Andrew Norwell On GMC
February 3rd, 2016
Stinking Panthers LG Anthony Norwell dishes on GMC.
For reasons Joe can’t quite wrap his mind around, a large sect of Bucs fans can’t wait to sign a check to help pay for Gerald McCoy’s relocation expenses.
Joe just doesn’t get it. Annually, McCoy has some of the best numbers for defensive tackles, yet many Bucs fans consider him a pariah. He has become a piñata for Bucs fans.
To try to understand where the hate originates, Joe talks to football people. So Monday at Super Bowl opening night, Joe asked Stinking Panthers starting left guard Andrew Norwell to break down GMC for Joe.
Heck, if GMC is overrated, surely a guy who has tangled with GMC before would give Joe some info.
But Norwell is no frustrated Bucs fan. He was pretty open about GMC’s greatness.
“His explosiveness off the bat,” Norwell said of GMC’s best trait. “He’s a great player. He’s hard to move off the ball. He finishes plays.
“Overall, his size and his speed [are impressive]. He is such a great technician the way he uses his hands and works the edges. He’s just a great player.”
How good is GMC? Norwell said Stinking Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula and the offense game plan for GMC.
“Yeah, we do,’ Norwell said. “He is definetly a guy we look at when [building a gameday] offense. He’s definetly a guy we look at. He’s a great player.”
Yeah, the one guy an opposing offense game plans against — and a division foe at that — the Bucs should run off. Right.
Look, Joe is not saying — and never has — that GMC is a Hall of Fame player.But he’s a good player. Again, when has this become such a mortal sin? If the Bucs should start unloading guys with no shot of having a bust in Canton, then you may as well toss aside every person not named “Jameis Winston.”
Suggesting GMC should be run, that tells Joe you actually want Da’Quan Bowers.
The Bucs have enough holes on defense as it is. No need to make bigger ones.
February 3rd, 2016 at 6:55 am
One of the great mysteries of Buc Nation. Respectfully, GMC is alone on our DL. If we added one Pro Bowl quality DE that opponents had to game plan for then GMC would explode. Here’s to Mario Williams and a solid draft!
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:01 am
I wear his jersey and have considered him one of our premier players the past few years. Maybe that rumor that he liked to have fun or the presumed riff with Jameis upset some fans, but we need GMC and he is a great locker room influence. Its nuts to want this guy gone?????
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:18 am
The reason fans are frustrated with GMC is it doesn’t seem like football is that important to him. The losing doesn’t seem to bother him. Maybe it does bother him but he doesn’t let fans see that it does. I think overall he is a good player.
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:21 am
There will always be fans who associate GMC with the Bucs’ losing ways the last few years….their frustration plays out on players like GMC…..he was a high pick…vocal…Probowler….leader….he’ll be target for some.
I think we need to find a player or two to put on our line who will attract more attention than GMC…..then we will see how really good he is.
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:27 am
It’s not that GMC is not good. It’s just that true bucs fans feel like He’s not worth 100 million dollars. I mean those couple games he was hurt and didn’t play he was never missed. Heck I’d rather Revis have those 100 million dollars atleast he made big time plays when we needed it. GMC 8.5 sacks came in irrelevant times during the game and made no difference or game changing moments…shut up and play he’s a cornball leader
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:30 am
Tampa fans are complete idiots. What else is new?
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:32 am
I am not a hater of gmc. But I can see why he rubs some fans the wrong way. I think deep down the thing is he seems well…kinda fake. Plus hes honestly a bit odd. I mean who fights the ( coach wants me to he meaner but ill always help up the opposing player) fight. That there I hate. Im from a different era. While I dont wish death upon.. say a panthers player. I am a dienhard Bucs fan and I HATE absolutley HATE all the other nfc south teams and if one of em is on the ground shoot…you better act like you tripped and fall on em while hes down. I used to feel the same way about green bay, detroit, and stinkin Chicago. Its hard to watch him and think how can I care more than he does. Im not sayin thats the case. I cant look in his heart. But thats the vibe the dude gives off to alot of ppl.
