McCown: "This is our team'

Quarterback Luke McCown (12), center, warms up on the first day of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers mini camp. [Daniel Wallace, Times]

Quarterback Luke McCown would appear to be the off-season favorite to win the starting job. He is competing with Brian Griese, who is not attending the three-day minicamp, and second-year pro Josh Johnson.

But McCown isn't about to declare the Bucs 'his team,' just yet.

"I don't buy into the whole, "This is my team. This is that guy's team,'' McCown said. "This is our team. We're a young team, we got young real fast. We lost a lot of key veteran guys that have been here for 14 years obviously with Derrick (Brooks), Ike (Hilliard) and Joey (Galloway), Kevin Carter -- guys who have been in the league a long time...We'r e a young team, we got young real fast and we're going to grab onto each other. It's not my team, it's not Jeff Faine's team, this is our team. We're going to get better together.''

With only two quarterbacks in the minicamp, McCown and Johnson could make about 200 throws for each of the five scheduled practices. They are icing their arms and shoulders between workouts.

     

Comments

[ref813]

It's time for McCown to start gaining a few pounds. How hard is it to gain weight? Gain a few pounds of fat and it's that much easier to gain a few pounds of muscle. His weight was a concern coming out of college. It makes no sense for it to still be a bit of a concern, especially with all of the pressure Ds bring these days.

[Valrico Rick]

You guys can rip about this or that all day, and yes there are some needs, but the team acts like a team. Good turnout for a camp that isn't mandatory, and no 30 something year old divas resting up for the long off season. I like the new direction, and I have better things to do than sit around and find things to rag about. I will leave that to all the usual suspects!

[OAR]

Val, "and I have better things to do than sit around and find things to rag about." that coming from you is hiliarious.

[The..Bucs...win]

I agree about the weight issue although i don't want it to change is athletic ability. He is a fast scrambling QB...I am just afraid if he gets a big hit by a 350 pound D-Linemen, he will break.
As for there only being two QB's in the mix is kinda good. It gives these young guys a chance to really throw a lot.200 throws is good for building durability. Let just see how Mr. JJ does....we might actually be surprised on what he does.

GO BUCS

[ref813]

Oar, that was coming from the guy who whined about Gruden religiously. The insane lack of self-awareness in here is comical. You've got people who whined about Gruden whining about his replacement before he coaches a game. I wasn't even complaining. I just wondered why McCown can't gain weight. It's usually the opposite. I'll be happy to put it on and donate it to him. I don't want to see him get hurt. If little old Garcia avoided serious injury, it must not be too serious of an issue, though.

[Dave]

Valrico Rick, you of all people can't complain about complainers... seriously?

[Brandon]

Are you guys effing stupid? You want McCown to put on a few pounds of fat because you "think" it will keep him from getting hurt? Morons---the lot of you. Getting fat does nothing to help the body's ability to absorb a hit, nothing. Gaining fat weight would lead to worse conditioning and diminish his exceptional athletic ability, both of which would lead to more injuries. Besides that, at 215 lbs, McCown is 20 lbs heavier (or more) than Garcia was.

Why don't some of you idiots think before you type, you sound like a class of 7th graders.

[conradbuff]

i dont think they meant gain fat. "Gain a few pounds of fat and it's that much easier to gain a few pounds of muscle." is what ref said meaning he should bulk up with muscle not rolls of fat and i agree with that

[ref813]

Thanks, conradbuff. Brandon was too busy assuming he was right to actually consider what I wrote. In case you've never lifted, Brandon, it's much easier to bulk up with muscle when you add a few pounds of fat first. Once he's got the extra muscle, he can carry a few extra lbs. of fat. The guy is 6'3". Garcia was barely 6'. That explains the weight difference. Garcia had durability issues. I don't want to see McCown have the same. The guy could stand to gain a few lbs. of fat, too, but that's not really the point I was making. He needs to add both.

[D Block]

Luke is right the team is a team you win & loose as a team so no 1 player runs the show even at QB. As far as him gaining weight goes for what? If he was a boxer he would be a heavy weight whats the problem? If the man plays well he plays well it's not like he is a DT or O lineman. Weight is not a problem.

[ref813]

D Block, he may be fine at his current weight. His weight was a concern coming out of college. Now that he's finally getting a chance to start several years later, he still hasn't added much if any. I just can't think of too many good QBs who have started for several years and who are as skinny as this guy. It may not matter. It's just a minor concern.