This struck Joe because former Bucs running back LeSean “Shady” McCoy, the six-time Pro Bowler with the Bills and Eagles, was a notorious Baker Mayfield basher before this season.
McCoy seemingly took every opportunity to say Mayfield is not close to a star quarterback. A legitimate starter, yes, but middle of the pack at best, McCoy routinely barked on his FS1 show.
That changed this year and now it seems McCoy is all-in on Mayfield. Last night, McCoy was saying fans need to lay off Mayfield after a rough night against the Lions.
“Hey, you’re allowed to have a bad game. All superstars go through that,” McCoy said of Mayfield.
Most intriguing to Joe, McCoy thinks the Bucs will be fine without Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, who McCoy said is his favorite teammate of all-time.
Speaking last night on the Speakeasy YouTube channel, McCoy gushed about the Bucs young receivers, and their running backs.
“Even with the injuries, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, like them guys are great players and I know Bucs nation would love to have them because they are good, but them young boys can go, though. I’m going to say it again,” McCoy said. “And their running backs? Because Bucky Irving’s going to come back soon; you know what he’s about. Rachaad White, he ain’t so scrub. He’s solid. The offensive line is good and Baker is a good quarterback.
“But the wide receivers over there might not be No. 13 or No. 14, they’re not that, but them young bulls can roll and they won’t miss a beat.”
McCoy was adamant that Emeka Egbuka is a significantly better player than Evans and Godwin. And he emphasized the Bucs had receivers open last night but Mayfield just missed them high and low.
Shady also loves what he sees from Tez Johnson, “them young boys got juice!” Shady likes how Johnson, he said, coudn’t be jammed by Lions cornerbacks.
Joe’s not discounting the value of Mike Evans, but there is no substitute for young fresh legs. On that note, it might be time to free Devin Culp.
