Gerald McCoy Talks Winston, Leadership, and 2016 Season

The heavily scrutinized Gerald McCoy was one of the players who held a press conference Wednesday with the Tampa media. Among other things, McCoy dove into the relationships between himself and Jameis Winston as well as himself and Lavonte David.

Gerald McCoy is the $100 million dollar man for the Buccaneers, but he is no longer the face of the franchise. A position he was somewhat assigned as Ronde Barber retired, McCoy was honest with the Tampa media today about his taking a step back and happily handing that torch over to quarterback Jameis Winston;

"“I love Jameis, man. The day after he got drafted, I went up to both his parents and told them, ‘I’ll take care of him. Don’t worry about him. When you go home, go on the plane and go home, I got him.’ I love him, man, he’s like my brother. Like I said, I just referred to him as the face of the franchise because he is. He is. When they show commercials of the Bucs they’re not showing Gerald, they’re showing Jameis. And that’s for a reason, and I’m happy about that. Because if your quarterback is the face of your franchise, usually that tags to winning or going in a positive direction. So, I’m excited about it, man. And passing the torch, Ronde gave me the torch. I didn’t ask for it, he passed it to me. So, here you go Jameis. Take us to a Super Bowl, man.”"

When it came time for Jameis to lead the team, that included the former face of the franchise. Despite rumors last season of McCoy not being a fan of Winston’s style, McCoy knows who the leader is and how important a strong leader as your quarterback can be.

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"“Me and Jameis had a private conversation about what type of leader he thinks this team needs me to be. I’m not gonna say, but I think it’ll be obvious when it happens. You guys are used to seeing me do things a certain way – that’s gonna change, because the face of the franchise came to me and said ‘Listen, we’re gonna need you to do this.’ Okay. My quarterback said this is what he needs, this is what I’m gonna do. If he feels like that’s what our team needs in order for us to win, who am I to tell him ‘Nah, I’m not gonna do that’? I want to win, too! He’s an intelligent guy, young or not, very mature very intelligent and he sits back and he watches and he analyzes. He’s seen something that he feels like I can do to help this team be better. It’s not hard to do, it’s just a matter of me just doing it.”Dec 13, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (93) against the New Orleans Saints during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. New Orleans Saints defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports"

McCoy briefly touched on his developing relationship with fellow captain Lavonte David and how he learned from Derrick Brooks the best way for the two of them to take the defense to the net level;

"“I talked to Derrick Brooks and he told me the best way for your defense to be successful is for you to get as close as you can to Lavonte. That’s what him and Sapp did, and after that I called Lavonte and told him what Brooks told me and ever since then – we were already growing close – but ever since then we really have a bond and we talk a lot. When he was going through the situation with him mom, I flew down to Miami to be with him in the hospital. We have that type of relationship, and it’s only going to grow. We have a lot of private, intimate conversations involving this team and what we need to do moving forward. So, if he says he’s tired of losing, most likely that’s coming from both of us.”"

Gerald McCoy is the catalyst of this defense and his new role will help him take this team to the net level. With the pressure off of him to fill a role he wasn’t comfortable with, he can continue to just focus on football and fulfill whatever duties Winston laid in front of him.

Having taken rookie defensive end Noah Spence under his wing already, McCoy appears to be filling his new leadership role perfectly. Being able to focus on his job in a new system, his health, and the upcoming season is what the Bucs need from Gerald the most. He’s never been the “rah-rah”, hype you up kind of leader. He’s the quiet lead by example type and is ready to work side by side with his quarterback to elevate this team.

As for 2016? It sounds like McCoy is ready;

"“It’s the next season. Last season’s over. The Denver Broncos are the champions until somebody changes that. But they won last year’s Super Bowl. Now it’s open for all 32 to have an opportunity to win this year’s Super Bowl. That’s why everybody’s excited because now, we get our shot again. Once the season was over last year, that was our shot, it’s over. New season starting, now we get another shot, that’s why everybody’s so excited.”"

Next: Sweezy, Murphy Start Camp On Active PUP List

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