Why Gerald McCoy Is Playing In The Pro Bowl When He’s Not 100 Percent
January 25th, 2018
QB legend inspired him
Yes, Gerald McCoy plans to play Sunday in his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl.
And no, his injured arm isn’t just right.
Perhaps that makes little sense. McCoy has made many tens of millions of dollars in his Bucs career and is in line to earn $12 million and change in 2018. But he’s gambling that contract if he, heavens forbid, got injured seriously Sunday at the Citrus Bowl, aka Camping World Stadium. He basically has no more money guaranteed in his giant contract.
McCoy said he’ll play but will “feel around for the tempo” of the game and be cautious with his arm. “I won’t be playing super hard,” McCoy said. But he learned a long time ago from Peyton Manning to embrace the Pro Bowl and respect the honor as best you can.
“Peyton Manning told me, not me, but us [the Pro Bowl players],” McCoy said. “He did like an opening monologue in 2012. And he said it’s an honor and a privilege to be voted in by your peers. This Pro Bowl is something you dream about as a kid and something you should cherish and never take for granted. So if you get voted in, go.
“Me, I was up and down about whether I was coming. But that, you know, resonated with me and I’ll always remembered him saying it. So anytime I have an opportunity, I’m going to be here if I can. If I have an injury that it’s not bad enough to where I can’t take a few snaps in the Pro Bowl, then I’ll be here.”
Great respect for the game there from No. 93, who added he’s “never to old to learn” from the greats around him.
And it doesn’t hurt that he’ll earn another $30,000 or so with a losers share, or $60K and change for being on the winning squad.
McCoy also is using the game as another launching point for what he desired most.
“It never gets old,” McCoy said. “I’m having a blast with it. I’m going to cherish it, and learn from it. Accept the challenge; there’s a lot that comes with it. Getting six in a row, now I have the accolades personally. Now the thing is what am I going to do for my team. That’s my main goal: make my team better.”
January 25th, 2018 at 6:05 pm
“I won’t be playing super hard,” McCoy said
———
Welp! At least he’s consistent
January 25th, 2018 at 6:09 pm
Is the pro bowl back to AFC vs NFC? They went back last year. –Joe
At the risk of sounding asylum ready I swear I turned on the pro bowl one year for my annual three mins of viewing and it was something like Mike Vick’s team vs team Romo. I freaking swear to you people I remember something similar to that. If it didn’t happen I must have dreamt it.
Honor of the pro Bowl? Any decent NFL fan knows the pro bowl is a joke and so do the players……It’s why they elected to play it without SB players and half the plays are fifth string reserves.
GMC may be the only truely elected player on his line.
January 25th, 2018 at 6:17 pm
And Tmaxipad in 3…2…1!
DB you are almost as bad.
January 25th, 2018 at 6:17 pm
When is GMC ever 100%???
January 25th, 2018 at 6:17 pm
Joe your filters are downright stupid!
January 25th, 2018 at 6:26 pm
cancer93 is a me first selfish camera hound and career loser. facts are the facts
January 25th, 2018 at 6:37 pm
Tmax…..he’s not me first and selfish. That’s why he carries the pads of rookies in camp.
He aims to serve
January 25th, 2018 at 6:44 pm
Ur a bunch of assh@les !
January 25th, 2018 at 6:44 pm
He should have stayed home and let someone more deserving go. This shows a Me first attitude when he should be rehabbing, resting, or having surgery on his often injured bicep. He will probably wait until training camp to have surgery and miss the season….No big loss because McDonald had the same stats with half the reps.
January 25th, 2018 at 6:55 pm
jimmyjack
yes sir you are correct on that…
buccaneer scotty
sorry the truth about your superhero hurts. most overrated buc in history and has NEVER won a single meaningful game in his failed 8 year career. results are undisputed. nothing but excuses for the crying clown. the only a–holes are those who that are blinded by the smiling fraud.
January 25th, 2018 at 6:56 pm
What a bunch of haters. So hard for me to come on here and constantly see the Gmc hate! I knw everyone has their own opinion but are yall really serious about all the Gmc hate? Obviously you are, he is a GREAT teammate and GREAT player so get over yourselves. He loves the city n loves his team, funny FACT is he is CLEARLY respected by the whole league and knw as a top 5 DT year in and out. So hate all u want but it’s ridiculous the man plays his butt off , injured or not. And if he was a “cancer” or had no talent he wouldn’t be talked about by WHOLE DAMN NFL as one of the best.
