It’s Not About Enjoyment, Gerald McCoy
September 11th, 2015
Joe was really sickened by a piece of commentary from Gerald McCoy yesterday.
A rookie back in 2010, McCoy started 13 games for a 10-6 team, his only winning team in five seasons, and McCoy didn’t have fun so it wasn’t a happy memory for him.
What the heck is that?
McCoy had just signed a rookie contract that guaranteed him $35 million. He walked into a team with a young, loose players’ head coach in Raheem Morris. The Bucs even had an iconic defensive leader in Ronde Barber, in addition to an established guy in the middle of the defense in Barrett Ruud. There were plenty of respected vets on offense, too, such as Cadillac Williams, Davin Joseph and Earnest Graham, in addition to a young quarterback absorbing the spotlight in Josh Freeman.
But McCoy claimed he didn’t have fun that season because he couldn’t relax.
McCoy is hyper-focused on Jameis Winston not taking a leadership role this year and insistent that Jameis focusing on fun and on-field work.
“He’s just a rookie,” McCoy said of Jameis yesterday. “If he goes too fast and tries to take over that role right now, he might not ever catch up. He might always look back like, ‘Man, I should have enjoyed being a rookie.’
“I never want him to do that, because that’s what I did. I couldn’t enjoy being a rookie because I got thrown in: now I’m the guy, I have to call this, call that, do this, do that. I never want anybody who comes in as a rookie to not enjoy their rookie season because you only get one. Now I’m looking back like, man, I wish I would have.”
McCoy is really carrying some bizarre baggage about his rookie season. Joe has heard McCoy quip previously that he didn’t have a mentor or a veteran to guide him back then.
In one breath, McCoy, Lovie Smith and other Bucs veterans say they want Jameis to be himself, but then in the next breath, they don’t want Jameis to be himself if that includes grabbing the locker room by the throat and shaking wins out of this team that is too used to losing.
If you’re going to let Jameis be Jameis, and you trust him, then get the heck out of the way.
Joe suspects Jameis would treasure memories of his rookie year if the Bucs go 10-6, and it would have nothing to do with whether he enjoyed himself on a personal level. It would be all about the scoreboard.
Ironically, Raheem used to preach the quote of legendary former Bucs defensive line coach Rod Marinielli, “Learn to love to be miserable.” That applied most to the grind of training camp, but the lesson was broader. The NFL is a brutal job on many levels, and the fun is in winning and in the camaraderie. Pressure and pain is part of the job.
September 11th, 2015 at 9:39 am
I get where McCoy is coming from. It’s a business. He wants Jameis to enjoy his first year in the business, because after that, when JW does well, expectations will go higher and higher with more and more pressure. I think GMCs point is Winston can have fun and he will perform just as well. And if he has fun he will be even more fired up in coming years.
September 11th, 2015 at 9:43 am
Ya heard this the other day. Wish McCoy would just stfu. It’s seriously annoying. He’s not a leader and he’s not that great. Reading his own press clippings too much. This is what beckles is talking about.
September 11th, 2015 at 9:44 am
One of the reasons I love this site is the two different personalities of the two Joe’s. The earlier article about the same interview had that Joe fired up and ready to shotgun Bud Light! This Joe was sickened by the same article. The bottom line is GMC is simply saying Winston should not take on too much, and just play the game. it is a business, but it is a game first… NFL players seem to do better when they are having fun! Right now it is about learning to be an NFL quarterback, the natural leadership will come with time.
September 11th, 2015 at 9:49 am
Hey Warren… GMC would manhandle Ian on Ian’s best playing day he ever had. Baffles me why you guys listen to what he says but rip on King for not being that good. Kudos to Beckles for making it to the NFL, Lord knows I didn’t have the talent, but he was marginal at best.
September 11th, 2015 at 9:50 am
I’m with you Joe. It’s not up to McCoy to determine what is “fun” for JW. JW is NOT McCoy and IMO that’s a great thing!!!
McCoy clearly does not have the same competive fire that burns in JW. I remember working once with a guy…a friend in fact…who was a great athlete.
