Peter King Talks To Joe
February 24th, 2015
King explained how the Bucs could avoid “major surgery”
Once a year, Joe touches base to talk Bucs with one of the more plugged in NFL writers in national circles, and that would be pickpocket-thwarting, Bucs-uniform-frowning, Allie-LaForce-smitten, Big-Ten-Network-hating, pedestrian-bumping, olive oil-lapping, popcorn-munching, coffee-slurping, fried-chicken-eating, oatmeal-loving, circle-jerking, beer-chugging, cricket-watching, scone-loathing, college football-naïve, baseball-box-score-reading, NPR-listening, filthy-hotel-staying, fight-instigating, barista-training Peter King, of Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports fame.
Joe caught up with King last week just after his annual Tweetup from the NFL Scouting Combine, this time held at Sun King Brewery near downtown Indianapolis on a frosty central-Indiana Friday night.
Naturally, King talked quarterbacks, Lovie’s defense, Johnthan Banks, and more. Dig in.
JoeBucsFan: Lovie Smith needs nine wins this fall to match Greg Schiano’s two-year record with the Bucs. What does he have to do to rise to Schiano’s level, or higher?
Peter King: Well, I think the most important thing that has to happen to this team is they have to get a quarterback and they have to get a quarterback who they believe in, and a quarterback who they are going to hand the ball to and everyone in the franchise says, “This is our guy.” It has become patently obvious that it isn’t [Mike] Glennon. So what they need to do is they need to be a believer in one of the two quarterbacks in this draft, and they need to take him No. 1 overall.
Joe: Is the Tampa-2 dead? Understand that Lovie doesn’t run the Tampa-2 all the time. But his defense last year, you saw the results. They got better, but early on, wow.
King: I don’t think the Tampa-2 is dead by any means. I just think what you need is you need Gerald McCoy for 16 games. You need two corners who you trust — who you trust with everything. And even though everybody says you don’t need great corners in the Tampa-2, [teams] throw so much in football now, and the fact that 61 percent of all offensive snaps are with three or more receivers on the field, you can’t say that the corners are unimportant. You must make – not only Johnthan Banks—but you must make absolutely sure you have a second and a third corner that you trust to make big plays.
Joe: Your gut, Winston or Mariota?
King: Winston. Reason why I would say Winston is that, and this is not necessarily because he is a Florida State guy but it is because I think you have to have less major surgery in terms of your offensive team with him. And I think [the Bucs] have the ability to throw from the pocket to big receivers, not only the wide receivers, but from [Austin] Seferian-Jenkins. I think you have to be able to throw the ball from the pocket in that offense and [the Bucs] have the weapons to do that.
February 24th, 2015 at 3:04 pm
but I thought Winston was going to one day play baseball?!!! King couldnt possibly think we would take him with that huge red flag hanging over his head??!!
February 24th, 2015 at 3:06 pm
This may have well been Joe interviewing himself…..Peter King coming up with the obvious, I was looking for a “plugged in” guy to come up with something that the rest of us don’t know.
EVERYONE (even The Kevin) knows what Peter King told Joe here…..
ho-hum
(I’m starting the “Keep Jameis under 250 in the offseason club).
February 24th, 2015 at 3:06 pm
Winston, son!
February 24th, 2015 at 3:24 pm
“What does he [lovie] have to do to rise to Schiano’s level”
Rotf. Classic. You a funny guy joe. Lmao
February 24th, 2015 at 3:25 pm
Raymond Jameis Stadium!!
February 24th, 2015 at 3:26 pm
Im home for lunch. Do we have any cool Bucs discussions that Don’t involve Winston or Mariota????
February 24th, 2015 at 3:28 pm
I agree with Ian… unless he was being sarcastic, then I disagree. Either way I think Mariota will be the pick.
February 24th, 2015 at 3:31 pm
knuckledragger, do u think we should still try to get Rolando McClain even though he’s suspended for the first couple games??
