Lovie Smith Reportedly Says DT Gerald McCoy Can Play Offense If He Gets 15 Sacks

After proving he is among the best at his position, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy may finally get a chance to do what he has wanted to for years—play offense.

But he's going to have to earn it.

McCoy went on Total Access on WDAE-AM 620's Buccaneers Radio Network on Wednesday night and revealed he has talked to Tampa Bay coach Lovie Smith about playing on the other side of the ball during games. Apparently, Smith has come up with an incentivized deal for his 6'4", 300-pound defensive lineman. Here's what McCoy said during his Total Access appearance, per JoeBucsFan.com:

"

I’ve been lobbying to play offense since I got in the NFL, before, you know, J.J. Watt even showed up. Lovie told me I have to get 15 sacks before I can play offense. So I said, ‘Done deal.’

And then he was like, ‘Well, honestly, Gerald, if you get 15 sacks, we’ll let you do anything you want.’ So that’s my goal.

"

And with that, the sack watch is on.

McCoy's career high for sacks in a season is 9.5, set back in 2013. The 27-year-old is currently on pace to eclipse the 15-sack mark, as he has two through the first two games of this season.

There have been defensive linemen who have seen some snaps on the offensive side of the football in recent years. Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt starred as a tight end on occasion last season, and Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko lines up as fullback when the team wants to pound the ball.

As for where he'd potentially line up on offense, that part isn't important to him.

“I don’t care if I’m a fullback, a tight end, an extra O-lineman; it doesn’t matter," McCoy said, per JoeBucsFan.com. "I’ll block. I’ll do whatever. I just want to win."

Although McCoy is on pace to reach Smith's mark, he knows it will be tough for a defensive tackle to get to 15 sacks.

"Stay tuned, Bucs fans,” McCoy said. “But don’t hold your breath.”

The "McCoy Quest for 15 Sacks" will be something for Buccaneers followers to watch. The former No. 3 overall pick is a three-time Pro Bowler, so he's certainly got the talent to make a run at it. Now that there's yet another thing on the line, he has even more motivation out on the field.

[JoeBucsFan.com]