TAMPA, Fla. -- Mike Glennon says hes not discouraged about losing Tampa Bays starting quarterback job before ever taking a snap for new coach Lovie Smith. The Buccaneers signed Josh McCown in free agency and immediately penciled the 34-year-old career backup in at the top of the depth chart. Glennon started 13 games as a rookie last season, when a 4-12 record claimed the jobs of former coach Greg Schiano and general manager Mark Dominik. McCown had the best season of his career with Chicago a year ago. Now, the Bucs are counting of him to help Smith and new GM Jason Licht transform the struggling franchise into a championship contender. Instead of sulking, Glennon is vowing to push McCown, who signed a two-year, $10 million contract after throwing for 13 touchdowns and just one interception while filling in for an injured Jay Cutler with the Bears last season. The Bucs began off-season workouts this week. "Im going to go out there every day and compete and help the team win in whatever way possible," Glennon said. "Josh has been great so far to me. Its a great opportunity to work every day with a guy who has so much experience like that," the second-year pro added. "At the same time, just by my nature, Im going to go out there and compete. Whatever my role might be, Im going to do it to the best of my ability." Glennon was drafted in the third round last spring and moved into the lineup when Schiano benched former starter Josh Freeman three games into the season. He threw for 19 TDs vs. nine interceptions, however the Bucs went 4-9 in the games he started and finished last in the NFL in total offence. "I think there were a lot of things that were good, and theres definitely things I can work on," said Glennon, who completed 59 per cent of his passes for 2,608 yards. "I think overall I played well for the situation at hand, something to really build on at a young age. But it really doesnt matter. At this level, you have to win," the 24-year-old said. "There are things I need to work on, just continuing to develop as a NFL quarterback. Make better decisions here and there, work on my feet, throwing under pressure -- all the things every quarterback in the NFL is working on." Shortly after signing McCown, Smith telephoned Glennon to inform the young quarterback that the veteran was being brought in as the starter. McCown, who turns 35 in July, is 16-22 in 38 career starts spread over 11 seasons with the Bears, Cardinals, Lions, Raiders, Dolphins, 49ers and Panthers. He was 3-2 as Cutlers replacement last year, helping Chicago remain in playoff contention until the starter returned. "He just said to start out theres got to be a person to start, that goes out with the first group first, and that persons going to be Josh," Glennon said, recalling the conversation with Smith. "I understand the NFL is a business. ... I realize that Im just going to have to continue to work hard and prove myself," the second-year pro added. "But at the same time, Im going to do whatever he feels is best for the team." During the recent NFL meetings in Orlando, Smith didnt rule out the possibility of selecting another quarterback in the upcoming draft. He stressed, however, that thats not to say he doesnt believe Glennon has a promising future. "What we like is how he came in as a rookie in a tough situation and stayed focused," Smith said. "Quarterbacks have to have confidence in themselves, they have to put a lot of things out and just perform and do their job. And thats what he did." Jeff Kemp Jersey . Burkes Flames are one of several teams involved in heavy trade speculation going into next Wednesdays 3pm et deadline, with the most prominent name in play being forward Michael Cammalleri. Tarvarius Moore Jersey . Thats how the Ravens won when Ryan was their defensive co-ordinator from 2005-08, and that is precisely the formula Baltimore used to beat Ryans New York Jets on Sunday. http://www.custom49ersjersey.com/custom-delvin-williams-jersey-large-588d.html . -- Ryan Gropp scored in overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds shut out the Spokane Chiefs 1-0 in Western Hockey League play Tuesday. Larry Schreiber Jersey . With the final four being arguably the four best – and most complete – teams from the regular season, picking a winner is not as easy as it sounds. Jerry Rice Jersey . On the day the club activated Casey Janssen from the 15-day disabled list, his return from a strained oblique that cost him the first six weeks of the regular season, it announced Sergio Santos would be placed on the disabled list on Monday with discomfort in his right forearm.ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers have gotten used to playing more than 162 games and into October. This time, they only got an extra regular-season game -- and didnt even get in the playoffs for the first time in four years. Texas won at least 90 games for the fourth year in a row, even with suspended slugger Nelson Cruz missing 50 games and opening-day starter Matt Harrison pitching only twice. But the Rangers are already done. "We played 163 games. In the past four years, our season was never over until 162 games were over," manager Ron Washington said Tuesday. "I think thats an accomplishment is itself. The only thing I feel is disappointment that we expected to do more and it just didnt happen." The first day of October was set aside for Rangers players to clean out their lockers instead of preparing for a playoff game. Texas (91-72) lost the AL wild-card tiebreaker 5-2 Monday night to Tampa Bay, the only other team to win at least 90 games the past four seasons. There was an empty feeling Tuesday in the clubhouse void of players. Texas, which hasnt won a game in October since going to its only two World Series in 2010 and 2011, won seven games in a row just to force the majors first wild-card tiebreaker since 2007. "Its been a lot of fun, until the end," second baseman Ian Kinsler said after the game. The Rangers were ultimately done in by a 5-15 slide to start September. That was after an AL-best 20-7 record in August for a two-game lead in the AL West going into the final month. Shortstop Elvis Andrus said what he regrets is the final month of the season. "Especially after the August we had," Andrus said. "It was disappointing how we got that bad, but all around it was a tough year for us." Andrus, Kinsler, Adrian Beltre and Alex Rios are among the hitters under contract for next season. Beltre had an AL-high 199 hits and Rios, acquired from the Chicago White Sox in August after Cruz was suspended, has a year left on his deal. Pitchers signed beyond that include major league strikeout leaderr Yu Darvish (13-9, 277 strikeouts) with fellow starters Derek Holland (10-9) and Harrison.ddddddddddddThe staff ERA of 3.62 was the best for the Rangers since 1983. But there could be some significant roster changes. Closer Joe Nathan, with 80 saves the past two seasons, is expected to opt out of his $9.5 million deal for next season and seek a multiyear contract. Cruz, who was reinstated before the tiebreaker game and went 0 for 4, is eligible for free agency this off-season. "Joe Nathan proved to everyone that doubted him what he was made of, and I certainly would love to continue giving him the ball," Washington said. "When you think about a Nelson Cruz, who wouldnt want a Nelson Cruz? Big heart, great teammate, but theres a lot of decisions to be made on our part and Nelsons part." Others heading into free agency include catchers A.J. Pierzynski (.272, 17 homers and 70 RBIs) and Geovany Soto, outfielder David Murphy, right-handed reliever Jason Frasor and right-hander Matt Garza, who went 4-5 with a 4.38 ERA in 13 starts after Texas acquired him from the Chicago Cubs. "We did everything you could do. Im super proud of everybody in this room for what they did, how they went about their business, who they played, how they fought through adversity," said Pierzynski, who would like to return. "We just came up a little short. It stinks. Its not fun." It was the second season in a row a September slump cost the Rangers. Last year, they lost the AL West crown on the final day of the regular season after being swept in three games at Oakland as part of a 4-9 finish that put them in the ALs first one-and-done wild-card playoff that they lost 5-1 to Baltimore. The 730 runs were the fewest in a full season for the Rangers since 1992. They were shut out 11 times, including Darvish becoming the first MLB pitcher since 1989 to suffer four 1-0 losses in the same season. "It was just a weird year on the offensive side," said Washington, 611-524 in seven seasons. "It just lacked consistency." ' ' '