Jameis Watch: Derrick Brooks And Baseball
December 18th, 2014
Florida State icon and Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks serves up a strong opinion
Crab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, national champion James Winston, the pride of Florida State University, continues to look like a much better quarterback prospect than Mike Glennon and Josh McCown.
It’s Joe’s daily nugget on the Jameis Watch, celebrating the best quarterback to wear No. 5 ever in the state of Florida.
Not everyone realizes Jameis Winston flashed a 97-miles-per-hour fastball during his great season pitching for Florida State University earlier this year.
Winston is a true two-sport athlete. Some, not all, think he could be a first-round draft pick of Major League Baseball. He was a 15th-rounder out of high school in 2012, but declined baseball and went to college. He’s eligible to be re-drafted by MLB in 2015.
That adds to the risk of an NFL team drafting Winston. Imagine selecting him with the No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick and he quits football for baseball. That scenario, thought, is unlikely. Derrick Brooks addressed this on Tampa-2 on WDAE-AM 620 yesterday.
The Bucs and Florida State icon said “there is a chance” that Winston chooses baseball over football. Brooks was clear, however, that his sources are telling him Winston has been evaluated as a better football prospect than a baseball prospect.
“I know both [football and baseball] will be into the equation and they will factor into this kid’s decision,” Brooks said of Winston.
No. 55 said NFL teams evaluating Winston will like Winston’s baseball involvement as it relates to his good time-management skills and maturity.
Marcus Mariota is known for his charity work, but Brooks said Winston has plenty of that time logged though people haven’t heard about much of it yet.
“All those things will be dissected, his community service. You’ll be surprised when those things start to come out what this kid has done with his schedule of playing baseball, as well,” Brooks said.
“Let’s not forget that he’s had a dual-sport collegiate career in addition to going to class, where the other young man, [Marcus Mariota,] has not. That’s why I say behind the scenes all those things get dissected and talked about in terms of that. And he’s used to have a full schedule, Jameis, that is, of juggling things around. How can someone focus with that? Because the NFL, you can’t even compare in terms of time commitment.”
Brooks went on to say Winston’s evaluation, like any other potential NFL Draft pick, will “come down to four letters: R-I-S-K.”
December 18th, 2014 at 7:30 pm
Is Winston’s “community” work at a rape crisis center?
December 18th, 2014 at 7:36 pm
Yeah who cares anyway if he is accused of rape? Funny I’m right on the fence as to who the Bucs should draft if they end up with the first pick. Either one of these QB’s might be NFL busts. This is a gamble the Bucs have to win. Packers 31 Bucs 20.
December 18th, 2014 at 7:46 pm
LOL………….Winston has had to divide his attention between two sports.
Mariota has not. Perhaps this explains their TD to INT discrepancy.
December 18th, 2014 at 7:50 pm
Mariota has attempted 288 more passes than Winston and has FIFTEEN LESS INTs………………………………..LOL at you guys calling Winston accurate and Mariota not accurate.
ROLL on with your bad selves!
December 18th, 2014 at 7:53 pm
Do you think if Winston stays for another year he could throw for 60 tds to NEG 15 ints to catch up to Mariota?
December 18th, 2014 at 7:56 pm
If brooks can look past his alleged rape that has never been proven or for that matter even charged with maybe some of the posters should at least open their minds that this kid might not be as bad as the pathetic press reports. It’s not like journalism is practiced in this country it’s all TMZ all the time. The other thing to consider is Mr. Derrick Brooks has a LOT more facts than some random gaytor fan on this site. Do you for a minute think the political correct brooks would not run as far as he could from the Winston topic or at the very least distance himself, if he did not know the facts. think about that for a minute next time you call some one a rapist. I am not saying he is a saint nor am I denying he has made some horrible decisions but he does not deserve the death penalty until he is proven guilty.
Brooks has far too much to lose to touch this topic if he did not know something.
