Connor Cook? Really?
Get in line.
Since 2008, Matt McGloin’s place on a football roster has been challenged by over two dozen quarterbacks.
And counting.
During his five seasons at Penn State, McGloin fought off 13 other quarterbacks to gain the starting job for good in 2012, when he threw for over 3,200 yards, with 24 TD passes and just five interceptions.
And, as he enters his fourth season with the Oakland Raiders, McGloin has shared an NFL roster with another baker’s dozen of quarterbacks.
McGloin has not only survived, he’s often thrived. He’s made six career starts and finished 2015 with a stellar season-ending performance against Cincinnati, when he completed 23 of 31 passes (74.2%) for 142 yards and two TDs.
In March, the Raiders rewarded McGloin with a one-year contract for $2.553 million — a considerable boost over the $585,000 he made last season and the $1.485 million he made in his first three seasons in the NFL with the Raiders.
“I guess they’ve liked what they’ve seen out of me the past few seasons,” McGloin said from California this week. “I have to continue to impress them and get better. I need to show them that while I can be a back-up, I can be a capable starter one day as well.
“I don’t want to let them down. I’m working harder, staying motivated, doing everything I can to make sure they realize that they are doing the right thing giving me guaranteed money.”
TOO MANY COOKS?
The addition of Cook via the 2016 NFL Draft gives the Raiders four QBs. In McGloin’s tenure in Oakland, they’ve never carried more than three. (In 2015, only Derek Carr and McGloin were on Oakland’s active roster, with Garrett Gilbert on the team’s practice squad.) While Carr enters his third season as the Raiders’ starter, it appears Cook is the latest to challenge McGloin. Cook, the Michigan State three-year starter and no-year captain, was the 100th pick in the recent draft and the fourth selection overall by the Raiders.
No matter. With the Raiders, McGloin has shown the door to two Matts (Schaub and Flynn), a former first-round pick who the Raiders gave a $1.5 million signing bonus (Christian Ponder), a QB-he-turned-WR (Terrelle Pryor) and a longtime NFL vet (Trent Edwards). So he’s not in a stew over Cook.
“I’m entering my fourth season in the NFL, my fourth offseason and my fourth set of OTAs,” McGloin said. “I’ve come to realize that I can control what I can control. There’s always quarterbacks coming in and there’s always quarterback competition. I dealt with it here in Oakland and you know I dealt with it at Penn State. I’ve kind of been through it all when it comes to quarterback competitions.
“I’m at the point now where they tell me what reps to take and when and where, and I go and do the best job I can. I make the most out of my reps, I make the most out of my opportunities. I try to be a student of the game and try to be the best quarterback I can be, the best teammate I can be, and stay positive and hope everything works out.”
It’s been three years and three days since McGloin signed his first contract as an undrafted free agent with the Raiders – the date was May 16, 2013. Although he’s just 26-and-a-half, he’s now what passes for a grizzled NFL veteran. He’s also the oldest quarterback on the Raiders’ roster.
“I feel my experience really helps, whether it’s on the practice field, in meeting rooms or the weight room,” he said. “I’ve gotten used to it. I know how this part of the off-season works. And how crucial it is for getting stronger and getting your conditioning right to prepare for OTAs and mini-camp, then really making sure you’re in shape and your arm is in shape to hit camp running in August.”
THE MM CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
Between all the workouts this summer, as part of his Matt McGloin Fund, the quarterback will be hosting an inaugural charity golf tournament on June 27 at Glenmaura National Golf Course in Moosic, Pa., on the outskirts of his hometown of Scranton. It’s a natural extension of the charity and volunteer work he continues to do in northeastern Pennsylvania. Over the past several off-seasons, McGloin has donated his time and money to such causes as the Children’s Advocacy Center of Scranton, the Boys & Girl Club of Scranton and the Kiwanis Club of Scranton.
“After this past season, I sat down with my dad (Paul) and we talked about seeing how I can help more non-profit organizations with my own foundation and help more people who need the money,” McGloin said. “Ultimately, we want to keep the money in northeastern Pennsylvania, and help its people and organizations. For the first year, we’re really excited about the people who are involved and donating and helping us out. That attitude started at Penn State, with getting involved with Lift for Life and helping out different charities and raising money.”
Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Scranton Area Community Foundation. Cost for individuals to participate is $250 and limited sponsorships are still available; contributions should be sent to J. Herman, MM Charity Golf Tournament, 127 S. Merrifield Ave., Scranton, Pa. 18504.
Giving back to his hometown is important to McGloin, who recently purchased a home in the area and frequently returns from the West Coast. McGloin will be the first one to tell you that his Scranton roots have made him who he is.
“I’ve said it in a million different interviews and my mother always reminds me, never forget where you come from,” he said. “I certainly don’t. I love the Scranton area. I believe that had I not been from Scranton, I would not be in the NFL today. It’s the way I grew up there. It’s a blue-collar region, it’s a hard-working area. I think the mentality that I have and the work ethic I have come from the Scranton area. That’s why it’s a special place to me. It doesn’t matter if I go to California or Texas or Florida to play football throughout my career, Scranton will always be home.”
McMORE FROM McGLOIN
Here’s what McGloin had to say earlier this week about some other football-related topics:
Christian Hackenberg: “Having watched his career as a Penn State quarterback on TV, it is exciting to see him now in the NFL. You wish him the best, and hope he does well. I hope he stays healthy and I hope he does good things in the NFL.”
The key to making it as an NFL quarterback: “You have to be consistent every day, especially if you want to be a starting quarterback. You have to show up every day; you have to do the same exact thing day-in and day-out. As a quarterback, you can’t have a bad day. You have to go in every single day and want to be there. If you’re a quarterback, everybody watches you and knows what you’re doing.”
The importance of film: “I’ve had coaches tell me – and it’s especially true in the NFL – you never want to put something bad on film, because everyone watches that film. Everybody watches the practices, everybody watches the games. At practice, everything is filmed. Your individual drills are filmed, your routes vs. air are filmed, 7-on-7 is filmed. Film doesn’t lie.”
The Golden State Warriors: “As a team activity, we went to watch Game 1 the other night with OKC-Golden State. The quarterbacks, quarterback coach and the offensive coordinator also went to see them in a home game playoff game against Portland. You definitely support the hometown team. In fact, I’m sitting here watching the game now.”
The Raiders possibly moving to Las Vegas: “I’ve been dealing with that since I got to Oakland – they’ve talked about us going to L.A., going to San Antonio and now going to Vegas. You definitely see it on TV and read about it, but at the end of the day you don’t pay too much attention to it because it’s just speculation. It is what it is, you control what you control. At the end of today, we’re still the Oakland Raiders.”
Living the dream: “You know me, you know my mentality. I always pictured myself being in the position I’m in. I always wanted to play the game of football for a living, even when I was at Penn State. It has to work for me. There is no Plan B. There is nothing else I want to do. I want to play football. And I want to play the quarterback position.
“I had to find a way to make it work and I’ve worked my tail off day-in, day-out, in the film room and the weight room. Luckily, I was able to stay healthy during my career at Penn State and so far in the NFL. I’ve been able to get stronger and faster, and my arm has gotten stronger.
“Hopefully, I can play another four years and then another four years. I’m the kind of person who will play this game until physically I can’t any more or until somebody tells me I can’t play it any more.”
