Back to the topic ...
Sports talk radio is buzzing in the Tampa Bay area because new head coach Lovie Smith already declared McCown to be his starter. That means no competition for the job with incumbent Mike Glennon, and more importantly it means that the Bucs have most likely taken themselves out of the market for a quarterback with their first round draft pick, which is seventh overall.
In my opinion the Bucs overpaid for McCown, bidding against only themselves as far as I could see. McCown wanted to be a starter, but was there any other team that saw him as one? McCown's contract is a two-year deal for $10,000,000 with $4,750,000 guaranteed; he could get another $5,000,000 on top of that with incentives ($1,000,000 for each year based on playing time, and $3,000,000 if the Bucs reach the playoffs in either 2014 or 2015).
To me this is Smith being overly loyal to 'his guys'. McCown is not a bad QB, but if you have a chance to get one of those top three quarterbacks in this draft then you have to do it. The Bucs are rebuilding and McCown is a journeyman who will turn 35 before training camp opens. Even with all there additions, are they a Super Bowl contender - and even if they are, is McCown a guy they can win it all with?
Tampa Bay has done a lot in free agency, signing DE Michael Johnson, DT Clinton McDonald, CB Alterraun Verner and TE Brandon Myers; in addition CB Peanut Tillman is scheduled to visit and they are trying to sign OT Anthony Collins.
On a side note, the new Tampa Bay GM is Jason Licht. Licht worked his way up from a college scout to assistant director of player personnel with the Patriots before departing in 2003, and then came back in 2008 to serve as the Pats' personnel executive. Licht was on the local radio last night and was brutally honest about WR Mike Williams, saying that Williams hasn't done anything wrong recently so that's a positive move on his part. Ouch!
Licht was also asked about the quarterback situation and the draft, and said that McCown being signed wouldn't mean that the Bucs would not draft a QB; he brought up the fact that when he was in New England they drafted a QB in the sixth round that turned out to be pretty good.
Licht was also asked about why Revis was cut and he said they tried to renegotiate his contract, but the two sides could not reach an agreement. While he refused to say that it was about money, he pretty much implied that was indeed the reason; Licht said Revis could have fit in with the Tampa-2 defense fine, but as a result of releasing him they were/are able to make other upgrades in free agency.
