PewterReport.com has learned that veteran defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is not expected to attend this week’s voluntary two-day mini-camp, which begins Tuesday afternoon at AdventHealth Training Center at One Buccaneer Place prior to the 2019 NFL Draft. McCoy has not attended the team’s previous Phase I offseason conditioning program, which is also voluntary.

Will McCoy’s absence be due to his own decision not to attend, or will this be the result of the Bucs not asking McCoy to show up because of the risk of potential injury that could all but guarantee his massive $13 million salary this year? We’ll find out as we ask head coach Bruce Arians that question following practice after Bucs general manager Jason Licht ducked it last week during his press conference and told the media to ask Arians.

McCoy, who turned 31 in February, is not expected to be part of the Bucs’ future. While still considered to be a very good player, McCoy’s sack production has declined over the recent years and he has produced just six sacks in each of the last two years.

Bucs DT Gerald McCoy – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Both Licht and Arians have been asked numerous times this offseason if McCoy would be a part of the team moving forward, but would only give vague answers about McCoy’s future in Tampa Bay.

The Buccaneers reportedly are less than $2 million under the salary cap, and would need to clear room just to be able to sign their upcoming draft picks, so keeping McCoy, and his $13 million salary seems highly unlikely.

Last month in Arizona at the League’s Annual Meetings, Arians commented on McCoy’s salary versus his production and value.

“I’ve got to evaluate him,” Arians said. “Guys at a certain age, it’s different. Usually the age where they get paid the most and production [doesn’t] match. We’ve got to find that out.

“He’s not as disruptive as he was as we was four years ago. He’s still a good player. If he’s here, he’s our starting three [technique]. No doubt about that.”

Those words might just be lip service because if McCoy doesn’t attend the mini-camp or was asked not to come, how will Arians be able to evaluate him?