December 18th, 2014 at 8:00 pm
To most rational observers tmaxcon, Winston is a project. Not just Off the field but on too. It doesnt matter if he were ON the Gators to me. I was TRASHING CAM NEWTON too when he was still on our team for his Stupidity.
What is his record right now. Thing is Im not basing my opinions on my being a Gator Alum. That would be stupid
December 18th, 2014 at 8:19 pm
Ok in the interest of balance on our evening Jameis thread I have a twofer for you from the NFL.
First some analysis of Marcus Mariota from somebody with some credentials to know about Marcus. Jim Moral UCLA coach has face Marcus twice and of course Mora was in the NFL for over 20 years so he might have an idea about Mariota.
Follow the link for Mora’s take on Mariota and then for a laugh scroll down if you missed Marcus on Letterman. He did Letterman’s Top Ten…the top ten thoughts that went through Marcus’ head winning the Heisman. Some funny stuff.
But just make sure you watch the Mora response and how he destroys every argument presented against Marcus on this board. And btw look at the video
B roll of Marcus and watch him move in the pocket…Aaron Rodgers?
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000444727/article/marcus-mariota-pokes-fun-at-new-york-jets-giants-on-letterman
December 18th, 2014 at 8:25 pm
gatrbuc17 –
I agree he is not a sure thing that being said there are no sure things. Oregon’s QB’s traditionally don’t fair well in the NFL neither do FSU or Gator QB’s for that matter so I guess there is no correlation to the school. I personally like Winston over Maiota for 2 reasons 1) I like his size and arm strength and the fact that he is a fiery leader on the sideline. I think the bucs could use some fire on offense. McCoy is a good player but not that “Presence”. The “IT” factor does have merit. Tom Brady and even choir boy Manning show that fire on the sidelines. I’d be happy with either QB especially if Lovie is gone. which I know he wont be but one can dream.
December 18th, 2014 at 8:28 pm
StPeteBucsFan – nice video.
I can’t hear / read the name Mora and not remember that Playoff rant he gave. Classic.
December 18th, 2014 at 8:29 pm
Who cares about two sports? Wilson gets invited every year to spring training and has gone before, but so what. Winston just needs to decide between going to school, making a few million in the NFL or making Millions in MLB.
December 18th, 2014 at 8:35 pm
6 yard slants to one receiver. If he’s not open run. There is nothing about the system Mariota plays in that would suggest he is going to rule the NFL. Not that hard to avoid picks when you don’t have to go through progressions and your simply throwing to the reciever who is 2yards off the line of scrimmage. If we don’t take Jameis we will regret it.
December 18th, 2014 at 8:39 pm
You tell ’em gatrbuc17!! Mariota looks years better than Winston while executing that college gimmick style offense. Watching him and looking at his college stats almost reminds me of that other great Heisman trophy winner out of Baylor a few years ago that also ran that same college style gimmick styled offense! What did RG3 have in college, wasn’t it something like a 72% completion rate and a 37 TD to 6 INT interception rate! Now if those stats aren’t the stats of someone who will be the next coming of Aaron Rodgers then I don’t know who will.
December 18th, 2014 at 8:53 pm
there are just so many more things than playing the position we know, and sometimes I think they get overrated. [People say,] ‘Oh, you’ve got to have all the ‘it factor’ and all this stuff, whatever people talk about. But I think there is a responsibility. When they pay you that type of money you just can’t show up, you’ve got to do more than that. You’ve got to drive people, put pressure on coaches and players to raise their level of play, and you have to be that guy that does it — at practice, during the games
–chicago tribune, CBS/NFL analyst
December 18th, 2014 at 8:57 pm
I say take the QB who wins the Playoffs if it’s Mariota or Winston
December 18th, 2014 at 9:08 pm
Bucfan4
Follow the link. You’re simply wrong. WATCH the video…LISTEN to Jim Mora someone who actually coached against Mariota. Look at the mock drafts..in Walter Football’s compendium of 82 mock drafts Mariota is picked 5 X more often than Winston in the #1 spot.
