyo. Was he Tedford’s choice? That would explain some things.
December 16th, 2014 at 8:51 am
Whatever helps the Glennon mob sleeps at night. Yawn….
December 16th, 2014 at 8:57 am
To me the only thing that makes sense is that there are plans to trade Glennon and they don’t want to risk injury or him playing poorly benind our awful Oline.
December 16th, 2014 at 8:59 am
Yeah, Arroyo coached for Tedford at Cal for the 2011 andd 2012 seasons until Tedford was canned where he moved on to be the OC at Southern Miss and helped them to a 1-11 record in 2013 before he came to our Bucs…. It makes you wonder why an “adviser” was not brought in to help, it could have been done during the bye week and I doubt if it could have hurt. It still does not explain the infatuation with McNown, it is not as if Glennon could have done worse or could have his trade value diminished because of Arroyo, or is it?????
December 16th, 2014 at 9:05 am
They don’t want Glennon hurt. They’re trading him.
December 16th, 2014 at 9:12 am
Hmmm…Tedford walks to be a HC up north, they won’t bench Josh. This is what a conspiracy tanking for first looks like. Why couldn’t they have done this the year Andrew Luck came out?
December 16th, 2014 at 9:15 am
Trade Glennon for what? Maybe a 5? Probably less. Based on his body of work, no one is going to look at him as anything but a serviceable backup. Does some late-round slappy from a directional school got more value than a QB with actual NFL game experience?
On that basis, he’s got to have more value to the Bucs than to anyone else.
December 16th, 2014 at 9:18 am
Guys, it doesn’t have to make sense. Lovie is more stubborn than he is smart. Surely all of you know people like that. Lovie chose McCown; just because of that, he still believes McCown to be the better QB. It took a 2×4 upside the head to replace A Collins and M Johnson. Also, Lovie is obviously forcing Sims into the lineup to justify his 3rd rd selection. So it is the same thing with McCown -he is playing over Glennon simply because Lovie has to justify it to himself.
December 16th, 2014 at 9:19 am
GMC…don’t play Glennon…
Why have him play the gazelle to a pack of roaring defensive linemen that are hardly slowed down to the O line that is currently playing like immobile sacks of meat? You think we might want to trade him? Not if he is injured.
What if he has a good game against NO and we should somehow win? Play Kafka if you wish, but not Glennon.
And to put this season in perspective and defend the negative responses on this board…one point…remember how we were told we weren’t in a rebuild mode and that we were preparing to really compete this year? How far is that prediction off? Front runner for the number one pick, which unless traded for, usually belongs to likely the worst team in the league….that says it all.
December 16th, 2014 at 9:29 am
I’m fine with a 5 for Glennon. Sounds like a great deal to me.
December 16th, 2014 at 9:30 am
McCown HAS never been good enough….his whole career….WTF was anyone expecting. Lovie picked him because he knew McCown would be a happy little soldier not rocking Lovies boat….they both should be let go
December 16th, 2014 at 9:32 am
who pays 5 million for a 15 year journey man quarterback who has never made five million is worth about 1 million and that’s only because he knew lovies “system”
December 16th, 2014 at 9:35 am
They don’t want trade bait Glennon to come out and get hurt against teams running goal line blitzes all game.
December 16th, 2014 at 9:37 am
Mike Glennon has already played 5 games behind that piece of crap line and he survived. The notion he might get hurt and affect his trade value (that is currently non-existent) is ridiculous. Lovie literally believes McCown is better. And he’ll be starting him next year for the first half of the year at least.
December 16th, 2014 at 9:39 am
Glennon will get at least a 3…..any team looking for a cheap backup that has a decent oline would want Glennon…..
The problem for his value to us is that we need the line to protect him because he isn’t mobile….
Even McCown with some mobility struggles with this line.
We need to draft a QB and have McCown restructure to backup and spend several other picks and FA on the line & we will be OK.
December 16th, 2014 at 9:40 am
We should keep Glennon as a back up QB….no brainer
December 16th, 2014 at 9:42 am
watch for arizona to trade for Glennon, they are going to come after him hard!
December 16th, 2014 at 9:47 am
I say it is past time to cut ties with Mr smith, he is incompetent, lacks good judgment, uninspiring, and has no vision nor game management skills, hell he cant count to 12 apparently. but he sure did dupe the glazer boys, as well as tedford duped lovie and bailed. the glazers should do to lovie what they did to gruden, fire him and eat the contract salary, believe me it won’t hurt them at all. and get a competent coach and staff that can compete in todays league. not a bunch of retread, has been ,nobody failures.
