McCoy joined Panthers to play for 'a true contender'

For Gerald McCoy, it came down to a gut feeling.

With the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and Carolina Panthers, all interested in the former free agent, McCoy chose the team he visited last, signing a one-year deal with the Panthers.

McCoy believes he now has a legitimate shot at winning a championship.

"The reason I'm here is because I was quoted as saying I wanted to go to a contender and every ounce of me feels like this team is a true contender," McCoy said at his introductory press conference Tuesday.

McCoy explained that there wasn't anything, in particular, missing in his meetings with the Browns and Ravens that he received from the Panthers.

"It wasn't anything I didn't get, but my dad told me, 'G, when you make a decision, a sense of peace needs to come over you immediately.' It was a feel thing," McCoy said. "What I felt in my heart and in my gut when I was in the building. I just felt it."

Playing for the Panthers allows McCoy to play his former team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, twice this season. He and the Bucs parted ways after nine seasons. McCoy referenced loyalty on multiple occasions but said that getting two cracks at his former employers played no role in signing with Carolina.

"A lot of people put more into that than they should," he said. "It'll be fun," he said of the rivals' Week 2 meeting. "It'll be different but I'll have a blast with it."

He insisted he has no problems with the Bucs handing the No. 93 jersey he wore for nine years to new signee Ndamukong Suh and he holds no ill will toward the team.

"Business is business. In 2012, arguably the greatest quarterback to ever play this game was released by the Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning. My perspective on this league changed then," McCoy said. "If you can let a person like Peyton Manning go, anybody can be released."