Listen you guys can continue your man crushes on Jameis. He’s a good looking dude with an award winning smile. He’s a physical specimen. We get all that. Trashing Mariota with ill informed insults does not make Jameis case any stronger.
December 18th, 2014 at 9:11 pm
BTW The “fire in the belly” remark is really quite humorous considering what is about to transpire Sunday. Aaron Rodgers is going to lead his Packers to a rout of our Bucs without any of Jameis juvenile rah rah histrionics.
This is NOT freaking college. These are grown men! Yelling and jumping up and down does not impress them. Completing passes, and not bringing all kinds of off field distractions does.
Serious question. How did this team feel about JFro by the time he left. I think they respected him at one time but his behavior lost that respect.
December 18th, 2014 at 9:24 pm
Bucsfan, that is funny. Mariota is only #1 in completed passes over 15 yds. But whatever helps you sleep at night. Also, he goes through his progressions and stays in the pocket before moving around to create passing lanes.
December 18th, 2014 at 9:28 pm
Skyline
Check out the video that goes with the Mora interview in that link.
It illustrates your point perfectly. He moves like Aaron Rodgers in the pocket and in one throw into the end zone he hits the tightest of windows on a receiver who was well covered AND he does this on the move after getting flushed from the pocket.
AGAIN folks. I get that we don’t want a run first throw second QB. BOTH Jameis and Marcus can run the ball. But NEITHER of them is a run first kind of guy. That’s just not a fair criticism of either.
Seriously the only genuine difference had been off the field. Arguing about the incredible numbers put up by both HEISMAN winners is pretty silly. They are BOTH incredibly accomplished players! We don’t really need to detract from either one to make the other’s case.
December 18th, 2014 at 9:50 pm
StPete, he is good. I like Mariota. Funny thing is we saw people on this board posting that they haven’t seen Mariota play. Yet, they post crap that is false about him. Majority will only see him play for the first time in January. One game does not make a QB, otherwise the game I saw against Florida would make Winston a terrible QB. Not fair to either QB.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:06 pm
They pay an average pitcher, 5 million a year. a good one, 10 and the cream gets 25. Compare that with football and the life expectancy in the NFL, what choice would you make.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:06 pm
NFL news had an opinion piece on players who should not declare for the NFL. Guess who was on the list…Winston. They want him to stay and mature another year.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:06 pm
Who are we rooting for tonight again? Titans right? Wouldn’t there Strength of Sched be similar to ours but the Jags would have a tougher schedule giving us the 1st pick when we lose these next 2 games. Do I have that right?
December 18th, 2014 at 10:06 pm
I’d take MLB all day everyday.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:08 pm
lightningbuc Says:
December 18th, 2014 at 7:30 pm
Is Winston’s “community” work at a rape crisis center?
You are hiding something!
December 18th, 2014 at 10:11 pm
Skyline Crew for Mariota or Winston Says:
December 18th, 2014 at 9:50 pm
StPete, he is good. I like Mariota. Funny thing is we saw people on this board posting that they haven’t seen Mariota play. Yet, they post crap that is false about him. Majority will only see him play for the first time in January. One game does not make a QB, otherwise the game I saw against Florida would make Winston a terrible QB. Not fair to either QB.
What are you talking about?
December 18th, 2014 at 10:14 pm
@tmaxcon,
Totally agree with ur take. In addition, Winston is clearly the more developed pocket passer
December 18th, 2014 at 10:15 pm
I’m sure either QB will be good. However, that is not what we need. We need
Tackle Guard and center on the offense
DE, 2 corners a MLB and 2 Safety’s.
Trade the NO. one for 2 1sts and a 2nd
Washington will be chomping at the bit. The also will return 2 high no. 1’s, this year and next year and a high 2nd this year.
Then trade the next years NO. from washington for a later round 1st and a 2nd. then stockpile talent.
Next year you still will still be at best a 6 win team and you will have a shot at a qb. with talent to protect him.
Lovie however would be gone with a 2nd year 6/10 record so his motivation is less on the teams future and more on his security.
