Advertisement

Jones: A look at the final episode of the Bucs on 'Hard Knocks'

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) celebrates with wide receiver DeSean Jackson after connecting for a touchdown during training camp at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) celebrates with wide receiver DeSean Jackson after connecting for a touchdown during training camp at One Buccaneer Place in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017.
Published Sept. 6, 2017

A look back at Tuesday's series finale of Hard Knocks on HBO.

BEST AND WORST SIGHT

Watching defensive tackle Gerald McCoy dancing to his college fight song — Boomer Sooner — was both disturbing and hilarious. You don't want to see it, but you can't look away either.

FAVORITE LINE

Offensive coordinator Todd Monken telling wide receiver Bobo Wilson, "You're killing me." Former FSU teammate Jameis Winston calls him a young Antonio Brown. Hmm, don't know about that. Then again, how fun was it watching Winston go crazy when Wilson almost scored a touchdown in the preseason finale against Washington? Almost as fun as watching Monken telling Wilson how lame his end zone celebration was.

BEST CHARITY WORK

Receiver Mike Evans raising money for Hurricane Harvey flood victims in Galveston, Texas. Let's hope we won't be needing him to do the same here after Irma.

MOST SERIOUS

Most in Tampa Bay are well aware of Evans' background of growing up in a home with domestic violence that resulted in his uncle murdering his father. Yet, it was both heartbreaking and inspirational to hear Evans tell the story and show how the cycle stops with him and he is committed to be a good father.

MOST TRUE

Winston was right when he said, "Southern Florida ain't even Florida. It's like New York, with beaches."

SECOND MOST TRUE

Winston telling new receiver DeSean Jackson, "Mike (Evans) gave me a reason to love him. You give me a reason to love you, too." Call me glass-half-empty guy, but it will be interesting to see if Jackson ever gripes about not getting the ball enough.

MOST GRUELLING

It's a Hard Knocks staple. Player cuts. They aren't easy to watch, but it is, by far, the most compelling part of the show. The release of QB Sefo Liufau was especially interesting as coach Dirk Koetter said, "You scare the hell out of me in practice, you seem to not know what you're doing. But you get in the game … you're fine." After that, it was agonizing watching and listening to the players getting cut, either in person or over the phone. The dream of making it in the NFL ends with putting stuff in a garbage bag. Tough business.

STRANGEST MOVE

So Bobo Wilson didn't stick around and went back to Miami before final cuts are announced? Then griped because he drove to Miami when asked to fly back to town. "That's how he is," Koetter said. Wilson almost cost himself a shot at the practice squad. Props to GM Jason Licht for remaining calm and not cutting all ties with Wilson.

BIGGEST RIP JOB

How about Licht taking a major shot at Fox Sports 1 personality Skip Bayless. "I hate today," Licht said about final cut day. "I'd rather drive across the country with Skip Bayless and no radio and the heater stuck on" than to go through cut day. For the record, at the time Licht's comments aired, Bayless was tweeting about the Cowboys and Ezekiel Elliott.

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

GOOD NEWS

As depressing as it is to see players cut, it's so cool to see a player told he made the team, like tight end Antony Auclair and linebacker Cameron Lynch.

BAD LOOK

Licht was upset that Jeremy McNichols signed with the 49ers practice squad. Licht's reaction came off as petty. He accused McNichols of being whiny and sulky and, honestly, that's how Licht came off.