Now that OTA’s and mandatory minicamp have wrapped, the Bucs have six weeks off until training camp in late July. But, to any young guys considering a long vacation, Gerald McCoy has other ideas.

“Go home, say hello to your family and get right back here,” McCoy said after practice Thursday. “Young players, you live football. Me, I’ve been doing this for nine years, I know how to do everything. You’re young, you ain’t got time.”

McCoy warned against complacency – “Don’t be satisfied with being one of the top 1,600 in the NFL” – and listed professionals like Tom Brady and Kobe Bryant as great models of dedication to follow.

In the documentary Tom vs. Time, Brady said his family understands the sacrifice of time spent with them in order to train, while McCoy recalled Bryant’s stories of shunning friends to instead hit the gym. Of course, the Bucs captain has earned his own reputation as someone to revisit the bag drills well into the evening.

Veterans can strike a balance. But, for young players, McCoy said, the grind starts now.

“You have to set a foundation right now,” McCoy said. “I’ve set a foundation and now I know how to manage, how long I can take off, what I can and can’t do. But I’ve had nine years to figure this out. Young guys, (it’s all about) football.

“Do all the other stuff later – especially if you’re on this team because I want to win.”