The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
McCoy making his first visit to Browns
Many teams expected to be interested in ex-Buccaneers defensive tackle
Rust never sleeps, and neither does general manager John Dorsey when it comes to trying to make the Browns better.
Gerald McCoy, a six-time Pro Bowl player cut May 20 by the Buccaneers, will visit the Browns on May 24, Dorsey said May 23 after a news conference on Public Square designed to stir interest in Cleveland hosting the 2021 NFL draft.
Dorsey already beefed up the defensive line this offseason by trading starting guard Kevin Zeitler to the Giants for end Olivier Vernon and signing tackle Sheldon Richardson in free agency.
Adding McCoy would give the Browns one of the best defensive lines in the league.
“It’s a chance for us to kind of meet each other one-on-one and let’s find out who Gerald is,” Dorsey said. “And it also gives Gerald a chance to see who the Cleveland Browns are and what direction we’re headed. With regards to his ability to play the game of football, he can still play the game of football.”
McCoy made the Pro Bowl every year from 2012-17. He made 28 tackles and had six sacks last season.
Browns offensive coordinator Todd Monken had the same role with the Buccaneers the last three seasons. Dorsey asked Monken about McCoy before setting up a visit for the 31-year-old who played college football at Oklahoma.
“I think a lot of Gerald,” Monken said. “Gerald has had a tremendous career and was an outstanding football player for us. He’s a great person. I won’t comment anything else about it. I know I can (comment) because he’s a free agent and they let him go. But other than that, there was some other things that (Monken and Dorsey) talked about, but I like Gerald a lot.”
The Buccaneers cut McCoy, 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, because they didn’t want to pay him the $13 million he was due in 2019. Instead, they signed Ndamukong Suh for $9.25 million. Suh was picked second overall by the Lions in the 2010 draft. The Buccaneers selected McCoy one pick later.
McCoy is making the Browns his first stop on what could be a long tour. The Saints, Patriots and Chargers also have interest in McCoy, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. The Bengals, Colts, Falcons and Panthers have also been linked to McCoy.
A line of Myles Garrett and Vernon at end plus Richardson and McCoy at defensive tackle would help fix one of the Browns’ biggest weaknesses. They gave up an average of 4.7 yards a carry and 20 rushing touchdowns last season. As it is, Richardson and Larry Ogunjobi would be the starting defensive tackles.
“I keep telling you, we’re going to turn over every rock and let’s just see what happens,” Dorsey said. “I mean, it’s just a visit.”
Adam Schefter of ESPN tweeted news of McCoy’s release and Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. responded with a one-word tweet: “Cleveland!”
If the Browns do want McCoy they will probably have to persuade him to sign during his May 24 visit. It is rare a player with so many suitors makes other visits and then signs with the first team he visited.
McCoy was never in the playoffs in his nine seasons in Tampa and would likely choose to sign with a contender if he is satisfied with the contract offer. The Browns haven’t been in the playoffs since 2002. But after finishing 7-8-1 last year, many national analysts expect the drought to end in 2019.