Bucs put 2-14 in past with start of offseason program By Roy Cummings | Tribune Staff Published: April 20, 2015 at 08:18 PM 
TAMPA — Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy showed up for the start of the team’s offseason workout program Monday with a red streak in his hair and a chip on his shoulder.“I haven’t been to the playoffs, and I’m sick of it,’’ the three-time Pro Bowler said as he prepares for the 2015 season.Preparations are officially under way, but for the next two weeks all McCoy and the rest of the Bucs players can do is work on their physical conditioning or rehab injuries. Coaches aren’t even allowed to work with players on the field yet, though head coach Lovie Smith is excited nonetheless.“We’re not game-planning, it’s not game day or anything like that,’’ Smith said. “It’s just tedious work behind the scenes right now, but those four hours we can use right now with the players, we’re going to use every second of it to become a whole lot better football team.“When I talked to the players this morning, I talked to them about going forward. We’re not going to talk a whole lot about last year. We didn’t meet our goals last year, so it’s about going forward.’’The conditioning phase of the offseason program lasts two weeks. After that, teams will have a three-week period when coaches can work with players on an individual basis and in position groups. Unit drills can also be run during Phase II of the program.But teams are not allowed to conduct any offense versus defense drills until Phase III begins.By then the red streak in McCoy’s hair probably will have faded away.“I just needed to give you all something to talk about,’’ McCoy said of the highlight. “If I did something normal you’d think something was wrong with me, so I had to do something out the box so you know Gerald is fine.’’ [email protected](813) 259-7979 Twitter: @RCummingsTBO