Started Div I college hoops for three years and played tennis for the college.
When he was in his late 20’s he competed for the South Carolina state tennis championship. He lost in the finals. He was in a depressed funk all week. I finally approached him on Thursday and tried to get him to chill and he basically told me to eff off…he was a competitor and he hated losing and he would deal with it his own way. It was his business as to how much emphasis he wanted to place on winning!
That’s JW. For all the heat he took from people like me when he had his meltdown against Oregon and Jimbo had to threaten to bench him, I now see that JW was simply the same as my friend. A real competitor!!
If this teams starts to lose JW is not going to listen to GMC or anybody else…he’s going to be peoed big time. I think that’s what DB is worried about.
I do not dislike GMC. He’s a very good player who could be great. I and others have talked about his lack of consistency…but I do not see that same win at all costs…loathe losing that I saw in my old friend and in JW!!!
September 11th, 2015 at 9:50 am
In my opinion Beckles was no better than the line we have right now
September 11th, 2015 at 9:52 am
I completely understand where GMC is coming from, that was the same year “my little pony” debuted. Like omg Becky, like let’s get some pumpkin lattes and like totally have like soooo much fun. Like yea totes.
September 11th, 2015 at 9:56 am
Db55. Lol.
September 11th, 2015 at 10:01 am
Pretty sure Tom Brady LOVED being taken seriously enuff to come in for Drew Bledsoe and win that first SB….don’t think that would’ve happened if Brady was so concerned about “Having fun” his rookie year. For Brady, learning to play like a pro was his idea of fun and he looks better and better at it each year to this day. Sorry u didn’t get to have “fun” ur rookie year, signing a MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT for the 1ST TIME IN UR LIFE Granpa Moneybags. Are you sure you’re having fun this year playing under an EVEN BIGGER CONTRACT?? WOW, THIS IS THE FACE OF THE FRANCHISE TALKING HERE^^^
September 11th, 2015 at 10:06 am
Having fun keeps confidence higher and a player looser, Warren Sapp was always having fun
September 11th, 2015 at 10:11 am
Sapp was having fun dominating the league and building a champion very different. If sapp was on a bottom dweller like this he’d be pissed and more importantly would do something about it.
Don’t compare my man sapp with gmc. They’re not even close!!!
September 11th, 2015 at 10:13 am
Oh give me a break, Joe, lol.
Obviously, Winston ENJOYS leading his team to victory too. McCoy said nothing wrong. You are just nitpicking.
September 11th, 2015 at 10:15 am
Traveling from LA for the opener any recommendations on a tailgate for the game
September 11th, 2015 at 10:15 am
@Warrenfb12
Ian Beckles was never any good, and his ability to spot true talent is minimal.
I actually had meaner things to say about him…but I decided to be nice about it. lol.
September 11th, 2015 at 10:25 am
Why is the media trying to hard to be over sensitive and negative on everything McCoy says. He is being honest and he is right. The Bucs have waisted this guys career by not putting talent around him for 5 years. Lavar Arrington just said last week how he regrets committing his career to a disfunctional organization. I hope we turn this thing around so McCoy doesnt sum up his whole career as “Not very fun”.
September 11th, 2015 at 10:29 am
Cannot believe how fashionable it’s become to bash GMC. It’s akin to asking Mother Teresa to step-up her feeding the poor from 18 hours a day to 20 hours a day while your lazy butt sits in a hammock sipping a mai-thai. Can GMC do more, maybe (although PFF grades him out as the best DT in football last year with the highest cumulative score. Meaning if he’s loafing in the 4th quarter he must be super-human the other 3 quarters to keep his rating so high) but asking a guy to step it up to 110% while the rest of the line hovers around 20% seems to miss the mark.
Those that are piling on to GMC only do so because Beckles is leading the charge and think his word is more valid than the rest of the NFL-world. I don’t listen to Ron and Ian and was floored that his followers are drinking his kool-aid on GMC when literally everyone else in America says the exact opposite (based on data, not anecdotal, 7-pops in on a Sunday, armchair quarterbacking like Mr. Beckles).
