The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost a tough game to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. If their season wasn’t already over (it was), it certainly is now. And according to two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, his teammates are way too content with that.
“I don’t think anybody is upset enough with losing,” McCoy told reporters after the game, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. “Every time the game is over we sit here and say, “Oh, they made a play, we didn’t. When are we going to get tired of that?”
The Bucs fell to 1-7 on the season. They had plenty of chances against the Browns, including a 2nd-and-1 situation from the Cleveland 37-yard line with two minutes remaining in the game. Tampa Bay was somehow unable to pick up one yard and turned the ball over on downs.
“I’ve been dealing with this for five years, I’m tired of it,” McCoy said. “You’ve got to get tired of losing, man.”
McCoy became the highest paid defensive lineman in NFL history last month, and he has done his part. He tossed Nick McDonald to the side like a rag doll at one point on Sunday and sacked Brian Hoyer.
[Related: Gerald McCoy forced to defend himself for being classy]
Offensive tackle Demar Dotson said Bucs coach Lovie Smith made similar comments to the ones McCoy made.
“Lovie was saying, ‘Guys have got to get sick and tired of losing,'” Dotson said. “I think that’s what Gerald was feeding off of. Coach is right and Gerald is right. You’ve got to step up with some pride.”
Many expected Lovie Smith to turn the Bucs into a playoff contender. That’s not going to happen this year.
