Bridges
February 15th, 2015
Of course, Joe, like many, thought Lovie Smith was settled on using Josh McCown as a bridge quarterback of sorts for Jameis Winston — that McCown would start until Winston was deemed ready to rock and roll.
That concept got blown up last week.
But hold up, says Phil Savage. The former Browns general manager, Bill Belicheat disciple and current talking head appeared on the SVP and Russillo Show, heard on BSPN Radio, and Savage claimed that, yes, the Bucs can still use that bridge. And that bridge’s name is Mike Glennon.
“Well, I think [the Bucs] have definitely have signaled they are going to take a quarterback,” Savage said.
“And you know, with Glennon, we had this conversation in our [production] meetings, with Glennon being the choice as backup, yes, it was a monetary decision but at the same time, Glennon could probably give you four to six to eight games if you decide to take Mariota and give him some lead time, sort of a redshirt time, for the first part of the season sort of like Jacksonville did with Blake Bortles.”
Well, this is the first time Joe has heard McCown was starting only because of his contract. That really doesn’t pass the smell test. Not only did Lovie Smith say all along he was playing the 22 players that gave him the best chance to win, but Anthony Collins was benched for the final month of the season, and he sure had a fat contract.
Now if Savage was trying to claim McCown was let go for a combination of his rotten play and his contract, that’s a different story.
February 15th, 2015 at 10:18 am
The Real reason.
The Glazers did one of their famous Fan Polls that they do! and the Fans said if McCown is on this team then they wanted no part of it!
February 15th, 2015 at 10:19 am
What Lovie actually meant was he was playing the 22 players that gave them the best chance to win “next season”
February 15th, 2015 at 10:23 am
“Not only did Lovie Smith say all along he was playing the 22 players that gave him the best chance to win,”
Lovie also thought Mike Jenkins gave him a better chance to win than Jhonthan Banks… sometimes Lovie does things that only Lovie understands.
February 15th, 2015 at 10:35 am
Lovie is a dinosaur who is over his head. Back to the basement has been.
Winston does not need a below average heartless loser (win / loss record) Glennon as a bridge. His game is better already. Just the passion and the ability to lead team from behind in 4th qtr gives Winston a clear advantage. I don’t think Winston’s back is on the roster yet. Oh and before you Glennon apologists bring up Pittsburgh game. Glennon did nothing to win that game Pittsburgh LOST it. Overlooking the Bucs and their Penalties cost them that game not Mike Glennon standing up and going all Joe Montana which he has NEVER been able to do.
We have watched and I have listened to enough excuses for the last 19 games or 76 qtrs of Average to pure garbage QB play from Glennon. Raise the standards and send the stork to radio row. Or to Lovie’s basement to play house boy.
February 15th, 2015 at 10:44 am
After realization that mccown couldn’t make things happen , I Don’t think glennon was asked to play at end of season cause they did view him as an asset (either a better bridge qb or trade asset for another quality draft pick). Let’s face it, glennon had no mobility and would have most likely taken a beating more than mccown who was a human punching bag. That oline was gaudy .
February 15th, 2015 at 10:52 am
I think we may have finally stumbled on a reason why Lovie played McCown at the end of the season…..He wanted McCown to have every possible opportunity to turn it around….even a couple of fantastic games from him may have saved him going forward…..when that didn’t happen…..he cut him immediately. And, yes…it was partly a financial decision $5.5 mil worth…
As for Glennon….he certainly is capable of starting a few games while our new rookie gets prepared to play….and don’t be so sure that the system designed for Glennon automatically is suited for Winston. Mariota may very well be able to play in that system but bring his mobility to it.
If the FA comes ane goes without us picking up a QB….the Glennon trade seems less likely and he will compete for the starting job next year.
February 15th, 2015 at 11:04 am
Not …… “The Kevin” Says:
February 15th, 2015 at 10:19 am
What Lovie actually meant was he was playing the 22 players that gave them the best chance to win “next season”
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Finally SOMEBODY finds some success with that little thing called HUMOR.
February 15th, 2015 at 11:10 am
I am not sold on either QB. I lean Mariota if I have to. THAT being said IF we are sold on a QB I see NO REASON to wait till the draft to take him. Get him in NOW and start learning the playbook
February 15th, 2015 at 11:11 am
Joe.. U have a man crush on Winston so let him date your daughter but not the face or our nfl team . M.M. is the man for the bucs !
February 15th, 2015 at 11:11 am
Really getting pissed off at you people calling glennon “heartless.” Just makes you look like ignorant cold-hearted bastards yourselfs
February 15th, 2015 at 11:12 am
Joe, you didn’t quite give your take on Glennon as a bridge. Part of me thinks he could be the best backup in the league, the other part thinks he could fetch a decent price in a trade
February 15th, 2015 at 11:13 am
tmaxcon Says:
February 15th, 2015 at 10:35 am
Lovie is a dinosaur who is over his head. Back to the basement has been.
Winston does not need a below average heartless loser (win / loss record) Glennon as a bridge. His game is better already. Just the passion and the ability to lead team from behind in 4th qtr gives Winston a clear advantage. I don’t think Winston’s back is on the roster yet. Oh and before you Glennon apologists bring up Pittsburgh game. Glennon did nothing to win that game Pittsburgh LOST it. Overlooking the Bucs and their Penalties cost them that game not Mike Glennon standing up and going all Joe Montana which he has NEVER been able to do.
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Im not a Winston “hater” but it is Idiots like you that create more of them. Jeesh are you stupid.
