Tampa, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Josh McCown's unsuccessful run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lasted just one season, with the team releasing the journeyman quarterback Wednesday.
The Bucs signed McCown, coming off a career year with the Chicago Bears in 2013, to a two-year contract last March to serve as their No. 1 quarterback. He started 11 of the club's 16 games, but won just one of them as Tampa Bay tied for the NFL's worst record at 2-14.
McCown was due to earn $5.25 million in 2015, and the Buccaneers will incur no salary cap charges by cutting him loose.
The move leaves third-year pro Mike Glennon as the only experienced quarterback on the current roster, though Tampa Bay is expected to use the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft on one. The last two Heisman Trophy winners, Florida State's Jameis Winston and Oregon's Marcus Mariota, are both candidates for the top choice.
McCown threw for 13 touchdowns with just one interception while completing 66.5 percent of his passes over eight games, including five starts, in place of an injured Jay Cutler with the Bears in 2013.
Those numbers dipped dramatically this past season, however, with the 35-year- old tossing 14 interceptions and completing just 56.3 percent of his throws for 2,206 yards and 11 touchdowns with Tampa Bay.
McCown's success in Chicago came under the tutelage of then-head coach Marc Trestman, whom the Bucs interviewed for their offensive coordinator position in January but instead hired former Atlanta Falcons OC Dirk Koetter.
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