The division rivalry between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers is already heating up as Cam Newton takes a shot at the Bucs.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been the punching bag of the NFC South over the last two seasons, and that trend continues today as the quarterback of the Carolina Panthers Cam Newton got his shot at the Bucs. The jab taken by Newton at the Buccaneers surrounded all of the offseason drama around defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.
After nearly a decade in Tampa Bay with the Buccaneers, McCoy was cut as the team found themselves up against the wall of the salary cap. Cutting McCoy saved the Buccaneers $13 million in cap space, they signed Ndamukong Suh (picked one selection ahead of McCoy in the 2009 draft) for $10 million, leaving them with a net of $3 million in space.
He was released by the Buccaneers after six Pro Bowls, one All-Pro season, and 54.5 total sacks in the pewter and red. McCoy went on Undisputed with Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe to discuss how he felt disrespected by the Bucs’ organization over being ghosted by the team, how they handled his number, and other factors.
What Cam said 😂 pic.twitter.com/JaEkuzCymZ
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) July 27, 2019
More from The Pewter Plank
- Devin White posts cryptic message to Lavonte David on Twitter
- ESPN predicts surprising outcome to Devin White trade saga
- Updated Buccaneers depth chart after signing two players from rookie minicamp
- Todd Bowles sends clear message about Baker Mayfield’s role with Bucs
- The Athletic is wrong about Bucs one ‘must-watch’ game in 2023
This was one of the reasons that McCoy decided to stay in division and sign with the Panthers: to get revenge on the Buccaneers for how he felt he was treated. For the first time in his career he is not in Tampa for training camp, but instead with the Panthers.
In a video put out on Twitter by the Panthers’ social media account, McCoy is talking with the media when Newton video bombs the interview. As Newton comes over, he looks into the camera and says, “I’ll tell you what, like the old saying says, ‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.’”
He and McCoy then laugh as Newton runs away from the camera. It appears the Panthers are ecstatic to not only have McCoy to deploy along their defensive front, but they are also keen to not have to face him twice per year.
McCoy and the Buccaneers have both moved on as the 2019 season is a fresh start for both parties. The Bucs will have to play McCoy twice this season, and it should be an interesting matchup they go head to head.