That is why he should go now, Friday would be soon enough
December 18th, 2014 at 10:24 pm
Skyline
” One game does not make a QB, otherwise the game I saw against Florida would make Winston a terrible QB. Not fair to either QB.”
Completly agree with that. How about 2? I also watched the Louisville game.
But I TEASE Nole fans. Jameis is great, Marcus is great, it’s a tough call.
And pass the buc just posted another legitimate view about avoiding the QBs altogether. That used to be my take until I realized that #1 means picking higher in all rounds. IE our second is like a very late 1st rounder our 3rd like a 2nd etc. I think we can find some good linemen at the bottom of the first round technically the first in the second and the same thing in the third and 4th. If we select one of the QB’s we should still be able to come away with two more starters because of our high position in all the rounds.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:25 pm
gatrbuc17 Says:
December 18th, 2014 at 7:46 pm
LOL………….Winston has had to divide his attention between two sports.
Mariota has not. Perhaps this explains their TD to INT discrepancy.
gatrbuc17 Says:
December 18th, 2014 at 7:50 pm
Mariota has attempted 288 more passes than Winston and has FIFTEEN LESS INTs………………………………..LOL at you guys calling Winston accurate and Mariota not accurate.
ROLL on with your bad selves!
Muschamp betting on a QB that could not deliver. He was fired, and now, the Gators are set back about 3 years. The Gators should have hired Brian Kelly. Winston threw for 17 interceptions because his receivers where not in the right place. Winston’s fourth interception against Florida resulted from Green not running the route deep enough before slanting the route towards the middle of the field. Winston should not have thrown that pass. It was his fault. Winston thought he could slang it pass LB; he was wrong. The offensive line is not good at all. Do not forget that the ACC swept the SEC this year in head to head match ups. The evidence suggest that Winston played toughter competition which would account for the interception with a team while very talented would not have won without Winstion even with Winston worse game. Florida’s defense was only second to WV’s defense.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:32 pm
Joe like Winston. The fact that joe had a big man rush on Manziel futner convinces me that marriotta is the pick. Love you joe, don’t trust your qb picks
December 18th, 2014 at 10:34 pm
Crush
December 18th, 2014 at 10:39 pm
Logged on- want to make sure I understand your point. Winston is responsible for 1 of his 17 int?
December 18th, 2014 at 10:51 pm
It’s not about the future. It’s always about the future.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:51 pm
passthebuc Says
“I’m sure either QB will be good. However, that is not what we need. We need Tackle, Guard and center on the offense. DE, 2 corners a MLB and 2 Safety’s.”
Uh, no.
Mason Foster is good enough. We don’t HAVE to get a MLB. And even if we did, it would not be in the first 4 rounds, and no one picked later will be better than Foster.
We DO indeed need a quarterback. It is the position that has held us back for over a decade. To say we don’t need one is wrong.
Tackles are always available in free agency. Guards sometimes are. We don’t need ANY cornerbacks at all. Don’t know where you get that. Verner and Banks are good enough…especially with a year into the system.
Our real needs:
Quarterback 1st round
Center 2nd Round
Offensive Guard or Left Tackle 3rd Round (whichever not addressed in free agency)
Safety 4th round
Defensive End 5th round
Safety 5th round
Punter 6th round
Offensive Tackle 7th round
See? We can address all the real needs, no problem. And that’s barely dipping into free agency. In truth, we can get a punter and safety in free agency, along with a guard or tackle.
I wouldn’t mind a WR or two from the undrafted class.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:54 pm
Bucnut
Winston is not responsible for anything. Not the interceptions, it’s all those crappy FSU football players…you know the school where they used to have a top five recruiting class every year since Jimbo arrived UNTIL this year when they’ve outdone themselves. FIVE 5 star recruits already committed. A freaking freshman running back CAME OFF THE BENCH to save Jameis and the Noles bacon against Florida. USF would kill just to have FSU’s 3rd stringers!
