When the Bucs were on the clock in the 2010 NFL Draft the Detroit Lions picked Ndamukomng Suh one spot ahead of Tampa Bay. The Bucs wasted little time to draft Oklahoma All-American defensive tackle Gerald McCoy with the overall No. 3 selection and he went on to have nine productive seasons with Tampa Bay and was one of the most beloved players in team history.
Bucs Jason Pierre-Paul and Gerald McCoy – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Not a bad consolation prize.
Fast forward to 2019 and the Buccaneers allowed McCoy to walk in free agency and ended up signing Suh who helped Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl last month, the second in franchise history.
Now, could McCoy be back to Tampa Bay and team up with Suh in pursuit of his first trip to the playoffs?
As a guest on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Monday, McCoy said he would welcome the chance to return to Tampa Bay, and even hinted he isn’t looking to break the bank, just have a shot to win after 10 seasons in the league.
“I would love to go back to Tampa.”
Free Agent DT @Geraldini93 on his recovery from the injury last year and how he would embrace a return to the @Buccaneers. #Buccaneers | @MarkdominikNFL | @BillLekas pic.twitter.com/9SllelKB6O
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) March 8, 2021
In McCoy’s nine seasons with the Buccaneers the six-time Pro Bowler recorded 54.5 sacks, good for third best in team history. After leaving the Bucs in 2019, McCoy signed with Tampa Bay division rival th Carolina Panthers where he spent one season, notching five sacks. Last March McCoy signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys before suffering a ruptured quadriceps and was released on an injury waiver clause in August.
“I’m not looking for a big contract,” McCoy said. “People my age look for one more contract, substantial before they finish up. (But) in this phase, I’m in the winning phase. 11 years in and never been to the playoffs. I’m not looking for a huge contract, I’m looking for the best situation where I can experience winning before I’m done. So for my free agent pick, or whoever picks me, the goal is for it to be mutual they are in a win-now situation.”
Share On Socials
About the Author: Mark Cook
I would be SHOCKED if Licht/Arians brought him back. His demeanor just doesn’t seem to fit this defense at all and they’ve improved tremendously on D after he left…particularly against the run. Why would they do it??
Hard Pass! Our defense didn’t start clicking until after he was off the ship.
Correlation =/= causation. McCoy never got to play in a Todd Bowles defense. He never got to play with a pass rush bolstered by the likes of JPP OR Shaq Barrett, much less both of them AND Vita Vea. He never played with a back five nearly as good as this one. The disrespect so many Bucs fan have always shown and continue to show McCoy has always astounded me. He was a bright light in an extremely dark period for this franchise, and he never faltered in busting his hump, giving his very best day in and day out… Read more »
Softie is lacking the bada$$ gene required to play in this defense.
Lavonte suffered almost as much as he did but didn’t wine like him. I wouldn’t do it
Sorry, not Gravedigger material.
Not looking for a big contract because he already robbed the franchise once..
In the article on NFL.com, he’s quoted as saying: “Let me kill this narrative right now. I did not go to the Carolina Panthers to get back at Tampa. If anybody thinks that football means that much to me that I would make a life decision based off trying to get back at an organization, they don’t know me.” I think I get what he’s saying here, but isn’t that part of the problem, that football doesn’t mean that much to you? I can’t hear Tom Brady saying such a thing. I think football means so much to Brady he… Read more »
I don’t take what he said to mean he doesn’t care about football. To draw a parallel to Brady, it would be like Brady signing with Miami instead of Tampa (even though Tampa was obviously a better situation for him) just so he could get back at the Patriots. I would take him McCoy if he still has something left in the tank, just not sure if he does. This is the type of player Brady has often attracted to playing on his teams, former pro bowl players who still have something left in the tank but no longer command… Read more »
If you listen to the recording (which is available on this article), it’s crystal clear that what he’s saying is that football means TOO MUCH to him for him to base a huge life decision on something as silly and petty as trying to “get back” at us for some perceived slight. What he was really saying is that if anyone thinks that football means that much to him in a small way, i.e. that he cares about it so little as to do that, then they don’t know him.