January 25th, 2018 at 6:59 pm
Tmaxon u are a fraid n idiot. Jealous much? U must of been one of those people who wish u were still playing but nobody gave u a fair shake, or whatever your excuse is for your hat of gmc. Yea its a DT fault bucs have been bad for so long. Just a stupid remark plain and simple
January 25th, 2018 at 6:59 pm
“He should have stayed home and let someone more deserving go. This shows a Me first attitude”
_____________
Did you not read the flippin’ article ??? He told you exactly why he was going when he didn’t really want to.
Buccaneer Scotty is right!
January 25th, 2018 at 7:01 pm
@DanBucsFan GMC had sex with his wife then she left him.
January 25th, 2018 at 7:04 pm
I’m growing tired of talking about him
January 25th, 2018 at 7:07 pm
@ SB
must be something like that lol. But are any others as sick of this bashing of our team as I am. They criticize EVERY MOVE, most players and still follow the team. I mean wtf man we all are disappointed with results from team but its off-season so we all have chance 4 new start. And to say we would be better without GMC is an opinion, but to say he is a no talent player means u lose all credibility as u obviously have no clue..IMO
January 25th, 2018 at 7:25 pm
This SB is tough for me because my most loathed teams in order…
1.) New England
2.) New Orleans
3.) Philadelphia
But I gotta give Philly some props tonight. They are milking the under dog role for all it’s worth complete with Dog masks for players and fans.
And so of course they came up with NFL approved Underdog tshirts and sweat shirts.
The cool part…someone figured out it would be a good deal if they donated part of the proceeds on each shirt sold to the Philadelphia public education system.
Gotta give it to you Eagles…that’s a great move.
January 25th, 2018 at 7:51 pm
Honestly, having Mike Smith running the defense is basically the same as benching McCoy, David, Alexander, Grimes anyway so…..it doesn’t really matter what happens. 32nd ranked defense for 2018 and a clean house and more regression in 2019.
January 25th, 2018 at 7:56 pm
GMC has no accountability or no expectations. I swear those other lineman gets blasted for under performance but somehow GMC is PLATINUM.
GMC is not that good. Most of the time he looks like a undrafted free agent.
January 25th, 2018 at 7:57 pm
Seriously Joe??????? My COMPLETELY innocuous comment is Still in ‘moderation’ two hours later? There is Absolutely no profanity or anything that even Resembles it. I mean what the heck do you use for a “filter”? Smh.
January 25th, 2018 at 7:59 pm
” But are any others as sick of this bashing of our team as I am.”
Many are. I completely skip over all of his comments. I am tired of getting dumber every time I read one. The article can be about Aquayo and he will find a way to get his GMC hate in there.
January 25th, 2018 at 8:08 pm
Bucs won’t make the playoffs until GMC is off the roster…just wait and see.
January 25th, 2018 at 8:18 pm
Is there nothing else to discuss but this damn guy?
When his time is done he will be forgotten within a year. Nobody cares how many Pro Bowls this guy has gone to. He preaches accountability and leadership, yet under his guidance this defense has been setting NFL records in futility.
He makes it so easy to dislike him.
January 25th, 2018 at 8:18 pm
Sb
We will be better without GMC. Just watch the Donovan Smith reaction the last part of the last show of hard knocks. Can’t image what is it like being a lineman playing for Tampa right now.
Dmith ” Why is it always all about Gerald?”.
January 25th, 2018 at 8:20 pm
Gotbbucs
😂😂😂😂. Ur soooo true
January 25th, 2018 at 8:26 pm
The fact about McCoy hate is that when the team gets an interview on ESPN they choose to talk to McCoy almost all of the time.
When the broadcasters talk about our defense they bring up McCoy with little mention of anybody else.
When they show the team running from the tunnel they edit out the entire team and show the shot of McCoy.
McCoy is on murals and souvenir cups and is the only defender getting pro bowl vote. And of course he wears a C on his jersey.
It’s been this way since he’s been a Buc……None of any of that means you should automatically expect the guy to be a generational type player that is a bonefided leader making that whole line better but the sad fact is that many feel that it should. They have to believe what they see on TV and be told how to think otherwise they have to blame so,embody for being a fraud.
Personally I view most things with a skeptics eye and try to formulate my own opinions………I’m not always right but with McCoy I think I have been. I never really thought he was great when he entered the league. Maybe I expected more based on his draft status and when Reginald Roundtree called him the next Sapp. Reguardless once he started playing I didn’t see a generational player and surely not a bonefided leader who would make this defense great. Guys like that usually stand out.
Kwon Alexander stood out to me after a few games. I didn’t expect anything Fromm that guy because he was just a fourth rounder. But after a few games you could see him flashing all over the field with intensity…….The truth is the McCoy haters what so badly for ESPN and Reginald roudtree to tell them what is real and what isn’t but it doesn’t work that way.