Again get a grip Nole fans. Jameis did not win the title by himself!!! FSU has a killer program with the best recruiter in the nation save perhaps for Nick Saban. And so while you whiners talk about the level of competition lets wait and see how ALL the athletes match up on January 1st. It’s not just going to be Jameis against Marcus. It’s going to be Jimbo’s recruits and coaching talent against Mark Helfrich/Kelly’s recruits.
You know what Noles. I like your chances despite all of your whining about what a freaking down year you’ve had talent wise. Do any of you doubt there are future NFL players sitting on the Nole bench waiting their turn to play?
Just imagine. Lovie would have to be brain dead to ever select Jameis with this kind of blind love and homerism.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:55 pm
Back to Mason Foster, I said he is good enough. Let me clarify.
I don’t think he is elite. I don’t even think he is great. But I do think he is good enough to do a top average to slightly beyond average job.
So why create a hole when we already have so many to fill? You can’t do every position in one season. Sign him to an incentive driven contract to make him easier to cut in two years. Draft a replacement in 2016 if he doesn’t get better. Let him play until his replacement is ready.
December 18th, 2014 at 10:58 pm
And, fellas, I don’t think Michael Johnson is going anywhere. While we do need an opposite DE, I don’t think it will come early in the draft, if in the draft at all. It could be a free agent.
December 18th, 2014 at 11:00 pm
Loggedontosay,
I don’t draw pictures so you’ll have to ask somebody else to read to you.
December 18th, 2014 at 11:01 pm
You know, I think I’m wanting the Titans to win this game tonight. That will put them behind the Jags, and we know they don’t need a QB.
December 18th, 2014 at 11:02 pm
Gotta be honest. Bortles isn’t doing great this year, but he sure looks good out there.
December 18th, 2014 at 11:19 pm
Tedford new head coach of a CFL team.
December 18th, 2014 at 11:21 pm
Mariotas ability to scramble is great but in the NFL everyone is so much faster I’m just afraid the kid will get crushed trying to look smooth. I’m not even convinced we need either one of the young men but what do I know, obviously jack squat.
December 18th, 2014 at 11:26 pm
Take a QB at #1 and then possibly get Peat at #33.
December 18th, 2014 at 11:26 pm
It’s a hard choice, DB55.
The fact that Winston is considering a baseball career might make the choice for us though. Kind of reminds me of another instance when the Bucs actually drafted a player, who then quit football and played baseball…
…trivia time 😉
December 18th, 2014 at 11:32 pm
Leaning toward spending the 2nd rounder on Reese Dismukes, center.
December 18th, 2014 at 11:33 pm
Mariota highlights consists of him running out of the wild cat or scrambling away from the 1st sign of pressure.
Are the Bucs going to run out of a Wild cat? Nope.
Will he be able to run away from NFL defenders like college players??
Winston highlights consist of him stepping into the pocket and throwing darts down the field… Over and over again. I like that a lot more.
December 18th, 2014 at 11:52 pm
After living through losing a #1 pick on Bo Jackson, I’d never take that risk again with a #1 pick.
December 19th, 2014 at 12:14 am
@Zam it’s funny you mention Bo Jackson, I think they’re from the same area.
December 19th, 2014 at 12:50 am
Zam – points
December 19th, 2014 at 12:52 am
Wtf happened with tedford? Did Lovie commit perjury?
December 19th, 2014 at 1:43 am
Joe
There’s a better article on Canada yahoo sports, bc Lions new hc.
December 19th, 2014 at 2:23 am
I remember another “accurate quarterback ” that had a couple of unbelievable years in collage, 34 tds 1 pick & completed 71 percent of his passes his senior year. He also ran for 700 plus yards. His name is Josh Johnson.
I got nothing against Mariota he may be a fine QB but not worth the gamble with the number 1 pick in the draft.
I don’t think it will even be close once the combine is over Winston will be the first QB chosen no matter who has the pick.
