FAB 5. SR’s Buc Shots

Bucs DT Gerald McCoy and the Reynolds kids

• Think what you will about whether Tampa Bay defensive tackle Gerald McCoy was a great player or whether he was overrated, one thing that cannot be in question was how much McCoy cared about being a Buccaneer, cared about his teammates and cared about the Tampa Bay community. Over the last nine years I enjoyed a good relationship with McCoy, who is kind of a complex individual, and I mean that in a good way.

We butted heads a few times over the years, but I’ll never forget the NFL lockout in 2011 when McCoy and quarterback Josh Freeman got all of the players together for a coach-less mini-camp down at the IMG Academy in Bradenton and took over the coaching duties for the other defensive linemen – despite just coming off his rookie season. So impressive for such a young player at the time.

But most importantly, I’ll remember McCoy, the man, as one of the most fan-friendly Buccaneers of all-time. He would stay an hour after practice, signing autographs and taking pictures with kids, including my own, as you see in this picture.

McCoy even came out and spoke to the South Pasco Predators Pop Warner football team that I coached a few years ago. He was very generous with his time and I really enjoyed our talks about Marvel comics and movies, and Big 12 football. We even bet on a couple of K-State vs. Oklahoma football games over the years.

Bucs DT Gerald McCoy and the South Pasco Predators

One year he had to wear a purple Wildcats hat when K-State upset the Sooners in Norman. The next year, McCoy gave me an ugly OU hat and maroon t-shirt to wear around the locker room to his delight and return the favor when the Sooners prevailed in Manhattan.

McCoy is just a really good guy – one of the best men to put on a Bucs uniform, and so well deserving of the Bucs’ Man of the Year honors last year.

He’s the kind of guy I’ll be rooting for wherever he lands in the NFL. McCoy wanted to make the playoffs so bad in Tampa Bay that I really hope he gets to experience the postseason this year with his new team. He deserves it.

McCoy gave a lot of his time to me, and to the PewterReport.com staff over the years – after games, after practices, in the locker room and on the phone. I greatly appreciate his time and the class with which he represented himself and his beloved Buccaneers.

Thanks, Gerald.

• While I’m sad to see Gerald McCoy go to another team because he was always great with the media, I’m also interested to see how Ndamukong Suh operates in Tampa Bay, and if his reputation for being a bad guy is actually true or not. As a reporter, it will be fascinating to learn about this complex new Buccaneer.

One of the interesting things about his nasty reputation is that he is also one of the most charitable athletes around. Read this article from Business Insider to find out more about the newest Buccaneer.

Here is an ESPN report that also shows another side of Suh and his penchant for charitable giving.

And the guy has a pretty good sense of humor, from what I’ve been told. Here’s a video of Suh at practice with the Los Angeles Rams last year poking fun at his reputation for being a dirty player when it comes to sacking quarterbacks.

Rams defensive line practicing sacking the quarterback, without drawing a penalty. Ndamukong Suh, everyone. pic.twitter.com/dJE99fWadp

— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) October 4, 2018

• WE ARE OVER 32,000 FOLLOWERS ON TWITTER! Thank you, Pewter Nation, for helping our @PewterReport Twitter account surge past 32,000 followers this week! The PR Twitter account continues to grow in popularity and there are some big reasons why. We cover Bucs practices, Bucs press conferences and break news on our @PewterReport Twitter account.

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Bucs LB Lavonte David – Photo by: Getty Images

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• Believe it or not, Lavonte David has 21.5 sacks in his Tampa Bay career, which ranks him second all-time for Buccaneers linebackers ahead of Derrick Brooks (13.5) and Shelton Quarles (13), and trailing only Broderick Thomas, who had 26.5 sacks from 1989-93. With six more sacks, which could come this year with a big season in Todd Bowles’ new defense, David becomes the most prolific blitzing linebacker in Bucs history and adds to his legacy in Tampa Bay.

• ALL HITS – NO FILLER! The Pewter Reporters recorded the latest Pewter Nation Podcast, which is presented by Chris Garrido of Westshore Financial, after Tuesday’s Bucs OTA practice and talked about what they saw, as well as the departure of Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and the arrival of new defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. We packed so much Bucs news and insight into this edition, you can’t miss it!

Bucs DT Ndamukong Suh

I told the story about how former Bucs head coach Raheem Morris called me up and was angry that I put Ndamukong Suh on the cover of our Pewter Report 2010 Bucs Draft Preview instead of Gerald McCoy. Listen to the podcast for all the details.

Click here to listen to Pewter Nation Podcast Episode 122: End Of The McCoy Era

And if you missed last week’s episode, you can right that wrong by clicking here for last week’s report on the Buccaneers’ initial OTA practice of 2019 as myself, Mark Cook, Taylor Jenkins and producer Matt Matera sound off with our insights and opinions after watching the practice, which was held at the indoor facility due to inclement weather.

Click here to listen to Pewter Nation Podcast Episode 121: The Great Wizard Bruce

There is no better time to listen to a new Pewter Nation Podcast than on your drive home from work on Friday or running around doing errands or at the gym on Saturday. The next Pewter Nation Podcast will be taped next Tuesday following the team’s OTA practice.

The popularity of the Pewter Nation Podcast continues to grow. In addition to listening to the Pewter Nation Podcasts on PewterReport.com you can also subscribe to the free podcasts at PodBean by clicking here and on SoundCloud by clicking here. And of course the Pewter Nation Podcast is also available on iTunes. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode.

• New Bucs defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has a reputation for being a dirty player. Here are some of his dirtiest hits, stomps and cheap shots throughout his career.

• And if you want even more analysis on the arrival of Tampa Bay’s new defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and the departure of Gerald McCoy, watch this video report that I did with WFLA sports anchor Dan Lucas for News Channel 8 on Tuesday afternoon.