February 15th, 2015 at 11:14 am
All these are good points but I wonder if Lovie living in his basement got turned around and now thinks that the team with the least points wins because points are bad?
Joe if you get a chance ask him if know the higher score wins because he used players and coaches to do the opposite.
February 15th, 2015 at 11:16 am
Everybody should be competing for their job. Every single person drawing a paycheck. Even Captain Fear. There is no satisfactory part to this team. NONE!
February 15th, 2015 at 12:07 pm
I’m not sure why everyone thinks the release of McCown points to the Bucs drafting a QB. Releasing the vet could also mean they intend (or are open to) trading the pick for a big haul of picks AND a veteran QB. I’m sure they are open to this as much as taking one of the two QBs at 1. I don’t think it’s a done deal they draft a QB. It’s completely plausible that they trade out of the pick for a veteran QB and more picks.
February 15th, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Tmaxcon Joe Montana would have never become Joe Montana. Playing behind a horrible O-line like Glennon. Rodgers,Brees or any probowl QB. Would only move us up to 3-13 or 4-12. With our despicable O-line and defence. Glennon would lead the Steelers to the playoffs……for sure
February 15th, 2015 at 12:14 pm
@poorglennon
Yeah……..let tmax and some of the others tell it Winston would have come in here and won us 10 or 12 games by himself.
February 15th, 2015 at 12:23 pm
@ TMAX
Right now at this time Glennon is a much better QB than either Winston or Mariota because he has 2 years of NFL exprience and coaching.
The hero worship thing is making you look kind of young and stupid
February 15th, 2015 at 12:30 pm
@ JVNootz
That would be the smartest thing to do by far. I also am not convinced that the Bucs will take a QB in the 1st round
February 15th, 2015 at 12:30 pm
Lmao u think glennon had legit coaching in this mess. U just loss any credibility . Schiano and that disaster and no offensive coordinator. ..I bet Winston given the playbook and full off season would smoke any qb we have on this roster.
February 15th, 2015 at 12:34 pm
@ Rachel
Exactly. When you have only won 6 games in 2 years no job should be safe
February 15th, 2015 at 12:38 pm
@ UFC
Nope, sorry but you are so very wrong.
The only thing that Winston would lead the team in is interceptions. NFL defensive backs will have a field day with him
February 15th, 2015 at 12:40 pm
Yea but say we start off good and Glennon has a bad game. Then everyone will be calling for the rookie wether he’s ready or not. I say unless Glennon really sucks we keep him in for the year or two he has left on his contract then our rookie would really get adequate time to watch and learn. I just dont want a controversy.
February 15th, 2015 at 12:40 pm
The only bridge that Jamarcus Winston will use is the one that he rides his scooter over to get to Mons Venus and Publix
February 15th, 2015 at 3:48 pm
“Lmao u think glennon had legit coaching in this mess.”
Tend to agree with you on this, and that includes Lovie’s part. I think the new OC gives us our best chance at seeing how much Coaching had to do with his lack of success. If he fails to thrive under Koetter, that would be an indication it was mostly him. If he lights it up, that would be an indictment of previous coaching. Boy would I like to see a long term good Offense, just once, before I die. To have that AND a top tier Defense Would prolly kill me right then & there . LOL !!
February 15th, 2015 at 6:49 pm
There’s no way Lovie could sell ownership and the fan base on McCown starting for even one more game. If Glennon is traded in the offseason, the rookie QB will most certainly have to start from day one. This could be a big mistake. Or, they have to get another bridge QB. Theres no free agent QB better than Glennon and Lovie can’t afford to lose.
February 15th, 2015 at 9:03 pm
After McCown’s departure I would be surprised if they traded Glennon unless they pick up a vet FA QB next month and I don’t see anybody available that I would want. More likely as others have noted MG8 will be a bridge if we draft a QB. If he performs well under our new OC then he will retain the starting job if not then the rookie will hopefully have had enough time to develop to the point where he can come in and perform decently. Koetter remarked in the past that he saw characteristics in Glennon that reminded him of Ryan, if so, then it would only make sense to coach him up and see how he does in this new system. I’m also assuming we make definite improvements to our O line which I’m sure we will.
February 15th, 2015 at 9:53 pm
knuckledragger Says:
……………………………………
Im not a Winston “hater” but it is Idiots like you that create more of them. Jeesh are you stupid.
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Thank you. You saved me some typing.
February 16th, 2015 at 2:20 am
I think McNown finished up the season as the Bucs qb as he gave the Bucs the best chance of landing the #1 overall pick…. His one decent performance came as the Bucs went 2-9 with a win over the “as bad as the Bucs” Deadskins and that gave Lovie enough cover to simply stick with his guy over Napoleon D after the kid simply could not get wins over New Orleans, Cleveland or Minnesota: all winnable games that the Bucs led in but could not close out. IMHO: the Bucs would not even have had a lead in any of those games with McNown as qb but Glennon simply could not singlehandedly overcome a bad OC with bad clock management and play-calling and a defense that could not get a crucial stop in the 4th quarter of the games in which the Bucs led late. All Glennons fault? No, but enough to bench him and get McNown back on the field and after the Skins win I think the Bucs braintrust decided that at 2-9 the season was lost, why not just gas it out and try for 2-14? Good job on that one Bucs! I think Glennon would make a decent backup but as other poster have said: I think the Bucs could trade him come day 2 or 3 of the draft and look for a vet to compete against Winston or the kid from Oregon….