December 16th, 2014 at 9:57 am
Glennon only has one year left on his contract, a critical fact one must remember when trading for him. So the offers won’t be huge, a 5th is probably the ceiling on what they can get for him. A 3rd is a pipe dream, last offseason sure but not now and not when Lovie has devalued him by starting McCown ahead of him. Besides teams will be patient and the Bucs are likely to cut Glennon to keep McCown.
December 16th, 2014 at 9:57 am
@ Realist
Glennon would be a good fit at Az…..he is very, very tradable…..Buc Fans don’t appreciate his potential…..he would play very well for several other teams.
December 16th, 2014 at 9:59 am
This year is been bad enough, notion that we can expect and meaningful change next year is asking an awful lot. L&L were given everything they asked for going into 2014….no thanks…
December 16th, 2014 at 10:03 am
So this would lead me to believe that they want to keep Glennon and find a QB coach or OC that can coach Glennon up and develop him like he should have been these past 2 years? That would make to much sense.
December 16th, 2014 at 10:04 am
Only in Tampa is the QB of a 2-12 team that will most likely end up with the #1 pick say that a terrible QB is on the “hot seat”
December 16th, 2014 at 10:05 am
Lovie is stubborn. I do not need to post proof. That seems to be the consensus. Lovie said McCown was his starter this year. Although EVERYONE can see that McCown isn’t starter material, McCown is Lovie’s starter. For that reason, I believe that Glennon will be the starter next year. Lovie said that Glennon is the QB of the future. Glennon played this year ONLY because McCown was injured. If the O-line goes through a major rebuild, Lovie just might keep McCown to finish his contract, believing that the O-line was the problem, and NOT McCown.
December 16th, 2014 at 10:14 am
Everything we are doing is pointing towards us drafting a QB with our first pick. We moved Dotson to the left side, and as long as he continues to perform there in the last 2 games, we won’t need to draft a LT. The only reason I can see to not play Glennon is to preserve some trade value. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think we could get a 3rd or a 4th for him. I would guess McClown would stay to serve as a backup and a mentor. That’s all fine, as long as he doesn’t see the field next year.
December 16th, 2014 at 10:22 am
Hawaiian you know McCown is starting at least 5 games, most likely all the games next year until they’re out of it. You can hope otherwise, but Lovie will be Lovie, this you know.
December 16th, 2014 at 10:24 am
McCown has no business being on the roster next year…and Lovie no business as HC
December 16th, 2014 at 10:30 am
@bucrightoff,
If that’s true (and you may very well be right), is there room on the “fire Lovie” train for me? I honestly can’t see how he could sell the idea of McCown starting next year if we draft a QB #1. You know damn well the Bucs will be marketing the hell out of whichever QB they draft, and they are going to want him to hit the field immediately.
December 16th, 2014 at 10:37 am
@Hawaiianbuc
Lovie is lovie, and only you and a couple of the sheep will be surprised when he calls the drafted qb the “future” and then says the future is not now. We will see mccown the beginning of next year!
everytime the media even ask the questions of mccowns play, he always says blames the whole offense.
December 16th, 2014 at 10:49 am
When Lovie says, “…we’re on the verge…”, he is saying that IF he fixes the penalty issue, and IF he fixes the running problems (new OC), the Bucs will be good-to-go, just like they are. IF Lovie drafts a QB AND keeps McCown, you can bet your last dollar that McCown will be the opening day starter. If he wouldn’t hand the reins over to Glennon (a starter with decent stats), then he sure as heck isn’t going to put his job in the hands of a rookie. If he doesn’t go 8-8, next year, he WILL be on the hot seat… regardless of who he drafts.
December 16th, 2014 at 10:52 am
I agree with you Hawk,
I don’t think Lovie had any desire to play Glennon this year and only did so because McCown was hurt, but he should be playing now. After reading this report you would think that he is keeping Glennon until he finds the right QB coach or OC to coach up Glennon.
December 16th, 2014 at 11:07 am
@Buc Realist,
You could be right, and from what I’ve seen this year, I can totally see why you would think that way. If it does happen, I will have a serious problem with that (unless the rookie just absolutely BLOWS in preseason). I also believe that this would be the one time that the Glazers would step in and demand we play the rookie. I know that’s totally against their style, but the idea of McClown starting next year is so preposterous, I think (and hope) they would step in. I have no doubt they realize that McClown is not exactly a fan favorite, and he can’t be the starting QB at any point (barring injury) next season. It’s a hard enough sell that he is even the backup QB, much less the starter.
I do, however, have no problem with Lovie blaming the entire offense. That’s what coaches are supposed to do. They should never pin the blame on one player, especially not to the media. I just hope he doesn’t truly believe that McClown isn’t garbage. If he doesn’t know how terrible McClown is, then we really have a serious problem. I am going to convince myself that he does (for my own sanity).