I’ve said it before, i’ll say it again: we lost in spite of GMC, not because. When we start winning, he will be a large reason why. He has earned the right to say whatever he wants in the mean-time. He is our longest tenured player, our best player and has never wanted anything more than for this team to win.
September 11th, 2015 at 11:07 am
I’m sorry but GMC is a strange dude.
That’s just how I took his words. Strange.
Sometimes I think he just answers questions because he has to and puts no thought into what he’s saying. This is one of those times.
I’ve never understood the hype that is GMC. Is it because he was always the best player on a crappy Bucs team, so he stood out or is it really his play on the field?
I think it’s because he stands out on an a crappy team. He gets like 7-8 sacks in a season and he stands out, because everyone else sucks that bad.
September 11th, 2015 at 11:12 am
This MF needs to stop crying about his rookie season and STFU. The nicest DT in the league is just jealous that he didn’t and never will get the publicity THE MESSIAH is getting. Now he’s afraid that he won’t be the face of the franchise anymore either. But he tries to spin it as if he really cares about THE MESSIAH and doesn’t want to put too much pressure on him.
Well wanna know what MF. If you really want to help THE MESSIAH out make a play on Sunday. Give the offense a short field to work with. Show up after the 1st quarter. Yea YOU #93. Stop talking and just FUKN play.
September 11th, 2015 at 11:21 am
This is all just pre-season nerves and double talk. Ask any detective how easy it is to get someone to contradict themselves in an interview.
September 11th, 2015 at 11:24 am
Jameis is going to be Jameis no matter what any player says. I think he’s very resilient and focused. If the wins come and the offense excels, Jameis will become the guy. It’s in his DNA and that won’t change.
Just Win Baby!!!
September 11th, 2015 at 11:24 am
JoeTexansFan.com must have people that whine about JJ Watt not getting 30 sacks a year. Some of you must be absolutely miserable to live with.
September 11th, 2015 at 11:31 am
Nick…McCoy should NEVER be compared to JJ Watt.
Really? You really think he’s on Watt’s level? Because on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being a great player, I’d put Watt at 10 and McCoy at around a 5 or 6.
September 11th, 2015 at 11:33 am
But was he youngry?
September 11th, 2015 at 11:37 am
…and did he take off his underwear and put his face on people?
September 11th, 2015 at 11:40 am
I’m pretty sure all McCoy has been trying to say is that JW doesn’t need to worry about being a leader right this moment. Just do your job, get better, have some fun and let the leadership role come. He’s not saying he can’t be a leader, he’s just saying he doesnt need to focus on that aspect at this moment.
Geeze, everyone sounds a little frantic today.
September 11th, 2015 at 11:51 am
.. absolutely miserable to live with.
September 11th, 2015 at 12:08 pm
unbelievable Says :
“I’m pretty sure all McCoy has been trying to say”
That’s what I’m talking about. McCoy usually leaves you with a wtf did he just say moment all the time. Leaves you trying to figure out your own interpretation of what he’s trying to say. smh
September 11th, 2015 at 12:09 pm
Hey GMC, try winning on Sundays, we’ll all have fun then
September 11th, 2015 at 12:32 pm
(yawn)
McCoy said nothing wrong. Just a nitpick article to stir the stupid.
I know some of you have questions about McCoy.
But it doesnt matter what you think. You are idiots, and he is the best DT in the league.
And to those Internet heroes posting that he should shut up.
Why dont show a lil Manhood- and tun down and tell him to shut up in person.
Lmao!
Thats what i thought
September 11th, 2015 at 12:52 pm
So you guys are bashing one of the Best 3 tech’s in game? Be prepared to eat crow, when he leads this defense to a top ten ranking this year.
September 11th, 2015 at 12:54 pm
So my comments are automatically in moderation?
September 11th, 2015 at 12:55 pm
I get it Joe that you’ve hitched yourself to the Winston Wagon.
What I don’t get is why you put down others (like Gerald McCoy) who’ve been in similar situations and are trying to pass on some ‘guidance’ to young Jameis.