That’s why 50% Of first rounders flop while tom Brady wins reigns and Kwon leads our linebacking core.
The McCoy haters want to tell us they are always right and all I gotta tell them is what the heck to you so long to see what most of us already knew? Now here they are eight years later name calling because they always believed all these years that McCoy really was the next Sapp. McCoy didn’t sleep with anybody wife he just crushed a few dreams.
January 25th, 2018 at 8:38 pm
Every OC in the league fears GMC but Clueless fans think he is worthless. LOL at the ‘fans’. It would be like a Cook trying to tell me how to build his house. Stupid is as Stupid does.
January 25th, 2018 at 8:39 pm
What people don’t know is that he hurt his arm patting himself on the back.
January 25th, 2018 at 8:40 pm
GMC is going to be looked back at Leroy Selmon Lite. Not quite HOF talent, but a tremendous talent and an even better person.
GMC needs to be gmc and that’s just fine. We need a bad mofo to our next to him. I’m talking a guy that makes Robert Ayers sound like peewee Herman.
GMC is alright by me, and what a great dude. I atrocity to be the kind of man he can be. I just hope he gets to take a team of ours to the playoffs before it’s over. I want to see gmc on the biggest stage, and let that be the judge of his “dominance”. The man needs help.
The lack of trench talent on this team, outside of a few guys, is out of the butt and into the fuk.
January 25th, 2018 at 8:41 pm
It is time to move on from GMC; trade him for picks. This team is not going to the playoffs in the next 2 years so its time to rebuild.
January 25th, 2018 at 8:43 pm
I strive to be the man*
January 25th, 2018 at 8:44 pm
Jimmyjack
Idk about that. I’m a neutral guy and I can play both sides of the fence.
I lost my lost love for gmc when I realize his care for losing is acceptable when we start losing he turns turtle and becomes “just a guy”. A role player. When we are winning. GMC comes out with that ” I’m a leader and best player and I’m a deserving pro bowl player brcause I shine the most” attitude.
I lost my love when I knew as a fan that the Bucs needs leadership from players the most he never raise to that point. Never calls players out but want to fight fans.
Every one has their own reason not to like him. I haven’t watched espn or NFL Network in years. I just go by optics. GMC is not that good. Or he is throwing games. Either or
January 25th, 2018 at 8:49 pm
GMC and his talent are ok by me.
Why can’t we get a bad mofo on this D-Line to bring the nasty. It doesn’t have to be GMC. Let Gerald be authentic, and he will bring his best.
We need a leader on the D with a mean streak.
Sapp was stupid talented, but he was also a leader on the field and one of the baddest mofos in the league. Skipping thru another teams stretches, lmfao!
Sapp hot Chad Clifton of the Packers so hard on a punt return it broke his back. I defend Sapp on the play bc Sapp ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS played hard. And the injury was unfortunate, but Sapp was just a full out baller.
We need a nasty, mean, talented D-Lineman. Somebody that is respected and feared like Debo on Friday.
January 25th, 2018 at 8:51 pm
Sb
Clueless fans?? I got a clue. When we need that 1 stop. U know that 1 Defense stop from anyone really. That one goal line play. Game winner. I want my 16 million dollar 6 probowls Top 5 player at his position to make that play. That what I want. That is my expectation as a fan. Tandy got 3 in 5 to 6 games.
My clue is GMC doesn’t make that happen. U can blame the talent around him but what I expect is him to make just 1 of those plays. Just one please. Pretty please? With sugar on top? Please GMC. Make me a believer of you. Make you and me great again.
It’s not happening. Bye Felicia.
January 25th, 2018 at 8:51 pm
The only good part about the pass interference call on K2 at home against the Lions loss in 2010 was the fact that Chad Clifton was still a Packer and came back from that injury to get a ring.
I wish Paul Gruber never got hurt. He was Bruce Mathews Lite IMO.
January 25th, 2018 at 8:52 pm
How about this Lamarcus
Would we even be having this conversation right now if McCoy never got any spotlight?
January 25th, 2018 at 8:55 pm
Lamarcus,
You’re right, I want that stop too.
Too bad Jason Licht thought “Noah Spence and Jacquies Smith” were the answer at edge rush. Love Spence, but he’s injury prone and can not be relied upon and the same could have been said for Smith.
Even Aaron Donald has Robert Quinn.
The Jaguars had 4 guys with 8+ sacks.
Jason Licht really thought Will Gholston, Doug Martin, and Tree effing Baker were a better choice.
If a top tier, proven FA hits He market pay them. Don’t try and find a bs bargain that just flops.
