Buccaneers players and coaches met with the media for the last time of the season following the team's Week 17 game against the Saints.
"When something doesn't happen exactly how – that doesn't say quit or don't go with what you believe, it just says do it a little bit better next time and that's what we're going to do this time."
"I said when I got here that I want to see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers be successful. That's my goal and I want to see the quarterback position play efficent football and we didn't get that done this yera so that's what my five months are going to be about - how can I improve as a player for myself and then help our group do that, as well. That's really my focus moving forward"
!["I'm very proud. It's something to build on for next year. Hopefully that number [receiving yards] can keep going up."](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/buccaneers/wwtecspbjttmwjfy6p69.jpg)
"I'm very proud. It's something to build on for next year. Hopefully that number [receiving yards] can keep going up."
"We feel like we played our hardest throughout the season and a lot of the games that we did lose came up to the very end. Small things that we need to fix to get us over that hump and hopefully next year it will happen."
"But what do people want out of a career? You want a championship. So you just keep playing. Regardless of how long it takes, you just keep fighting until you get there."
!["I've been trying to make plays since I've been playing. I think I started back in Chicago with the defense - I was playing special teams. But ever since then I've been trying to do something to stand out and let [Coach Smith] know he made the right decision [to start me]."](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/buccaneers/ivpdxoz6heeuiuvihvb4.jpg)
"I've been trying to make plays since I've been playing. I think I started back in Chicago with the defense - I was playing special teams. But ever since then I've been trying to do something to stand out and let [Coach Smith] know he made the right decision [to start me]."
"You do have to crawl before you walk and you have to fight through adversity, but you really find out exactly what we have and we were able to do that. I do know our football team a lot better right now. Our future is bright."
!["I think, as a competitor, you kind of go, 'OK, I understand that [we may need to play the younger players]' and I have to maybe understand that this battle might not go the way I want to, but hopefully in the war, overall as we move forward, big-picture wise, we can win."](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/buccaneers/smamnubsihkgj99gu9wq.jpg)
"I think, as a competitor, you kind of go, 'OK, I understand that [we may need to play the younger players]' and I have to maybe understand that this battle might not go the way I want to, but hopefully in the war, overall as we move forward, big-picture wise, we can win."
!["I am excited about [the] 2015 season for us and look forward to the opportunity to bring our team back from having the first pick in the draft to hopefully a championship."](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/buccaneers/pqwr4qetj7hlbv9nw9ez.jpg)
"I am excited about [the] 2015 season for us and look forward to the opportunity to bring our team back from having the first pick in the draft to hopefully a championship."
"Things will change. I guarantee that. If you want to be a part of it, come get on board."
The Buccaneers had two final opportunities to speak with the media before the end of the 2014 season - once after the team's loss to the Saints on Sunday and again the following day at the team's facilities.
Questions were asked about the team's 2-14 season, the upcoming draft, position changes and more. Despite the Bucs' struggles, morale was high and the team's outlook on the 2015 season remained positive.
"We didn't handle some situations the way – we will handle some situations a lot better this coming season, 2015," head coach Lovie Smith said. "But I think we are close. I know where we're drafting and that's what you are, what your record says you are, but I just feel like we can move up the ladder fairly quick."
Here are the 10 best quotes we heard from Buccaneers players and coaches after the final game of the 2014 season:
|
10. "When something doesn't happen exactly how – that doesn't say quit or don't go with what you believe, it just says do it a little bit better next time and that's what we're going to do this time." –Head coach Lovie Smith (**WATCH**)  |
|
9. "I said when I got here that I want to see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers be successful. That's my goal and I want to see the quarterback position play efficent football and we didn't get that done this yera so that's what my five months are going to be about - how can I improve as a player for myself and then help our group do that, as well. That's really my focus moving forward" -QB Josh McCown (**WATCH**)  |
|
8. "I'm very proud. It's something to build on for next year. Hopefully that number [receiving yards] can keep going up." -WR Mike Evans (**WATCH**)  |
|
7. "We feel like we played our hardest throughout the season and a lot of the games that we did lose came up to the very end. Small things that we need to fix to get us over that hump and hopefully next year it will happen." -LB Lavonte David (**WATCH**)  |
|
6. "But what do people want out of a career? You want a championship. So you just keep playing. Regardless of how long it takes, you just keep fighting until you get there." -DT Gerald McCoy (**WATCH**)  |
|
5. "I've been trying to make plays since I've been playing. I think I started back in Chicago with the defense - I was playing special teams. But ever since then I've been trying to do something to stand out and let [Coach Smith] know he made the right decision [to start me]." S Bradley McDougald (**WATCH**)  |
|
4. "You do have to crawl before you walk and you have to fight through adversity, but you really find out exactly what we have and we were able to do that. I do know our football team a lot better right now. Our future is bright." –Head coach Lovie Smith (WATCH)  |
|
3. "I think, as a competitor, you kind of go, 'OK, I understand that [we may need to play the younger players]' and I have to maybe understand that this battle might not go the way I want to, but hopefully in the war, overall as we move forward, big-picture wise, we can win." -QB Josh McCown (**WATCH**)  |
|
2. "I am excited about [the] 2015 season for us and look forward to the opportunity to bring our team back from having the first pick in the draft to hopefully a championship." –Head coach Lovie Smith (**WATCH**)  |
|
1. "Things will change. I guarantee that. If you want to be a part of it, come get on board." -DT Gerald McCoy (**WATCH**)  |
MORE TOP QUOTES
