McCown: 'I've got an opportunity this year'

Bucs quarterback Luke McCown, a month away from the start of training camp and a battle for Tampa Bay's starting job, checks in with the Tyler (Texas) Morning Telegraph as he and his brothers run the McCown Passing Camp at Tyler Junior College.

McCown addresses his lack of starting experience in the context of what he's been able to learn in five NFL seasons: "I'm going into my sixth year with only seven starts. I've got a lot of football in me, just not on the field," he tells the newspaper.

Coming off a 9-7 season in which the Bucs just missed the playoffs, there's not exactly a need for a turnaround, but with a new coach and general manager and key veteran players no longer on roster, there is major change at Tampa Bay.

"You look at Arizona, Atlanta, Miami, a number of teams that turned it around in one season," McCown said. "It can be done with the right group of guys that believe, play and work for each other. We're looking at doing it this year."

-- Greg Auman, Times staff writer

Comments

[TheBucStop.Net]

Look how long E.G sat waiting for a shot. You cant find talent if you don't play it. Just because some coach doesn't think its there does not mean its not. Just some prefer to try and make a name with others that they create then to use what God has served them on a platter. they would rather let Satin tempt them with broken promises.

[TrueBucFan]

Its funny, Morris' love for Freeman means nothing... Jagz is the last stop on who is going to be the starting QB. Freeman will not play this next, wake up people. Morris is a puppet coach. Jagz makes all the decisions on offense and Bates makes all the decisions on defense. Jagz will pick McCown or Lefty. Morris job this year is to motivate thats it. I'm going to be right. And will be happy to tell another i told you so.

[Adam]

I've been saying for 2 years, McCown can do it. He's got the arm, the feet, and head to be successful. The only thing he doesn't have is experience. The mistakes he has made in games are mistakes that come from not playing (throwing the ball away instead of running out of bounds, etc.). I think he can do it. Remember his performance against New Orleans in 2007 at the Super Dome.

[DR]

TheBucStop.hack, you're too funny! Comparing a QB to a RB just shows your lack of knowledge of the football game. Than to use god and satan in a sports blog is beyond stupid! Are you implying Freeman is the anti-christ? Enough of the religious crap.
TrueBucfan made a great point- it's not Morris' call on who QB's, it's Jagz. McCown has the athleticism, but doesn't have the smarts to play QB. McCown or Leftwich will start the season and Freeman will be in by week nine. Possibly sooner. And why not? He's a big investment and there's nothing worse than seeing the highest paid player watching the game. If he is as mature as they say he is, he will learn from his mistakes. Let's not forget that Peyton Manning threw 28 INTs his rookie year. Heck, the famous #4 guy threw 29 INTs two years ago. I don't see the Bucs contending this year so let Freeman play.

[OAR]

Ah the Dallas Retard is rubbing his magic eightball again(week nine you say?). And I hope you are not comparing Josh Freeman to Peyton or Farve. For the very reasons you should not compare him is exactly why he shouldn't start(but Raheem will see to that). Yeah JaMarcus Russell, Leinhart, JP Losman, Vince Young, Travaris Jackson, Kyle Boller, Alex Smith, David Carr, Joey Harrington, even McCown, shoot go back to Leaf; they all have done wonders starting thier first seasons.

[DR]

Great comparisons mOARon. I'm being sarcastic. What about Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan? Oh, they won't fit your skewed criteria. Vince Young made the playoffs his rookie year so not sure why he is on your list. Yeah, his numbers weren't great, but his play made them better.
You have to look at who surrounds the QB. The majority of your list, had nothing around them. Weak receivers and even more important, weak offensive linemen. Ryan Leaf was the reason Eli Manning didn't want to play for the Chargers. They did a terrible job in helping the kid out.
Like I said and again, you can't comprehend, if they believe Freeman is as mature as they say he is and has a great work ethic the way they say he does, than why not put him up to the challenge and see what happens. My prediction is the Bucs won't be in contention by week nine, so put him in by then.

[Dspkable]

Who makes the decisions on game day for starters? The coordinators? I don't think so. Head Coaches bench QB's not coordinators.

There are sure a lot of opinions from people that KNOW the future and how the season will play out. Did the same individuals predict the losing streak at the end of last year?
QB's excel, get injured, have bad days, and on and on and on. Will we blame the QB's when the receivers aren't catching? SURE.
Will be credit the QB's when they are not losing? Maybe.
There will be plenty of blame to spread around and lots of people saying "I told you so" (even though no one asked) no matter how the season plays out. I prefer to watch games over soap operas though, so see you when it matters guys.

