1:28pm: McCown’s deal also includes incentives that could push the deal to $15MM, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports 1. The deal is similar to the one Chad Henne struck with the Jaguars.
1:16pm: The Buccaneers have signed Josh McCown to a two-year deal, tweets agent Mike McCartney. McCown broke out last season when he got the opportunity to start in place of Jay Cutler. McCown will get $10MM over two years under the deal with $4.75MM coming this year and $5.25MM next year, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter).
We heard earlier today that the Bucs were pushing to land the veteran quarterback. While McCown may not have the full career resume of other free agent quarterbacks like Michael Vick, he had the best 2013 of any free agent signal caller. The 34-year-old also had visits scheduled with the Texans and Jets this week, but he’ll be skipping those flights. McCown previously said that he’d only leave the Bears for an opportunity to lead his own team and it appears that he got that with his deal in Tampa Bay.
“If I leave Chicago, if that’s the case, [a starting job] is the opportunity I’m looking for,” McCown said. “And once those opportunities come, what’s the coaching staff? What are the players there in place?…. To leave Chicago, it would be a situation where I’m looking to be able to compete to start or grow more as a player. The only way you can do that as a player is on the field.”
After a journeyman career, McCown found his footing in Chicago over the course of five starts and eight games in total. McCown, who was thrust into the starting role after Cutler was lost to injury, ended the 2013 season completing 66.8 of his passes for 1,829 yards with 13 touchdowns, one interception and a 109.0 passer rating, the third highest behind Peyton Manning and Nick Foles. Over the course of his career, McCown has spent time with the Cardinals, Lions, Raiders, Panthers, and Bears, making a total of 38 starts under center. In his five games starting for Chicago this year, McCown filled in admirably with the Bears going 3-2.
Sad to see him go, but glad we didn’t overpay for him… won’t be a big deal if Jay can stay healthy (which is a big if). Hard to see him thrive in a new Bucs system like he did in Trestman’s.
BTW, this site, NBATR and MLBTR are great! Been a long time supporter of MLBTR. Not sure why this and NBATR are not getting the same traffic as MLBTR. I will do my best to spread some pub for you guys. Thanks for the great insight on all my sporting needs and I hope to see it continue for years to come!