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:33 am
Sorry, but GMC makes too much money to disappear every time the game is on the line. He has a picture in the dictionary next to the word soft. and anyone else on this team with the same “let’s just have fun” aka looser attitude the Joes would want run out of town too. Joe just has a soft spot for certain players.
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:33 am
Like I was saying last night, if the opposing recievers are able to get open in less than two seconds on almost every play we wont have a pass rush. Fix the secondary to where the line has more than 2 friekin seconds
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:50 am
I’ve never had an issue with McCoy smiling after a loss and shaking hands with friends from other teams. Doesn’t bother me one bit. He doesn’t get paid to allow me to vent my frustration vicariously through him by acting like a pouty little kid on my behalf when the Bucs lose. What an idiotic notion, that players somehow represent us and have to act like we feel. Only a moron would believe such a thing.
I’d smile too and feel great even after a crushing loss if I got paid a million dollars a game like he does. Why pretend otherwise? The good life is the good life, win or lose. He has a right to enjoy the fruit of his back breaking, intensely exhausting, injury riddled, physically risky and demanding work put in year after year for the last fifteen or so straight years with no let up.
I hope he enjoys every minute as he walks from the stadium with another cool million in the bank, gets into his Bugatti Veyron and heads over to Six Tables for an amazing four course dinner, then heads home to crash on his $20k Italian lamb skin couch and crank up the 120″ 4K Ultra HD television and watch whatever freaking movie he wants while popping open a box of Godiva chocolates and bottle of Cristal and snuggling in for the night. He’s earned it.
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:54 am
4th overall picks aren’t supposed to be “good.” They’re supposed to be awesome displays of prowess and athletic fortitude.
February 3rd, 2016 at 8:01 am
I could give you 100 million reasons why GMC is not liked but there really is one that is glaring. The dude is a soft whiny crybaby who can not stand he is no longer the center of attention in Tampa Bay.
February 3rd, 2016 at 8:50 am
First off I don’t want him gone, BUT please tell me why if he plays or not our defense gets destroyed either way. Isn’t the definition of a difference maker to make a difference? Thats what a #3 overall pick and highest paid player on the team are suppose to bring and bring that he does not.
February 3rd, 2016 at 8:55 am
Mccoy is soft? You’re a freaking idiot! He played with a broken hand and a torn rotator cuff!!!!!! Fool isn’t a strong enough word to describe anyone calling him soft.
Then you have these other idiots saying he doesn’t care about all the losing. Nothing could be further from the truth. Just because he shows good sportsmanship doesn’t mean the losing isn’t driving him crazy. In reality, he acts exactly the way we would want our children to behave, but for some reason everyone wants him to behave like an arse hole?!?!? Nobody can argue Jameis wants to win, yet I don’t remember anyone getting their panties in a wad when Jameis swapped jerseys with Gurley after their game. If Gerald did that I can only imagine the hate. He does what 99% of players do, yet he doesn’t care about winning to some of you jack arses! I guess you’d rather have a Burfict or Pacman Jones on our team. That worked out great.
February 3rd, 2016 at 8:58 am
If McCoy isn’t worth his contract then no one in the NFL who plays on the defensive line is. If McCoy is only “good” then the same can be said for Ndamukong Suh.
February 3rd, 2016 at 9:06 am
Real Buc fans you don’t run off good players!
February 3rd, 2016 at 9:06 am
What evidence do you have that he is upset he isn’t the center of attention? Just because you want to believe something doesn’t make it true. But there’s so much hate against this guy, it doesn’t matter what he does it doesn’t do. Your simple minds are already made up.
People say he’s soft, yet he played with 2 major injuries. People say he doesn’t care, yet when he is so upset with a loss he doesn’t talk to the media for one game and everyone calls him a crybaby. People say he doesn’t take over games, but are too stupid to understand he is completely alone on the line. No other player has less help in the entire NFL. People say he doesn’t make any big plays, even though he is directly responsible for us putting away the Falcons on the road. People say he’s not worth the money, but he continues to be honored by his peers, Coaches, and fans year in and year out. People say he doesn’t have an impact, yet you have player after player and coach after coach saying he is their main focus every time they play the Bucs. And of course, you have the stupidest of stupid people expecting him to make our defense great when he’s got no help, aside from Lavonte, who conveniently gets a pass for playing on a bad defense (because he gets a lot of tackles).
