McCoy

For the Bucs, only the victory will matter

November 1, 2015 general

Sunday, 9 p.m. In the end, the second straight collapse did not matter. In the end, the much debated decision to go for it did not matter. In the end, all the yardage piled up by Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan did not matter. What mattered, as Gerald McCoy held on to Ryan’s legs and the […]

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Even hurt, McCoy has something to give to Bucs

October 2, 2015 general

Friday, 6 a.m. He could tell you about the pain, of course. He could tell you that there is a small knife inside of his right shoulder, and that there are times it feels as if his profession is twisting it around.  He could tell you that the shoulder  lacks its usual strength, that it […]

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Smith’s seat turns hotter already in 2015

September 14, 2015 general

Monday, 6 a.m. The man with the headset is the one to blame. He pleads for this free agent and that one, and the priority is his choosing. He decides to call the defensive signals if he wants. He picks the offensive coordinator. He is the architect of the team. When things go bad, where […]

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Bucs’ defense was disappointing vs. Titans

September 13, 2015 general

Sunday, 10:30 p.m. The scope of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive disaster Sunday afternoon was captured in glimpses near their sideline after a merciful end to their paddling at Raymond James Stadium had been reached. Warren Sapp, a Hall of Famer who made his name serving as a wrecking ball of a defensive tackle, spoke […]

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McCoy, David need wins to cement legacies

September 12, 2015 general

Saturday, 6:30 a.m. Once, Dick Butkus carried the burden of Lavonte David. He, too, was saddled with a losing team. Despite his fury, despite his rage, despite his excellence, there was nothing Butkus could do. The Chicago Bears simply had too many holes around him, and he became the sight of a man fighting the […]

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Where, exactly, will Bucs’ defense be better?

September 2, 2015 general

Wednesday, 6:30 a.m. Try not to think about the new quarterback for a minute. Try not to think about the offensive coordinator. Or the refocused running back. Or the rebuilt offensive line. Try not to think of the mismatches the wide receivers might create. Think, instead, of defense. Think of pass-rushers and open-field tacklers and […]

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Defense would be the key to another Bucs’ rise

August 28, 2015 general

Friday, 6 a.m. Back then, we were hoping for an offense, too. Back then, it was a defense that grew great while we were barely watching. It happens this way. Watching the National Football League is to be mesmerized by the quarterbacks, and by the great running backs, and by the elusive wide receivers. Watching […]

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Now that’s he’s rich, David needs to win more

August 10, 2015 NFL

*** Updated *** Monday, 6 a.m. Even as a young man, Derrick Brooks could run. Lavonte David can run, too. Brooks could tackle. David can tackle. Brooks was relentless. David is relentless. Brooks was bright and studied like a madman. David is bright and studies like a madman. But Brooks won. And that is where […]

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Isn’t it time the pass rush returned to Bucs?

August 5, 2015 general

Wednesday, 6 a.m. Ten plays. That’s all. Ten plays. Ten snaps where you get off the ball fast. Ten plays where you spin or stunt or swim.Ten plays, and you can even fall into one or two of them. Ten plays, and Tampa Bay will do a sack dance in your honor. It isn’t a […]

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At age 27, does McCoy compare to Sapp?

August 3, 2015 general

Monday, 6 a.m. The other guy was going somewhere. Gerald McCoy has spent his career going nowhere. The other guy was a human cartoon. McCoy isn’t laughing anymore. The other guy had a few more highlights. McCoy has had his fill of lowlights. The other guy was eternally young. McCoy seems to have an old […]

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