I think we should either go with all good guys or get all the gangsters… Greg Hardy, McClain, Winston, Incognito, etc…
February 24th, 2015 at 3:33 pm
This Erik guy’s buying me a Winston jersey in 2 months…^^^^
February 24th, 2015 at 3:36 pm
@ Erik. No I dont. He will miss a quarter of the season, coupled with the fact that the guy seems like a head case to me. He has already retired once. Who’s to say he won’t do it again
February 24th, 2015 at 3:38 pm
Im not completely against Hardy so long as he doesn’t cost too much and has a clause in his contract about further issues.
February 24th, 2015 at 3:42 pm
The baseball thing seems like the biggest red flag at this point. If the kid isn’t willing to say right now that he’s done with baseball, then he’s not our QB. The quarterback is a year round job. Mariota.
February 24th, 2015 at 3:42 pm
McClain isn’t suspended, he’s just getting fined 4 game checks…he can still play
February 24th, 2015 at 3:47 pm
@Cream………He is not suspended? I must have read it wrong. If he is only fined then I think we wouldn’t have a shot at him. Dallas will probably bring him back no.?
February 24th, 2015 at 3:48 pm
@Salish……….
So what if he DID say he was done with Baseball? Anyone can say anything.
February 24th, 2015 at 3:54 pm
@knuckledragger:
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/21/report-rolando-mcclain-in-line-for-four-game-fine/
I’m sure they’d love to bring him back, but they also have to resign Dez & Demarco so they may not have the cash. There’s also the little thing about the house he was trying to sell and it recently being ruled arson, but who knows what that means
February 24th, 2015 at 3:57 pm
Knuckle
There must be a clause saying that he can’t watch baseball, basketball or hockey. Well he is a thug so he would not watch hockey anyway so forget that. Also no boxing, Olympics or nascar again thug so no nascar.
He must sit in a padded room with a bucs playbook. 1 hour of excercise a day with supervision and a carefully monitored diet. Only approved visitors may come visit not his thuggish parent but maybe like Cardinal Marriota so he can pray over this scoundrel.
February 24th, 2015 at 3:58 pm
Joe asking the “matching the Schiano record”…..is planting the “win now” into the equation….
Some of the Mocks believe that Winston is the choice because he is more “NFL Ready”…..believing Lovie hasn’t got a choice….must choose the immediate fix….they may be right….or wrong if the Glazers are willing to give Lovie time. I think the latter…and yes it’s just my opinion.
February 24th, 2015 at 3:59 pm
Creamsickle
How about the arson investigation? Did he ALLEDGely burn up his house 2 weeks ago?
February 24th, 2015 at 4:01 pm
sorry Erik, I was being very sarcastic, the baseball talk is a non-issue on a slow news day
February 24th, 2015 at 4:27 pm
Is my fear that we trade the first pick, and employ the Philadelphia 76ers rebuilding plan irrational? Just asking.
February 24th, 2015 at 4:40 pm
So, by that argument, do you think the Seahawks and 49ers should give up on both Wilson and Kaepernick, respectively?
February 24th, 2015 at 4:55 pm
knuckledragger Says:
February 24th, 2015 at 3:48 pm
Sure, a guy can say anything. Even if he said he was done with baseball, you’d want to try to decide as reliably as possible if he was sincere. But the fact that he’s NOT willing to say he’s done with baseball means he is leaving the door open. If I’m the GM, that’s a big problem.
Celly Says:
February 24th, 2015 at 4:40 pm
No, that’s not my argument. They’re already in the league, and to my knowledge neither are planning on playing baseball. But Crapernick sucks anyway. Wilson isn’t going anywhere.
The question is, if you are a team looking at using the #1 overall pick on a QB, do you want to commit your team to a guy who might have divided attention? If Winston wanted to allay those concerns, all he would have to say is that he’s done with baseball, but he didn’t. He had the opportunity to do it and refused. so…. Seems to me that would concern any GM who wanted to keep his job.
February 24th, 2015 at 4:59 pm
Quit worrying about baseball. You can be sure if the Bucs draft Winston. No. 1 they will have addressed that issue. No salary or negotiation problems because those are pretty well set by the NFL’s CBA.
This baseball stuff is just noise to drive up interest and response.
February 24th, 2015 at 5:08 pm
I prefer Mariota anyway. Better athlete. No off-field concerns. Humble. Low chance of being a franchise wrecking decision.
