Gerald McCoy says Tampa Bay Buccaneers “changed my life”

TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Gerald McCoy #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27-21 at Raymond James Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Gerald McCoy #93 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts after they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27-21 at Raymond James Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

While Gerald McCoy’s time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is over, his performance will not be forgotten, and McCoy has nothing but love for the team.

The Gerald McCoy era with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has come to a close after nearly a decade. He then signed a one-year deal with NFC South division rival Carolina Panthers a few days later.

McCoy was recently a guest on NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport’s podcast, RapSheet and Friends, where he discussed his time with the Buccaneers. Needless to say, he holds no grudge or hard feelings against the franchise that made him the third overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

"“I don’t want it to be misconstrued the respect I have for the Buccaneers organization and how much I appreciate what they’ve done for me… I’ll never say anything bad about Tampa… It doesn’t matter how much negative was said about me. It’ll never be reciprocated, because I know that organization changed my life. The time I had there was great” (McCoy via RapSheet and Friends podcast)."

During his time in Tampa Bay, McCoy was named an All-Pro one time and made six Pro Bowls while representing the pewter and red. The number 93 in Tampa Bay now belongs to newbie Ndamukong Suh while McCoy will wear his notorious number in the Carolina blue in 2019.

It is hard to not root for a guy like McCoy, and it will certainly be a strange sight to face him twice in 2019. From the sounds of it McCoy has nothing but deep gratitude and respect for the Buccaneers and the city of Tampa Bay.

While McCoy is now an opponent and will not be back with Tampa Bay during the remainder of his playing career, it is almost a certainty that he will be inducted into the Ring of Honor upon his retirement. With this being the case, it would appear the feelings of gratitude are mutual between the two sides.

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