The Buccaneers announced today that they are releasing six time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. Of course this means that his current $13M salary goes away. Any team wishing to secure his services is free to negotiate their own contract with Gerald.
OBJ thinks this is a good idea.
The McCoy Mobile is loading up fast in the Land.
https://brownswire.usatoday.com/2019/05/20/gerald-mccoy-browns-recruiting-odell-beckham-jr-damarious-randall/
profootballtalk.nbcsports.com
Ravens reportedly on Gerald McCoy’s short list, Browns visit set
1-2 minutes
Getty Images
Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy may be headed for the AFC North.
Word of the Browns interest in his services predated his release in Tampa and the Bengals were identified as another interested party on Wednesday. It appears the Ravens are in the mix as well.
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that the Ravens are on McCoy’s short list as he looks for a new team. McCoy is reportedly strongly considering three or four teams and the Browns are also on that list.
Cabot adds that McCoy is likely to take a visit to meet with the Browns as he doesn’t know the members of their defensive coaching staff. Per the report, a chance to advance to the playoffs is expected to factor into the choice along with his comfort level with the players and coaches in the organization.
UPDATE 3:47 p.m. ET: Browns General Manager John Dorsey said that McCoy will visit the team on Friday.
Talks between the Browns and McCoy’s agent, Ben Dogra, continue, and McCoy could end up signing with the Browns next week depending on how his trip to Baltimore goes. McCoy will return to Orlando to spend Memorial Day weekend with his family before heading to Baltimore on Tuesday. He could take one more visit after that, but the Browns and Ravens are currently the front-runners.
Gerald McCoy had a ‘great visit with the Browns and could sign here after visiting Ravens Tuesday, source says
Updated May 25, 5:47 PM; Posted May 24, 2019 4-6 minutes Browns
By Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Gerald McCoy’s visit with the Browns went “great” and they tried to sign him before he left town Friday, but he’ll honor a commitment to visit the Ravens on Tuesday, a league source said.
Talks between the Browns and McCoy’s agent, Ben Dogra, continue, and McCoy could end up signing with the Browns next week depending on how his trip to Baltimore goes. McCoy will return to Orlando to spend Memorial Day weekend with his family before heading to Baltimore on Tuesday. He could take one more visit after that, but the Browns and Ravens are currently the frontrunners.
The Bengals are also among the nine or so teams interested, the source said.
McCoy is committed to visiting Baltimore in part because they had the No. 1 defense in the NFL last year, and in part because he has a relationship with Ravens defensive line coach Joe Cullen, who coached him in Tampa. Cullen also coached for the Browns in 2013.
McCoy arrived in Cleveland at about 7 p.m. Thursday night and had dinner with coaches and personnel executives. He had some questions about the Browns, but got them answered and felt better about joining Cleveland by the time he left about 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Among other things, he loves the idea of playing with fellow Pro Bowlers Myles Garrett, Oliver Vernon and Sheldon Richardson on the defensive line, and has never been surrounded with that caliber of talent.
McCoy might sign a one-year "prove-it'' deal with the hopes of catching on long term. At least one team has offered him $11 million, but it’s not a winning team, and making the playoffs is a priority.
McCoy’s deal here will likely come in under $10 million, but he’s willing to play for a little less for a chance to make the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. The addition of McCoy would make the Browns the fifth franchise since 1970 to enter a season with four Pro Bowl starters on the defensive line, according to NFL Network.
Despite McCoy’s age, Browns GM John Dorsey liked what he saw on film in 2018 when McCoy led the Bucs with six sacks and had 21 quarterback hits. A source said, however, that the Browns did not try to trade for him over the past few months, likely because he was owed $13 million for 2019.
“He’s a good player,’’ Dorsey said Thursday at the press conference to formally announce the 2021 NFL draft coming to Cleveland. “Like I’ve always told y’all I will turn over every stone. ... With regards to his ability to play the game of football, he can still play the game of football.”
https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/05/browns-gerald-mccoy-leaves-without-a-deal-but-discussions-continue.html
8. So can those two still play? With Suh, the question is one of consistency. The Rams got a great player in the Super Bowl. If he’s that guy more often in 2019, then the Bucs will be pretty happy where they spent their money.
, which is OK if you’re one of the top defensive linemen in football. It’s less OK if you’re a level down from that, which is where the Bucs saw him, and which is a little more of a problem in Todd Bowles’ assignment-emphasized defense. “He’s an explosive up-field penetrator that’s at his best when allowed to attack,” said one NFC pro scouting director. “He struggles when he has to play square to the line of scrimmage, which leads to him losing his gap more than you would like.”
In that regard, the Browns (with attack-oriented DC Steve Wilks), who he visited last week, would be a better fit than Tampa would’ve been this year. McCoy heads for Baltimore on a visit tomorrow. After that, he’ll decide on whether to sign with one of those two, or consider two other teams that have shown interest.
https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/05/27/adam-gase-new-york-jets-cj-mosley-nfl-combine-jerry-jones-cowboys-contracts
So he visited the Browns, then the Rats. Now he's decided to go visit the Panthers.
If I am John Dorsey, any upwards wiggle room that may have existed is gone like yesterday's news. I hate feeling like I was used. And that is exactly what this is - extortion. I know this happens all the time in sports - but that doesn't make it right.
I am sending McCoy a firm text - he has until end of business tomorrow to accept our offer, or we are no longer interested. Dorsey don't do divas.
I agree brooksie, we could use the talent, sure, but we don't need divas, nor do we need to overpay at this point, not for aging part time players.
@Marc Forbes BINGO!
For the first time in years, if not decades - we will be fine either way this decision goes. If Gerald happens to choose elsewhere, we will be fine. Would we be better with him on our line? That would be an affirmative.
Some of my frustration has subsided from yesterday, but I still don't like the process of using one offer to negotiate a better deal elsewhere. Yeah, yeah - I know that happens every day of the week that ends in a "y". I would just prefer to hear from Gerald if he is not going to choose the Browns, man up, do it and move on.
Daryl Ruiter tweeted out yesterday the ideal solution for the Browns in this scenario - if he does not choose to come here - is to choose somewhere (Carolina) outside the AFC North.