December 19th, 2014 at 7:42 am
Bo was mad because tampa flew him in a private jet to an interview before the draft. This violated NCAA rules, and took away his eligibility to play college baseball. That is why he denied tampa, shame in tampa for not believing him when hr said he would not play for us…the two situations have very little in common. If the rules were not broken Bo would have been a buc. The fate of Bo and tampa may have turned out very different.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:00 am
@SOFIERCE
“Mariota highlights consists of him running out of the wild cat or scrambling away from the 1st sign of pressure.”
Funny that’s what you see. I don’t see that at all. I see a possible Aaron Rodgers in the making…a gamble…but so is Jameis as are ALL draft picks.
Jim Mora who coached against him twice at UCLA and has more than 20 years of NFL experience doesn’t see what you see either. Again follow the link and here his review.
With all due respect sofierce I’m not saying I’m right and your wrong. Time will tell. I do have to say however that when a coach with Mora’s twenty years of NFL experience gushes the way he did in that clip I posted I gotta go with the NFL experience over our opinion.
December 19th, 2014 at 11:45 am
Look everyone, I like Mariota as well. I think he’ll be a middling QB for about 5-7 years before a team feels it can upgrade him. He may go to the playoffs, he may even win there a couple games.
The issue here is greatness. And I don’t think Mariota is great. I DO think Winston is. He hasn’t lost.
Think about that for a minute. He hasn’t lost a single game. Yea, he’s been pulled out a few times, he has had a couple (3) stinker games. But he’s pulled FSU out a lot on his own. This year the FSU D stinks to high heaven and he still pulls them over the finish line. THAT is greatness.
Then there are the tangibles. He’s bigger, stronger and has a bigger arm. Their down the field accuracy is comparable. Though Winston has thrown more 20+ yard passes and completions than Mariota. But I don’t care about that. Accuracy is hugely important, and both of these guys are accurate.
I just think Jameis is safer for the long haul given his size, strength, and pro-readiness. I don’t like gimmick QBs. Unless, our next OC is the OC in Oregon or Baylor……
December 19th, 2014 at 11:48 am
Over the years, I have watched a ton of talented FSU teams with 4 and 5 star recruits all over the field. But, when Winston took over the team, he elevated the entire team.
I don’t care if you think I’m wrong or bias. I know what I saw with my own eyes. It’s a different team with him under center.
The talent was comparable with EJ as QB, with much different results.
December 19th, 2014 at 12:38 pm
@Waterboy…so what you’re saying is you want another RGIII???? Why?
December 19th, 2014 at 12:41 pm
The Winston and Mariotta comparisons are great. “All he does in win”(didn’t we hear that about Tebow). The idea that Winston has not lost a game in 2 yrs doesn’t necessarily show just how good he is. It just shows how good the defense is for FSU.
Winston’s poor decisions on the field can’t be overlooked because the team won a lot of games in spite him turning over the ball repeatedly. That’s not going to happen in the NFL you lose 90% of those games.
Winston may opt to play baseball and pull a Bo Jackson. Then decide to play in the NFL in a few years.
I admire Brooks fandom but I would steer clear of his opinions on Winston. Brooks is an FSU homer to the core. As he should be.
December 19th, 2014 at 12:55 pm
“It just shows how good the defense is for FSU.”
Honest question, exactly how many FSU games did you watch this year?
I can’t imagine that many if you thought the FSU defense was that good. The loss of Jernigan, Telvin Smith, and Lamarus Joyner (amongst others) was huge. Those were the anchors of the 3 phases of the defense.
Converse to the defense saving him, it was Winston trying to hard to make up for the deficiencies on both the defense as well as offensive skill positions that led to quite a few of his interceptions and overall declined stats. Now last year was just a stacked team on both sides, I agree but, he played lights out as well.
Also, the difference between Tebow and Winston on the field is that one is a great passer. The other, not so much.
December 19th, 2014 at 1:10 pm
Either QB would be an improvement however neither will be worth a damn if the front line can’t do their job. Protect the QB. Mariota may have a faster release, Winston has a longer arm.
December 19th, 2014 at 5:00 pm
Draft Jameis.