February 3rd, 2016 at 9:07 am
The problem is people hear one person(on tv or radio) bad mouthing McCoy and they believe it because they’re not very football smart. Not smart enough to draw their own conclusions. That’s the main problem with social media and every jackass having a voice now. Anyone who wants Mccoy gone is clueless. Yes I’m pretty sure all teams game plan for him by the amount of attention he gets. Now if we could just find a couple lineman who can beat a guy one on one
February 3rd, 2016 at 9:07 am
It really is comical to read some of these posts.
February 3rd, 2016 at 9:23 am
“But Norwell is no frustrated Bucs fan. He was pretty open about GMC’s greatness.”
“Look, Joe is not saying — and never has — that GMC is a Hall of Fame player.But he’s a good player.”
Which one is it Joe? “Greatness” or “Good player”?
February 3rd, 2016 at 9:37 am
Lovie is gone, now McCoy gets back to square one to bash for the Bucs ineptness. I guess someone always has to take the blame of disgruntled fans.
February 3rd, 2016 at 9:43 am
GMC’s biggest crime is that he is not warren sapp in terms of nastiness and brashness. if folks got over that, they’d feel alot better about him being a buc
February 3rd, 2016 at 9:49 am
If I wore a robe to work, people wouldn’t take me seriously either.
February 3rd, 2016 at 9:49 am
Lol it’s pretty hilarious all these internet ppl calling a 300 lb man beast that plays through injuries “soft”
I don’t love his game personality but the guy always produces and is typically always disruptive and always grades out as a top DT in the league. What we need is another beast on that line – either DT / DE but someone with his caliber and the results would be pretty good I’d think
February 3rd, 2016 at 9:54 am
Tampabaybucfan….I agree wholeheartedly. I think getting good edge rushers will settle this debate once and for all and have said so in the past. It will put a stop to his defenders once and for all if he still underperforms. On the flip side it will put a stop to the haters if he shines.
I’m not a GMC hater. However I DO want this team to get some edge rush just like most Buc fans. I think if they get some edge rushers, GMC will still underperform. I also think if they get some decent edge rushers, GMC will still get hurt and play hurt. So the debate may end with quality edge rushers, but then were still left with “Come on guys, the guy’s been playing hurt gimme a break.”
That’s how I see the rest of his career playing out if the Bucs finally put together a defensive line. I’m not in the trade GMC crowd however for multiple reasons, for which I don’t have the time to type about right now.
February 3rd, 2016 at 10:10 am
@Buc1987
Well, considering how many years that GMC has played, they better get some serious DE in here quick!!! GMC is running out of time!!!
And by the way, the only issue’s I have with GMC is that he has to say he is the “leader” 100 times a year!! If you have to keep saying it, well you guys know the rest!!!
February 3rd, 2016 at 10:15 am
Many also forget that he has yet to have even a decent head coach. Raheem, Schiano, and Lovie – not exactly the Mt. Rushmore of great coaches. He’s had tons of different coordinators and position coaches as well. If you don’t think that lack of consistency hurts, then you really don’t know football. It hurts every player. We haven’t been getting the best out of any of our players. I have a feeling that’s all about to change.
February 3rd, 2016 at 10:29 am
GMC is over rated and over paid, good for him. But… The defensive line has never been very good with him in the line up. He plays hard in spurts, runs by the opposing RB’s time after time, rarely tackles a RB for a loss and is paid JJ Watt money.
Mark my words the minute he’s gone the defense will improve drastically. If he’s the defensive leader that would explain the complete lack of urgency. Hell GMC would probably even benefit by playing somewhere else. He’s just NOT an alpha dog and that has to be in his DNA. It can’t be faked.
February 3rd, 2016 at 10:33 am
Pick6 you are soo close. The problem is GMC is not Sapp. Sapp is the greatest 3 technique DL that ever put on a pair of cleats. GMC is not. We all wanted him to be. Sapp didn’t help by publicly saying GMC was a bigger and faster version of himself, which maybe true. Sapp had a motor that wouldn’t stop.. ever. He was/is a troubled guy who took out all the aggression that he could on the football field and still managed to not get it all out.
