TAMPA, Fla. -- Gerald McCoy's season is over, but that doesn’t mean the Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro defensive tackle has stopped talking.

McCoy, who will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, held court with the media Thursday and he talked – at length – about Sunday’s matchup with the Green Bay Packers and he heaped praise on their quarterback.

“I’m one of Aaron Rodgers’ biggest fans,’’ McCoy said. I know it’s bad to say as a defensive lineman, but I am. I’ve been wanting to play against the guy since I got drafted. He’s arguably not just the best quarterback, but the best player in the NFL. From his athleticism to his smarts. I’m just an Aaron Rodgers fan. I’ve just been wanting to play against him.’’

McCoy has never played against Rodgers and he admires the Packers the way he admires their quarterback.

“This team is a potential Super Bowl team and one of the top offenses in the league,’’ McCoy said. “Those type of moments don’t come along real often. For me, I love this game so much and I’m such a huge competitor I’m just missing the fact that I get to play against a team of this caliber or against a quarterback such as Aaron Rodgers.’’

McCoy likes to pattern himself after Hall of Famer Warren Sapp, who enjoyed a healthy rivalry with another Green Bay quarterback: Brett Favre.

“[Sapp] got to play against Favre all the time,’’ McCoy said. “It’s not like I have bad ones. I get to play against Drew Brees twice a year. But, Aaron Rodgers, I’m just a fan of his. I hate that I have to miss this because this will be my second time missing the opportunity to play against him. Hopefully it will come around again.’’