Pass. Flor all of the reasons already mentioned. We don/t have anyone on the defense who apologizes to a player after he hits them and we don’t want any.
Id bring him back on a 1 yr vet min deal- If McClendon retires or we don’t bring him back. At this point he’d be a good rotational piece behind Vea.
This is kinda where I’m at – I’d be open to bringing him in for a tryout, and if he shows that he’s still got something to contribute as depth, then I’d be thrilled to have him on the vet minimum. There’s a chance that he’s worth a decent bit more than that in a vacuum at this point, but that’s really about all we can afford to pay him. And although he isn’t the run defender Gholston is in our 3-4 one gap base, if we cut Will and his $5.5M and swapped in GMC at just over $1M,… Read more »
If he wants to come back for league minimum to be a backup, maybe. But other than that HELL NO!! Never had the killer instinct.
So Funny to read all these comments. When he got released I was praising Jesus and most people on this site roasted me. He’s a pussy and always will be.
We are not talking a starting role here. We are talking about depth and if you can sign Gerald to a cap friendly number I think you would be crazy to pass up on this.
I wouldn’t want his soft energy within ten miles of One Buc.
I kinda wonder how much gas he has in the tank? He was out last year due to injury.
And Suh can probably be had for less and still has plenty of get-up and go.
No way McCoy will get more than Suh. He signed for 3/$18 last year. Now he’s a year older, didn’t play last year and the cap is lower. I wouldn’t expect him to get much more than $2-4Mil/year for 1-2 years.
no way. i wish we could have drafted suh
Expect many players want to come to Tampa for less than they could get elsewhere. Not just McCoy
I bet he would love to come back to Tampa. Im not surprised. Mccoy is a good, not great player and imo I’m satisfied now with the end of the suh/mccoy debate because we ended up with both and suh was a big reason why our front seven was unstoppable. Idc about his sack totals. You’re not paying him now for sacks. Suh is one of the best run defenders in football. Suh found his way to Tampa eventually and captured a ring while being a solid piece to the cog. The lions and dolphins both wasted his prime years… Read more »
The organization destroyed the relationship by giving Suh his former number. The Bucs didn’t want him then so why would they take him 3 years later injured or not?
We would be silly not to sign him if he’s healthy and he’s willing to play for cheap.
Wow, you folks are brutal. If I didn’t know better I’d think the discussion was about Shaggy Baker.
If Gerald wants to come back and spell SUH and Vita I’m all for it.
No, no, no, no…..
No thanks hard pass. He had his chance and wanted more money to play with our rival Panthers. He’s soft and a big wuss. Defense only got better with him gone. Never liked him and always caught flack on here about saying that. Looks like nobody giving me crap now about speaking the truth. Lol.
Everyone was really happy when Steve McLendon was signed last year as a player who provided depth. If McCoy were willing to play for a similar number, why would you not want him back here? When healthy (after his initial injuries he rarely missed games) he was a good player on a bad team. Hi demeanour was always seen as offensive because the team was loosing while he always seemed upbeat. I understand that – but in this environment he might still be productive, and we might get a home town discount. I would also love to see a defensive… Read more »
Also l, Not to mention the big pussy is always hurt too. Lol. He went to Dallas last year after 1 year with Panthers (they weren’t happy with his production) and rode the pine hurt all year. My buddy is Dallas fan and was excited. I said why even if he’s healthy he’s not great by any means. Lot years here we didn’t get 16 games out of him either. You had your chance “Bat Dork” and chose wrong. He Chose little more money and was butt hurt the Bucs didn’t think he was worth as much as he did.… Read more »
I know .. I said the same thing above. Funny how time changes peoples minds.
You never how the season turns out,inj,etc.
If he comes cheap, he’d be a decent depth piece. Other than that, hard pass