Buccaneers release Josh McCown

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released quarterback Josh McCown, the team announced.

McCown was signed to a two-year contract last year after having a short but very effective season in Chicago. New Bucs head coach Lovie Smith saw McCown as the starting quarterback who could manage an offense built around the running game and a bunch of 6'5" receivers, but instead McCown bombed and the team went 2-14.

In 11 starts, McCown completed just 184 of 327 passes (56.3% for 2,206 yards (6.7 yards per attempt), 11 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and 36 sacks. Which was pretty terrible, although playing behind the worst offensive line in the NFL certainly didn't help.

The Bucs save a whopping $5.25 million by releasing Josh McCown, which should help them in free agency. This elevates Mike Glennon to the position of starting quarterback, right up until the moment they select a quarterback in the draft.

This probably eliminates the Bucs finding a trade partner for Mike Glennon, as they have no other capable quarterbacks on the roster. They already need to find a new starter, and replacing the backup as well may be a bit too much to ask. They did sign Seth Lobato to a futures contract earlier this year, but he's unlikely to be more than a practice squad candidate.

And thus ends the terrible Josh McCown era. It lasted one season. Far too long.