January 25th, 2018 at 8:56 pm
I apologize for being a lil immature and acting like my opinion is superior to the next. I agree that GMC has been given unfair standards to live up to being called the next Sapp. But i will agree to disagree with those who feel he is not a good player. Also believe he has earned the respect given from most of league, its not like bucs are so good that people gas up our players like other teams like NE , PITT, etc. Actually fact that he has gotten so much “props” on a less than great team like bucs actually kinda proves he is good IMO. Regardless what I or any of us think , pretty sure he is here to stay so ill choose to embrace him and cheer for him hoping he helps our bucs break through and return to relevancy soon. Go Bucs! I just get tired of our ” fanbase” tearing apart the players, GRANTED some deserve it ie- swaggy, martin to name a couple
January 25th, 2018 at 8:57 pm
Lamarcus,
I understand the feeling of being pissed that our D blows donkey dongs, but your hate is being focused on GMC when he is the last of the problems on that unit.
Our defense needs a nasty mofo on the line. A mean, bad dude.
January 25th, 2018 at 8:58 pm
he is so great if licht had a clue he would have traded him a few years back and got something for him
January 25th, 2018 at 9:03 pm
Ok Dusty, good point.
Just like Licht signed Calais Campbell last year. Hahahahaha paying him was an easy decision.
January 25th, 2018 at 9:03 pm
Jimmyjack
Yes. I would still point out his field performance as I did djx, Spence, Grimes, Conte, GMC, Baker, Ayers, McClain, dm, jack Rogers, sweezy, Tandy, Ward, Fitzpatrick, Martino, and Russell in my opinion are TRASH. And a huge reason why we are 5 – 11 picking Top 10 in the draft. I don’t like the top 20 picks mentality either
January 25th, 2018 at 9:10 pm
Stevek
I want a talent like GMc. Hell yeah. Just like I want a Donald talent. I get it he is good to most ppl and the ppl who have to play against him.
I peak at the way the Pats org runs things with their players. Pats are not afraid to get trade some of those best players just to flip them done the line. Successful direction. GMC is not THAT DAMN GOOD to keep around. He plays 3 tech and 3 tech only. So whoever the coach has play him 3 tech so I doubt ANY coach didn’t put him right position to be his best. GMC hasn’t been worth it for awhile.
January 25th, 2018 at 9:19 pm
Lamarcus right on, just wish they would have moved on from him and gotten some picks in exchange, oh well the bucs have GMC a terrible GM and average 6 wins per year… GO BUCS
January 25th, 2018 at 9:22 pm
Don’t apologize Dan……We are sports fans and we are football fans. We are entitled to have strong opinions about our team. I believe there’s a time and place for sensitivity and the sports realm isn’t one of them.
Who cares if we disagree. If somebody’s feelings get hurt we shouldn’t feel responsible……Plus it’s the offseason they can spend their Sunday’s opening up to their wives during lifetime movie hour.
January 25th, 2018 at 9:33 pm
Doubt that Lamarcus…….When is the last time Chris conte sparked over 100 comments on an article?
With McCoy it would probably happen everyday if Joe wrote as many.
It’s just natural IMO……For as long as this game has been played QCs Head Coaches And players with the most accolades will be the first ones fans will look to point a finger at when things go wrong.
With McCoy perhaps those who put him on the highest platform and his biggest haters are both wrong….McCoy most likely is somewhere in the meaty middle.
So much wasted typing and breathes over Gerald since he has been here. That’s because both sides are wrong and everybody loses. Funny enough is GMC is the only winner in all of it. Solid gold as proof.
January 25th, 2018 at 9:35 pm
Consolation winners are the rookies he helped by carrying all those pad for.
Last place losers of the GMC debate……The entire fanbase finishing dead last by well over a mile
January 25th, 2018 at 9:41 pm
The team sucks, not GMC. We have some good players, but we have the worst edge rush and $7 million dollar running back in the history of the modern nfl.
Simeon Rice could get off his couch and lead the Bucs in sacks. And he’s over 40!
January 25th, 2018 at 9:51 pm
No doubt KimmyJack
January 25th, 2018 at 9:51 pm
The bashers of GMC prove only one thing… Their lap tops work… You are an embarrassment!!!
January 25th, 2018 at 9:53 pm
That kid Davenport looking pretty damn good as senior bowl
January 25th, 2018 at 9:54 pm
Oops fat thumbs lol meant jimmyjack..no disrespect by the kimmyjack bud
January 25th, 2018 at 9:56 pm
LMAO ..yrbndr
January 25th, 2018 at 10:28 pm
GMC is the focal point of the hate, because he is the longest tenured/only stud d-lineman.