December 16th, 2014 at 11:11 am
@Hawk,
I think Lovie’s hot seat next year has more to do with direction than it does record. If we keep McClown and go 8-8, I think he keeps his job, but his seat is boiling for the next season. However, if we start a rookie, start out slow but finish strong with say a 5-11 record, I think he comes back with less pressure. People will be patient if they see the team on the rise, and they will be more patient with a rookie QB they see as ascending. So in fact, starting a rookie actually can help his job security, because that can always be used as the excuse.
December 16th, 2014 at 11:29 am
Uhh Hawaiian if Lovie has as many wins (2-14+5-11) in two seasons and Schiano did in his first seaon (7), there is no third season. Sorry but the fanbase is beyond apathetic at that point. Drafting a QB does not buy Lovie more time and it shouldn’t either. We’re excited about the QB, not Lovie. Firing Lovie and hiring an offensive coach and then drafting a QB is what the fanbase really needs but highly unlikely sadly.
December 16th, 2014 at 11:33 am
Playing for the #1 pick makes sense too. It’s pretty obvious IMO that Lovie’s playing for the draft without admitting it.
December 16th, 2014 at 11:40 am
@bucrightoff,
I’m pretty much with you on that logic. However, if we look really good at the end of the year and everything is clicking, I would be okay with another year. Fair or not, it usually boils down to how you finish, not how you start. In reality, the likelihood of that happening is very slim. We are more likely to start out good with a rookie QB, then falter a little as teams get film on him and he hits that “rookie wall”. You also have to factor in whether or not Lovie has lost the locker room. That’s why we had to get rid of Schiano and Raheem. The players had quit on them. By no means should that be the only factor, but it absolutely should be a part of the decision. Bottom line, whether or not the team is headed in the right direction should decide Lovie’s fate. I’m sure we’ll be having this discussion for the next 12 months or so.
December 16th, 2014 at 11:51 am
You QB on the first draft pick wanters might be let down. If the Bucs have interest in drafting Mariota or Winston, I have’nt heard even a hint that will happen, just fan speculation. Hopefully the number one pick will be highly coveted and teams will offer up a can’t miss trade to move up to the top. The Bucs then grab multiple picks. Keep Glennon because he is worth more than will be offered if that’s the route they take. Ask for a second round pick to trade MG. If no takers, keep him another year.
December 16th, 2014 at 12:02 pm
@Buccfan37,
What exactly do you expect the team to do, put out a press release saying they are going to take a QB? They benched their LT and moved the RT to the left side (which has been discussed as being Dotson’s better side for years now). They are continuing to play garbage McClown as QB, thus keeping Glennon healthy, and keeping up his trade value. I don’t see any bigger hint possible.
Glennon isn’t a starting NFL QB. No team is going to trade for him with the belief he will be their starting QB. NOT ONE TEAM! Therefore, getting a 3rd or 4th for him is a great deal. We’re more likely to get a 5th or a 6th. People aren’t going to give up a 2nd to bring in a backup. That’s just ridiculous. He’s a backup QB, so he has backup QB value. If we get a 4th for him, that could be part of a package to move back up in the first round and get another player we covet.
You watched that Carolina game. Did you get the feeling we were pulling out all the stops to win that game? I sure as hell didn’t. I’m not saying we are tanking, but I don’t think we are exhausting all options to win either. I’m totally fine with that.
December 16th, 2014 at 12:35 pm
@ HawaiianBuc
I agree with you, that winning games, at the end of the season, could ‘cool’ the seat Lovie sits on. BUT, they would either need to win a bunch of them and/OR there would need to be wins against teams other than Jets, Jags, Raiders, etc.
Their is NO elite Luck/Manning can’t miss QB in this draft. That means that if Lovie throws one into the fire, he’s likely to look worse as teams see his weaknesses. If the O-line doesn’t get CONSIDERABLY better, the rookie will never get the game to ‘slow down’.
IMO, Lovie saw what happened to Glennon last year and knows/believes you cannot throw a rookie into the fire and expect good things. They need to brought along slowly. *I* believe that is why he is still starting McCown. Why beat up a young QB?
While I agree there is merit in keeping Lovie another year (continuity), it still scares the heck out of me that he’ll be the same one to evaluate next year’s talent as the one who evaluated this year’s talent.
December 16th, 2014 at 12:40 pm
@Hawk,
We’re pretty much on the same page here. However, I don’t think McCown can help you win any games. I think a rookie getting beat to hell by our offensive line wins more games than McCown. I don’t think it’s even close. If Lovie is smart (insert Lovie joke here), he will realize this and start the rookie (and more importantly keep McCown off the field).
December 16th, 2014 at 12:45 pm
Lovie bringing in McCown and handing him he starting gig, in hindsight, is unacceptable. We could have been developing Glennon, be it for 2015 or for trade value, instead of letting McCown cost us game after game.
