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Lovie Smith Doesn’t Want Buccaneers To Lose For No. 1 Pick

By Brandon C. Williams

Dec 7, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith on the sidelines during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith on the sidelines during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /
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Even with the possibility of gaining the first overall pick in the 2015 draft with a loss on Sunday, Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith isn’t thrilled about the prospect of defeat.

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You can win by losing, yet don’t tell that to Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith.

The 2-13 Bucs will clinch the first overall pick of the 2015 draft with a loss against New Orleans in Sunday’s regular season finale. On the one hand, the chance to (finally) gain a shot at an elite quarterback like Oregon’s Marcus Mariota or Florida State’s Jameis Winston (should either one or both forgo their eligibility) is a golden opportunity to move Tampa’s rebuilding project a jolt, but Smith wants no part of that if it means losing to the Saints.

“I’ve kind of answered that question a few times. I think we’re going to end up in good position to get some good players. So to me, that can’t even come into the equation,” Smith said.

Tampa Bay will not hold back, Smith said, so don’t expect the Buccaneers to just throw together a lineup or use the game strictly as a chance to begin peering out young talent for 2015.

“They weren’t thinking about that pick or anything like that. This week we’re going to do the same thing,” Smith said.

Should the Buccaneers happen to win, the first pick will go to Tennessee, who comes into week 17 with a 2-13 record and a nine-game losing streak heading into their finale against Indianapolis.

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