By all accounts GMC is a model citizen and a talented player.
It is a darn shame that Jason Licht can’t find one bad mofo out there.
We desperately need a defensive lineman with 100% dog in them. We need a nasty, mean, angry, tenacious, talented d-lineman. We have those traits, but the only one with the talent is GMC and he is just not that guy.
Nothing wrong with GMC, everything and then some wrong with the acquisition of trench talent. The league is still, and always will be predicated on controlling the point of attack.
Far to often, myself included, light into GMC. Shame on me for expecting Gerald to suddenly become a mean, bad mofo. He is just not that guy, so who are we fooling?
Acquire some talent in the trenches, and specifically one mean, nasty, angry, bad mofo on the D. Can we trade for Terrell Suggs? Someone like that, a great player with the heart of a lion and meaner than a dog sh!tting tacks.
January 26th, 2018 at 12:50 am
Great to see respect for the game- from the Games greatest Defensive tackle!
Many, if not most of the people going to the game- are going there just to watch McCoy!!
Glad they will get their chance to see of the best Defensive players in history!
12 million next year. No idea McCoy was so underpayed. He should hold out!
He wont, Though- because he is also a class act/ Man of the year type.
Gerald McCoy- face of the franchise, Buc MVP since the day he got here, and the only reason to bother going to a Bucs game.
Cant wait to go to his Hall of Fame ceremony!!!
Enjoy your $60000 Again this year
January 26th, 2018 at 1:04 am
SteveK
Being Mean, means nothing in the NFL.
Hell, Ayers is “Mean”! And he cant ge with 20’ of a QB
Talent
Simione Rice wasnt mean.
He was cool. Big Poppa Smooth
And a destroyer
Expect to see another Raid of LSU defensive players
Arden Key, then their CB in the 3rd
It’ll help
January 26th, 2018 at 1:58 am
LOL
January 26th, 2018 at 2:35 am
GRRRR…. I hate McCoy… GRRRRR…. I’m so angry… GRRRR!!!!
January 26th, 2018 at 6:01 am
Capt. Tim,
Agree with you sir. My point was meant to be we NEED a D-Lineman with TALENT +BEING A BAD MOFO.
I would argue that having a mental edge and bringing a tenacious attitude on defense helps more than not.
January 26th, 2018 at 6:57 am
I have no idea of why I bothered to read this thread, except maybe to reinforce my belief that some “Buc fans” are morons!
January 26th, 2018 at 7:21 am
Being longest tenured isnt the reason that fans dislike GMC its his gettem next time loooose mentality….there were no blogs but…i have 2 guys for you that would never get this much dislike and the bucs TEAM was TERRIBLE…paul gruber and broderick thomas, because they went out and played like warriors and the losses affected them, not the crap you get from GMC
January 26th, 2018 at 7:43 am
I like GMC. Enjoy his personality. I find him very entertaining. I am glad he is a Buc. Being said, I’m not a fan of a guy who in preseason complains about his knees hurting, with a bum bicep playing in a meaningless game. This isn’t the QB position like Peyton Manning was referring to, which is basically another walkthrough for them. At his age, it is time to go, be part of the “show” but not play the game IMO. If he wasn’t complaining about his health during training camp or coming off of a recurring bicep injury, I might have a different take.
As much as I like him, I think that OC’s tend to game plan for him rather than fear him. HIs gambling style of play, either coached (this is where I fall on it) or his decided upon style, leaves the interior line a mess. All of the stunts and twists make it easy to wash him down the line. I’ve banged on this forever. Does he have super get off? ABSOLUTELY. Is it being most effectively used? I just don’t see it. If he wants to be the gambling guy… Move to the edge. No way I will ever be convinced he couldn’t do a better job than Ayers has in that roll. Once again, Calais Campbell switches back and fourth from the 3 tech DT to DE all the time. GMC won’t be a wide 9 guy and that’s fine, but an early down 4-3 DE, absolutely.
January 26th, 2018 at 9:11 am
Besides, LOSERS…have to be represented too!!!
January 26th, 2018 at 1:06 pm
It will be a rainy thunderstorm sloppy field for the game…hope no one gets injured
January 26th, 2018 at 7:25 pm
Dan, great posts. Appreciate your reasoning and agree with your conclusions. More tha that I think its difficult for some (many it sometimes seems) to look past personal bias, disappointment and emotions to treat someone with respect. You do that on your posts and in this environment, its noticed and appreciated.
January 26th, 2018 at 7:31 pm
PS: is hating a person for the money you don’t pay him doing a job (profession) you do not do (by choice, calling or because you are not and never were good enough) a thing? Hilarious!