[TheBucStop.Net]

By the way DR Burger King said for you to come in today. And wash your hands all that Ball you have played you know Pocket Pool. Dr Stroud

[OAR]

Dallas Retard, what's wrong with my list of 1st round qb's(except McCown) that have failed. Missing my point again I see. The percentage is not favorable. As for Ryan and Flacco they had a great supporting team around them(rather it was running game or defense).
And I stand by Young being on there, cause Vince Young did not make the playoffs(at 8-8 and yeah his numbers weren't good 12tds-13ints 2100yds, hmm Travis Henry had 1200yds rushing though) his rookie year. You really should check things out if your not sure about them, SPIN-DR!

[TheBucStop.Net]

If I didnt know any better iI would swear that the DR loves Freeloser as much as Morris does there is a sale on KY at the drugstore DR

[TheBucStop.Net]

Freeman threw for 8,078 yards in his college career. Fact he threw 44 Touchdown passes but he attempted 1,151 passes doing it which by the way he only completed 680 of them. He also threw 34 INT’S that’s a average of .77 Int’s for each TD and to add to that is only a 57.9% completion ratio.

He was also sacked 57 times resulting in a loss of yards. Gee you would think by then he would have learned to throw the ball away. Christ Vinny Testaverde did better than that. Bruce Gradkowski had a better record. Now lets look at another unknown

Luke McCown Luke played four years OK he threw for a total of 12,666 yards he made a total of 1176 attempted passes he completed 1063 of them . He had 87 TD’s and he had 62 Int’s That’s a 60% completion ratio. And I see and hear all these Fans that think they know that Luke will wash out. All I can say is Facts don’t lie It was a WASTED PICK on a never will be by a rookie HC and GM in there first draft. And besides that Luke played for a team that played some of the top defensive teams in college Louisiana Tech. Not some little rink a dink school like Kansas state The stats are Fact not a worthless opinion (DR) does it really stand for Dallas Retard

[DR]

bucstop.HACK, I guarantee you that I can go to any Burger King in the Tampa Bay area and find employees that have more football knowledge than you. I can guarantee you too, that they will be able to form sentences too. I have major issues with the Florida school system; Your kindergarten teacher should have failed you last year.

[TheBucStop.Net]

LOL You are amazing dig a little deeper and get new stuff you need it is that well formed for you?

[DR]

mOARon, read again..."Like I said and again, you can't comprehend, if they believe Freeman is as mature as they say he is and has a great work ethic the way they say he does, than why not put him up to the challenge and see what happens." Who cares about what other QBs have done. Every situation is different. If Leaf landed in a better organization, maybe he would still be playing right now. We'll never know.
Young didn't make the playoffs, but he accomplished something better, he saved Jeff Fisher's job. Remember he was on the hot seat.

[DR]

LMAO! TheHACKstop.net is using college stats to compare a player who hasn't played a down in the NFL to a career third string QB who hasn't proven ncrap. Too funny! Now the WAC is a better division than the Big 12-LMAO! You know nothing about the NFL NOR college!
And let's see, McCown's great college career has been so useful, he has had a superb NFL career that just shows how great his college experience was- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[TheBucStop.Net]

Yeah your words speak nothing but crap! Ask any player and he will tell you the same thing I did. Or any so called Expert in the NFL thanks for showing all your stupidity, and the fact you are a Moron that knows nothing of the Game. What are you 16 years old You are a poser and a joke to us all. Go back to talking about marbles Mr Bandwagon Buc Boy LMFAO at you DR Moron

[TheBucStop.Net]

I can not wait for your next post to prove my point. and loved your spelling and your writing on that last post thanks again.DALLAS MORON

[BucFandango]

DR, I don't agree with you often but I'm totally with you on this one. I know of one website that I'll avoid like the Plague. I can't believe the Glazers hired Raheem and Dominick, Bates and Jags, when all they had to do was go to TheBucStop.net for all the answers. Wow, if they were giving out awards for "No Class", I think Captain America over there would win the Gold.

[TheBucStop.Net]

My apology to you DR you did not deserve that. You are entitled to your opinion just as we all are. But I still think Freeman was a wasted pick and you think McCown will fail. well I guess we shall both see soon. It has been a bad night and I let my words go too far Don't avoid the site come and express yourself we are all Buc Fans And we seem to all be very passionate about them have a good night.

[Itch]

Actually DR's prediction makes the most sense. The Bucs start the winner out of camp, who will most likely not win many games (due to schedule, team changes, ect) so the Bucs can put in Freeman, give him several starts and look like they are doing the right thing. If they put Freeman in to begin with it looks like they made an unnecessarily risky decision.

[OAR]

Magic-eight balls give the best predictions don't you know.
We will all see soon enough, well not soon enough, but soon. I can't wait for the season(heck even pre-season) to start!