Sometime, go watch a highlight package from Sapp on youtube, you will say, wow, wow, wow, over and over again. GMC just doesn’t do that over and over, yet.
He needs help, absolutely yes. Thats why I look hard at another interior DL in the draft early (it looks like it will have good value vs DE and other defensive positions) or sign Nick Fairley.
Nick Fairley, who is also best suited as a 3 as well could allow for not as steep of a drop off in a rotation when GMC is required to step off of the field in the early season games.
February 3rd, 2016 at 10:34 am
I think it starts with his contract. We pay him JJ Watt money, but dont get even close to the production.
I agree that GMC is a good-great player. I am excited to see what Mike Smith has in store for GMC. Perhaps a new DC can better utilize his talents. We all know Lovie did nothing to help out the players on the defense. Just a terrible coach.
Also a little fan criticism might be good for GMC to keep a chip on his shoulder. To work harder to prove his worth.
February 3rd, 2016 at 11:02 am
Joe said,
February 3rd, 2016 at 11:02 am
Hawaiian you are hitting it out of the park on this one. This why being a Buc fan is so hard sometimes.
The criticisms are completely unfounded and borderline ridiculous. Who would you replace him with? A draft pick? Clinton McDonald?
Jameis threw too many interceptions and seemed too animated about it!!! We should try and get a 1st and 2nd round pick for him. He’s too animated!!!
February 3rd, 2016 at 11:04 am
Joe said
” GMC is not a Hall of Fame player”
But he gets paid like one. So take the criticism all the way to the bank because you GMC are a HECK of a SALESMAN…
February 3rd, 2016 at 11:06 am
@MTM,
First of all, since when did one player make a defensive line. I can’t think of one defensive lineman (especially a 3 technique) in the history of football that has made an entire line great. Hell, Reggie White and Warren Sapp always had good players around them. Now I’m not comparing McCoy to those guys, but for all the complaining everyone has done, no one can argue he’s had any help. He had a good year from Bennett, and McCoy just so happened to be a first team All-Pro that year. Do you honestly believe that was a coincidence? Then of course we got rid of Bennett before he even hit his prime (when he wanted to stay in Tampa). McCoy has had more sacks than any other DT over the last few years, yet you somehow, someway expect him to turn George Johnson into Lawrence Taylor?
I’m really confused as to how ignorant some of you can be. McCoy has had no help, terrible coaching, a horrendous secondary, been battling through injuries; yet has still managed to be a 4 time Pro Bowler, a 2 time all-pro, and ranked in the top 40 by his peers over the last 2 years. Adding to this he is an absolute model citizen in the community. Yet despite all this, he gets criticized by fans who don’t even understand what a 3 technique is, much less understand how blessed we are to have him?! Disgraceful.
February 3rd, 2016 at 11:30 am
@Atrain,
Is it your money? Then why the hell do you care how much he makes? He gets paid like a top tier 3 technique, which he is. He makes less than Suh, who has been a nightmare signing for Miami. He’s getting paid his fair market value. I’d rather pay him his value than pay a bunch of scrubs . But apparently you are overly concerned with the Glazer’s spending, so I’ll let you worry about them.
February 3rd, 2016 at 12:43 pm
ATrain…correct he does get paid like one. It’s not my money, but I think that’s what a lot of fans expect when they look at his contract numbers vs his numbers on the field and the upsets them. Not me of course, because like I said it’s not my money. Could the money be spent more wisely? I have NO idea.
February 3rd, 2016 at 12:56 pm
Talented player but doesn’t fit the “mindset” of the new regime….”tough” players with a common goal to win championships…seems that he doesn’t care much about the losing…those types need to find a new address…
February 3rd, 2016 at 12:57 pm
LOL Hawaiian Buc…your post was not there when I typed “it’s not my money”. So no I did not take that from your post in case you’re wondering. Ha!
February 3rd, 2016 at 12:58 pm
…AND, why did he play in the Pro Bowl if he had the severe injuries he was supposedly playing with all year?