I don’t get why Lovie has not benched McCown at this point. I guess at 2-12 and no OC it doesn’t but c’mon. Is he really that stubborn that he woud rather play his boy McCown even though he is obviously inferior to Glennon? Surely he knows that’s grounds to get fired.
At the end of the day we will almost certainly finish 2-14 because McCown was our guy. With this bad O-line and as bad as the defense was before the bye Would Glennon get us that many more wins? Maybe we’d be 5-11 or something but hey we’d have something to build on.
December 16th, 2014 at 1:07 pm
My guess is that Tedford thought he could coach Glennon up. Let him sit like Aaron Rodgers did, and be the quarterback of the future.
Lovie wasn’t sold on Glennon early on, and I’ve a feeling that it was Tedford’s input that made the difference.
With Tedford gone, Lovie goes back to “his” guy in McCown, and he’ll let the season sink or swim with him.
Real question is whether Lovie wants to pay starter money to McCown next year to be the backup/mentor to Mariota.
December 16th, 2014 at 2:39 pm
HawaiianBuc Says:
December 16th, 2014 at 12:40 pm
@Hawk,
“We’re pretty much on the same page here. However, I don’t think McCown can help you win any games. ”
There is no “however”. We ARE on the same page. My view was that *Lovie* believes that he can still win with McCown.
It is also possible that Lovie will fall in love with another veteran (best case scenario) during the up coming off season, and McCown will look for a coaching/broadcasting job.
Expect a rookie to be a bigger Santa Claus than McCown and/or take a beating. Every 2nd/3rd and long will find the defense disguising a blitz. Colleges do not have the complex defenses of the NFL. Those who have never been on the field of a college and an NFL game, do not understand the difference in speed. It is almost palpable. It IS spooky. There is going to be a LOT that a rookie has never seen, and part-time preseason games won’t be enough of an education. And with the new CBA restrictions, the shortened amount of ‘coaching’ time inhibits the maturation of a young QB.
December 16th, 2014 at 2:41 pm
McCown sucks. Glennon hasn’t set the world on fire but he still has plenty of career left to be a better backup than McCown.
Now consider this possibility. There is a strong chance that either Jameis or Marcus could come in and immediately play better than McCown. No I’m not saying they will light up the league as rookies ala Luck. I’m simply damning them with faint praise. I believe either Jameis or Marcus could outplay McCown next year in the preseason.
Then there will be cries of remember Russell Wilson. Recall Wilson came in as an unheralded third round pick and beat out the guy selected for the QB position in the offseason Matt Flynn. Flynn was also better than McCown yet Wilson simply outplayed him.
I do not believe either of the Heismans will necessarily take us to the playoffs but in our crappiest of divisions it’s not out of the question. I’m simply saying that either of them could so outperform McCown in the preseason that a mob with torches and pitchforks will come down Dale Mabry if Lovie doesn’t start them. The first time McCown has a McCown(my new name for a turnover) the fans will leave their seats to assault Lovie on the sidelines for his moronic decision.
IF we get one of the Heismans I predict they will be the starter next year. Again if Lovie starts one of them. he’s just guaranteed himself another year on the job after next year.
December 16th, 2014 at 2:57 pm
@ StPeteBucsFan
What happens to Lovie’s season/job if he starts a rookie and the rookie turns into R. Leaf, J. Russell, G. Hayes? Or what if takes 2-3 years for the rookie to ‘mature’ into the position. Would/should the Glazers give him the time and hope it turns out OK?
The Glazers are going to have a tough off-season.
December 16th, 2014 at 3:26 pm
St.PeteBucsFan. The proper term for a stupid turnover is McCowned. As in Munsoned was the proper term for someone doing something stupid or ill fated in the movie, “Kingpin.”
December 16th, 2014 at 5:48 pm
All this Melman talk makes me ill. Please trade him for anything, he will never be a successful starting QB.
December 16th, 2014 at 8:57 pm
Sounds like there already might be some kind of deal with Sean Peyton and the Saints. LUKE McCown, as we already know, has no future except as a backup just like Josh. We already know Peyton has a man-crush on Glennon. Glennon definitely still has some upside and a future in this league if properly coached. It is also known that the Saints are in the market for an heir apparent to Brees and Glennon may be the next in line for development at his age. Kinda like when we sent Erickson to Miami in the 90’s (didn’t pan out, but). If McCown is retained I would think that he wouldn’t start more than three games next season unless he is lighting things on fire (I’m not holding my breath). I could also see us picking up another unnamed seasoned serviceable veteran starter to hold the fort for part of a season. I could also imagine the Bucs getting the top QB prospect plus a late round or undrafted project as practice squad fodder. Come on Draft!!!!