February 24th, 2015 at 5:19 pm
“Hopefully I’ll be another Deion Sanders or Bo Jackson. I want to try to maintain two professional leagues.”
–Jameis Winston, quoted here: http://www.si.com/more-sports/2011/09/29/jameis-winston
February 24th, 2015 at 5:20 pm
I think the Bucs are going to be in a similar situation this year as they were in 2014. New free agents, new draft picks, and a new OC. It takes time for several new players and a new scheme to develop. Some of the current vets are coming off injuries. Basically this is ASJ’s rookie year and Sims missed half the season as did Edwards. If Winstons forced to start his playbook will be limited. There are a lot of holes to fill and while the Bucs may be playing in a weak division and a weak overall schedual, I hope the fans and media we show some patience in the early part of the season. It’s not like we are replacing a few weak links, we are coming off a 2-14 season.
February 24th, 2015 at 5:36 pm
Sure, a guy can say anything. Even if he said he was done with baseball, you’d want to try to decide as reliably as possible if he was sincere. But the fact that he’s NOT willing to say he’s done with baseball means he is leaving the door open. If I’m the GM, that’s a big problem.
———————–
Listen to the Mooch Interview
Mooch: You use to pitch, you dont pitch anymore right?
Winston: No sir
Mooch: Are you a 1 sport guy
Winston: Im a football player, im a QB.
He can’t make it any more clear what his intentions are. Continue to spin.
February 24th, 2015 at 5:42 pm
He DID NOT answer unequivocally. That seems pretty clear.
February 24th, 2015 at 5:46 pm
You dont pitch anymore?
No sir.
———————————–
that is pretty clear, you may refuse to believe it but that is crystal clear.
February 24th, 2015 at 5:52 pm
There are other quotes that leave the question more open. Even in the quote above I have the impression he means “for now.” And I’m just saying that you better be certain about this if you’re the GM.
He has NOT said he has no plans to pursue baseball in the future. That’s a fact.
February 24th, 2015 at 6:09 pm
This is a non-issue. This can be resolved by putting terms on his contract. If they want him, they’ll put an agreement in place that doesn’t allow baseball, and it’s done.
If he doesn’t agree to the terms, they don’t take him. Remember as holders of the first pick, they are allowed to negotiate before the draft
February 24th, 2015 at 6:28 pm
The contracts get signed after they draft him right??? So if they draft him then he decides to play baseball we are SOL? Im not worried about the talent of either one of these guys. If I had to pick a downside to each one it is obviously Winstons maturity and loyalty. And Mariotta it would be his soft spoken eady going attitude toward everything.
Then I keep going back to Winstons wins and losses. 1 loss against the ducks where the entire team just sucked. And one loss in high school. Didnt watch that one so couldnt know why they lost but to have only two losses in your entire high school and college career tells me hes gotta be a decent qb and probably does a good job of motivating his teammates during the games.
Id like to know more about how Mariottas team mates and coaches view him in terms of how much of an affect he has on the players around him during games.
February 24th, 2015 at 6:48 pm
All of u make me laugh. Some of the posts and arguments are just silly.
And winston was pretty clear saying baseball is done. Looks like ur being a hater
February 24th, 2015 at 7:39 pm
“kevin Says:
February 24th, 2015 at 6:28 pm
The contracts get signed after they draft him right??? ”
As holder of the first pick, TB is allowed to negotiate BEFORE the draft.
“Teams can also agree to a contract with a draft-eligible player before the draft itself starts. They can only do this if they have the first overall pick, as by agreeing to terms with a player the team has already “selected” which player they will draft. A recent example of this would be quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft. The Lions, with the first overall selection in the draft, agreed to a 6-year, $78 million deal with $41.7 million guaranteed with Stafford a day before the draft officially started. By agreeing to the deal, Stafford had already been chosen as the first overall pick in the draft.”
February 24th, 2015 at 7:49 pm
Daft Jamis Leaf and see what you get!!!! LMAO when this happens!!!
February 24th, 2015 at 8:31 pm
Rookie contracts no longer require as much negotiations. They’re slotted.
February 24th, 2015 at 10:12 pm
I can’t want for the Bucs to draft Jameis so all the haters and racist can hide in their cave again.
February 25th, 2015 at 8:00 am
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