February 3rd, 2016 at 1:06 pm
@Bucco Brice
Did you watch the pro bowl? Really hard to get hurt in that game
February 3rd, 2016 at 1:26 pm
GMC might have a great first step but he’s got no heart. And I bet you can’t find one player past nor present that would say he does.
February 3rd, 2016 at 1:34 pm
@Hawaiian Buc…not what i meant…if he was so injured playing for the Bucs all year, why would he play in a meaningless all star game?
February 3rd, 2016 at 1:35 pm
I’m not picking on you Bucco, but how can you make this comment?:
“Talented player but doesn’t fit the “mindset” of the new regime….”tough” players with a common goal to win championships…seems that he doesn’t care much about the losing…those types need to find a new address…”
How do you know?
I mean, these are the arguments that keep resurfacing over and over and they’re completely based on conjecture. Seriously, how do you know if this is true? Koetter was part of this team last year. What was his mindset then?
I’m going to leave this GMC talk alone. It makes no sense to me.
February 3rd, 2016 at 1:39 pm
@Bucsfanman …Lovies fault …”simple as that” LOL
February 3rd, 2016 at 1:41 pm
Touche my friend, touche!
February 3rd, 2016 at 2:18 pm
Building an elite defense starts with the DT who plays next to McCoy. McDonald and Spence are not elite. There are potential elite DT available in the first round of this years draft. I understand we also need two DE’s, two CB’s, a LB and two Safeties. We are not going to be able to fill all those needs this year. IMO the 4-3 DE’s available in the draft are not rated high enough to be taken at nine other than Joey Bosa. I just hope Jason Licht and Mike Smith don’t pass on either Robert Nkemdiche, A’Shawn Robinson or Andrew Billings with our first pick in the draft. Draft one of these DT to pair with McCoy then go out and get a top end DE and CB in FA and draft SS Jeremy Cash in the second round and K Roberto Aguayo (trade up if we have to) and this team is on the rise. Another WR in FA is needed too.
February 3rd, 2016 at 3:09 pm
@DB55,
Who exactly are you to judge his heart?
February 3rd, 2016 at 3:17 pm
0-2 in spelling the word “definitely”… definitely weird!
“Yeah, we do,’ Norwell said. “He is definetly a guy we look at when [building a gameday] offense. He’s definetly a guy we look at. He’s a great player.
February 3rd, 2016 at 3:32 pm
No heart? Doesn’t like football? I’ve always defended buc fans but this is just ridiculous criticism. Too many Buc fans are a bunch of rubes.
February 3rd, 2016 at 4:22 pm
GMC looks like Tarzan plays like Jane! Or Chidi Ahanotu! Deserves to be paid like Chidi!
February 3rd, 2016 at 4:32 pm
@Dreghostjr…I completely agree…GO BUCS!!!
February 3rd, 2016 at 4:38 pm
thats rich coming from a guy who judges every poster on here. Who’s favorite word is idiot. Talk about glass houses.
February 3rd, 2016 at 4:44 pm
Lol you’re making a story about one player talking positively about another player?! Joe, aside from the one in a million cases where you got some fued (i.e. Norman v OBJ), what’s the story here?
“This guy is great, he’s got great technique, o ya we scheme against him, blah blah” – lol there’s never objectivity!
Not only that but it goes to show you can scheme against 93. He literally gets taken out of games! He’s a good player, but no one you’re ever going to talk about after he retires… Unless he’s in the booth
February 3rd, 2016 at 4:58 pm
It’s hard for a team to play great for fans the boo the good players. We need some fan that will cheer good players. They even find fault with our great rookie class. Gruden won the super bowl…they said no he didn’t Dungy did. Great fan…finding fault in everything.
February 3rd, 2016 at 5:03 pm
@DB55,
We are anonymous posters. I don’t know you and you don’t know me. You don’t know McCoy, so you damn sure don’t know anything about his heart. Wouldn’t you say it takes a lot of heart to play through a broken hand and torn rotator cuff? Especially when the season was lost? Doesn’t it take heart to be in the facility working out the day your twins were born (in the offseason no less)? If his players didn’t think he had heart, they wouldn’t have voted him captain. They wouldn’t to a man call him a leader (including Jameis). Have you ever even heard a player anonymously criticize him? Didn’t think so.