‘America’s QB’ is a 21-year old rookie with 2-years of college experience. Jameis has done some good stuff in those 2 years, but … he has yet to throw a single pass in an NFL game and has yet to produce a single win. I’m hoping as much as anyone that changes 2 days from now, but the world won’t come to an end if it doesn’t.
I agree with Gerald. The pressure to carry this Tampa Bay franchise on his shoulders week-after-week will come soon enough. Let him get a little experience under his belt first, and enjoy the learning experience, before making him carry that burden by himself. Soon enough he’ll truly be the face of the franchise, but it’s still a team sport and whether the Bucs win or lose will depend on a lot of factors beyond just Jameis Winston.
September 11th, 2015 at 12:59 pm
Capt Tim…I’ll tell him to shut up in person. It would be a helluva a lawsuit win for me. I’d strike it rich. He won’t do anything anyways, he such a”nice”guy.
September 11th, 2015 at 1:02 pm
Capt.Tim Says:
September 11th, 2015 at 12:32 pm
(yawn)
But it doesnt matter what you think. You are idiots, and he is the best DT in the league.
***********************
http://www.scout.com/nfl/story/1561746-nfl-s-top-5-defensive-tackles-for-2015
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/05/18/pffs-top-101-of-2014-20-to-11/
Eyes nose eyes stupid but #factsmatter. He not even top two much less the best in the league.
Facts matter.
September 11th, 2015 at 1:04 pm
Exactly. Whitey Bulger he ain’t.
That said, I have no complaints about McCoy.
The guy is a stud DT and that’s all I ask of him.
What other DT takes over games like Sapp did?
Answer: None.
That was a different era.
September 11th, 2015 at 1:14 pm
These guys are getting paid to produce, not chill out and have fun. The fun comes with putting out good production.
McCoy is very guickly wearing thin on me. He acts like he’s in the twilight of his career and just wants to soak in the experience.
September 11th, 2015 at 1:32 pm
I want to say that I love me some GMC. ALWAYS HAVE. Like how he picks up the other players after he slams them down. Love him in the community. Love we don’t worry about him messing around with hookers etc. (I liked Sapp to, but he reminded me of my Pit Bull, I never knew when it was gonna happen, but eventually it always did) But GMC never really has struck me as a natural leader. It’s like something he’s just not really comfortable with. Nothing wrong with that. He is very complex and is motivated differently than many players today. Once again nothing wrong with any of that.
But he needs to let JW be JW. JW is very comfortable in a leadership role. He is probably as uncomfortable not leading as GMC is leading. I get that. Doesn’t take away from anything that GMC is or does. I just think that GMC needs to simplify his thought process to the game of football and he will be a ton better off.
Bottom line, just because you were an early round pick, don’t believe that the situation is the same for you both.
September 11th, 2015 at 1:55 pm
youre just being silly, joe.
September 11th, 2015 at 3:48 pm
stuck comparing JJ Watt to GMC, they play different positions.
DB55. Sup started on the bottom dweller bucs of the time. he was part of the turnaround.
September 11th, 2015 at 3:50 pm
stuck comparing JJ Watt to GMC, they play different positions.
DB55. Sapp started on the bottom dweller bucs of the time. he was part of the turnaround.
September 11th, 2015 at 4:39 pm
Gerald McCoy just seems like an odd dude to me. I’d love to talk politics or something like that with him.
September 11th, 2015 at 4:46 pm
@Luvmybucs
when he leads this defense to a top ten ranking this year.
I’d love to eat that crow! It would be tasty. I’m not sure however that Kwon isn’t the guy who might lead our defense to the top ten ranking. Everybody will credit GMC and LVD but Kwon will be the only major change to the D.
September 11th, 2015 at 4:52 pm
I’m not too sure what to make of his comments. I can see it both ways. I guess it’s just how you feel about McCoy. I can see his comments as telling Jameis to “know your role, rookie”. I would think GMC wouldn’t care how Jameis feels. It’s time to win. GMC should want what is best for the team to win games. In my opinion that is for Jameis to take control. GMC being in control hasn’t worked so well.
September 11th, 2015 at 5:48 pm
Some good players play on not so good teams for most if not all of their careers.