February 3rd, 2016 at 5:49 pm
@ Hawaiian Buc
You sound like GMC’s agent. GMC is pedestrian at best. Being a die hard fan doesn’t make one NFL scout for one’s team. Don’t be shocked if GMC is traded in the next 2 yrs. Keep making excuses for mediocre play…
February 3rd, 2016 at 6:04 pm
MTM…Hawaiian Buc does this every single time Joe posts an article about GMC haters. I was wondering where he was yesterday during the GMC bashfest.
Yep you’re right though. He does go into agent mode when it comes to GMC.
February 3rd, 2016 at 6:27 pm
I could poke holes in everything he said but ain’t nobody got time for that.
February 3rd, 2016 at 6:56 pm
I defend him because it makes me sick that so many people bash him. It’s embarrassing that he is the punching bag for so many unhappy people, yet other players get passes. Funny thing is, all you people that bash him would be the very ones to smile and shake his hand if you ran into him at Publix.
You can all say whatever you want, but the facts are this -he’s a 4 time pro bowler (the only one on our team). He’s a two time all-pro (the only one on our team). He’s a top 40 player according to his peers. He’s led all DT’s in sacks over the last 4 years. Teams openly admit game planning against him. He’s as good as it gets in the community. All you’ve got is your ignorant, worthless complaints about his game. None of you are coaches, none are experts. Neither am I, so I’m going to go ahead and lean to the ones that are. He got a big contract, and I’ve never heard even a whisper of the Bucs regretting it. But I’m done with this, because you’ve already made up your minds. Just be very careful what you wish for, because if you think it’s bad now, you have no idea how bad it could be if we got rid of him.
February 3rd, 2016 at 6:58 pm
You guys are completely nuts. He is the best player on our D-line. Year after year. What, 4 probowls now? You hear someone from one of our rivals that lines up against him signing his praises and you still bash him? What arrogance from sitting on the couch, TV watching, legend in your own mind experts! GMC is a Buccaneer! Support the man! Go GMC! Go Bucs!
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:02 pm
Hawaiian Buc,
Why does your name change from red to black? Are you a horse of a different color?
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:03 pm
Just wondering.
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:15 pm
Hawaiian Buc ….you’re hired! lol
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:19 pm
@Dave Pear,
No idea, lol. First time I’ve ever noticed.
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:20 pm
“I could poke holes in everything he said but ain’t nobody got time for that.”
———-
I bet you could.
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:24 pm
Hawaiian Buc,
At first I thought there were two Hawaiian Buc’s, but your posts are always consistent. If you accidentally put a letter in the website sign on your name will show in red.
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:24 pm
Like this.
February 3rd, 2016 at 7:25 pm
And I’m back.
February 3rd, 2016 at 8:13 pm
SMH – just another “raw meat” post for JBFs ravenous pack of negative commentors who like to rag on one of “their” team’s best players – supposedly in the name of “keeping it real” or some similar nonsense.
February 3rd, 2016 at 9:51 pm
@ Pickgrin
That’s a good one. One their best. Now I’m SMH.
February 4th, 2016 at 2:57 am
Hawaii says
Have you ever even heard a player anonymously criticize him? Didn’t think so.
——–//————
Here’s 4 players… Btw I want you to Google: do you like jazz jim carrey
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2015/11/shaun-king-unloads-on-gmc/
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2015/10/derrick-brooks-says-gerald-mccoy-is-not-playing-well-right-now/
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2015/09/surprise-surprise-says-gerald-mccoy/
February 4th, 2016 at 6:47 am
@DB55
Stop confusing everyone with facts!
February 4th, 2016 at 7:56 am
@DB55,
I didn’t realize Brooks and King played with Mccoy. Are their lockers located near McCoy’s?
February 4th, 2016 at 12:05 pm
@DB55,
Here is your original post: “GMC might have a great first step but he’s got no heart. And I bet you can’t find one player past nor present that would say he does.”
The links you sent has absolutely nothing to do with his heart. I’ll be the first to say he didn’t have a great year by his standards. However, you are questioning his “want to”, and that is something you have no right to do, nor do you have any evidence. But you go ahead and keep on hating.