Jameis Watch: “Greatest Smokescreen Ever Seen?”
March 10th, 2015
Crab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, former national champion Jameis 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 ever to wear No. 5 in the state of Florida.
So are the Buccaneers all-in for Jameis Winston? There’s a long way to go, but veteran Tampa Tribune NFL scribe eye-RAH! Kaufman seems to think the deal is almost in the bag.
Kaufman hopped on NBC Sports Radio yesterday to share his views on Winston mania.
“This is either the greatest smokescreen ever seen in these parts going into an NFL Draft, or they’re really very close to making a decision [for] Winston. I think it’s the latter,” Kaufman said. “You got the first pick. There’s no reason for all this gamesmanship. Their own website even has video of Winston visiting One Buc Place.
“They usually don’t do that kind of stuff. I think they’re trying to gauge a little bit of public reaction to them taking Winston. I think it’s almost basically a done deal at this point.”
Kaufman went on to say he believes there will be a little “pushback” from fans because of Winston’s “checkered past,” but Kaufman said quarterback hunger — and wins hunger — should silence any of that.
Joe disagrees with Kaufman a bit. Joe’s confident Bucs fans will see the same Buccaneers.com coverage of Marcus Mariota visiting One Buc Palace, when he arrives next month.
The Bucs marketing team is just being smart. They’re playing the hype. Heck, they’ve got a whole paid online campaign going promoting the mystery of who the team will pick with the No. 1 overall pick.
There’s a long way to go. The Bucs may have won the Chase for Jameis, but his arrival isn’t a slam dunk.
March 10th, 2015 at 12:33 pm
It’s a slam dunk to me Kaufman and I.
March 10th, 2015 at 12:35 pm
Just because we have the #1 pick, there is no reason to be in any rush. Actually having the first pick allows us to spend more time with the players than other teams as we dont have to vet out any players who may be gone before we pick.
There is no rush to decide as long as it’s before April 30th.
March 10th, 2015 at 12:37 pm
Agreed. I would love Winston. Absolutely love Winston as the pick, but this regime is unpredictable. No slam dunk whatsoever.
March 10th, 2015 at 12:39 pm
I absoliutely agree Joe….it is more of a ‘trial balloon” than a smokescreen.
Mariota gets the exact same treatment when he visits or all bets are off!!!
March 10th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
I love fsu and the bucs … so i would LOVE to see jaboo come to tampa . However i do no how to separate the 2 . I am rooting so hard for jw but whoever they draft i will get over it and root for that player. But honestly the best pick up we will make this whole year is Dirk Koetter. Hands down !!!! That dude can coach some offense and the difference with him and say lesile Frazier is he adapts to his personnel. He is able to make his system around his players where as Frazier and LOVIE run the same system regardless.
March 10th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
The question is Valid – Smoke or Not Smoke?
Why would the BUCS be so public with their love for Winston?
Especially if there is anybody that has been the focus of trade rumors it is Mariota to the Eagles.
Why not talk Mariota up and their interest for him and make the Eagles squirm and desire the number one pick even more?
Why Love Winston much and express it so Publicly?
I think that the BUCS are still playing there hand and the game is not even close to being over yet.
Maybe after they have Mariota in for a visit,
Maybe the play is that they loved Winston until they met Mariota and actually got to spend time with him.
Then all signs would point to the BUCS signing Mariota and Mariota would look like the BUCS Sure fire Number One Pick.
Wouldn’t that really turn the heat up on Kelly to sell his soul to the BUCS for the Number one?
And if not, they would still get the FRANCHISE QB (key word is FRANCHISE) that they really wanted all along… Mariota
March 10th, 2015 at 12:42 pm
He has no other suitors so you gotta work hard to build him up. No other team is stupid enough to take the risk with the 1st pick
March 10th, 2015 at 12:44 pm
we better see the same coverage of mariotta….it would be senseless to cover one over the other if you were going to trade your pick considering you all the trade offers to come in for both players so we can likely rule out trading down, just go get a quarterback I don’t care if you get hundley at this point just do something im tired of all the lol winnin with glennon we’ve done since he got here
March 10th, 2015 at 12:45 pm
I can only hope so
March 10th, 2015 at 12:47 pm
synopsis
game 1 outcry: start Winston
Game 2 outcry: he’s only a rookie
Game 3 outcry: he’ll be better if he gets more time to throw.
Game 4 outcry: the torn ACL looks to be fixable
Game 5 outcry: we should have traded down and secured a OL for the ages.
Game 5 outcry: why did we trade Glennon? he’s tearing up the league
Game 6-16 outcry. Get rid of Lovie, Glazers should sell the team, should they draft a QB with the first overall pick
and so the saga continues.
March 10th, 2015 at 12:51 pm
Glennon is our #1 quarterback so support him. MG will take us to the Super Bowl is due time, grab your #8 jersey today…
March 10th, 2015 at 12:52 pm
This pick is absolutely a done deal. It’s the reason why I’m no longer really getting into arguments in these Jameis posts…what’s the point?
Jameis will be a Buc and he will be a great Buc.
March 10th, 2015 at 12:53 pm
I think they have NO intention of trading the pick, no matter what they get offered.
So NO I don’t see any smoke at all.
March 10th, 2015 at 12:55 pm
Drafting The next “epic fail” Winston will further damage this Bucs team for yet another 5 years…. The media will eat him alive at the 1st sign of struggle and losing… The Bucs will regret it when they are made fools and have egg on their face…
But then again, That is the Bucs M.O…. It is what they are known for….
March 10th, 2015 at 12:55 pm
@ passthebuc:
Most interesting, would make a great soap opera, just as last year’s season would have…..
Yes, with last year’s atrocious o-line, McCown got beat up and if that’s not better, the next guy, whoever it is, will have equally tough sledding.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:07 pm
Buc Neckid, that’s honestly how I see this thing playing out…. I think MM will be way too solid to pass up. #CuetheWinstonWhackos
March 10th, 2015 at 1:08 pm
crac kills people….if glennon cant beat out mccown he sure isn’t going to beat out Winston, he’s not good enough….glennon still dissects plays like a rookie anyway. glennon had every chance to take over and be the guy last year and couldn’t do it which is why no one wants to give the bucs a 5th for the guy, he’s pure garbage and i’d rather go with a rookie than to see the cannon misfire again or run out of bounds before the first down. no not again not this year besides if we sign a veteran lol you can be sure glennon will sit the bench again, he’s the second coming of the other josh we had when josh freeman got here
March 10th, 2015 at 1:10 pm
Jason Licht drafted Kevin Kolb when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2007, drafted Ryan Mallet in 2011 and Zac Robinson in 2010 with NE, Ryan Lindley at Arizona Cardinals in 2012. Also drafted Tyrann Mathieu in 2013 and Aaron Hernandez in 2010.
We see his preference QB preference and he is definitely not scared of signing players with a shaky past
March 10th, 2015 at 1:13 pm
JW is going to make Freeman look like Tom Brady in every respect. He will be an epic fail on the field, off the field and a PR nightmare
March 10th, 2015 at 1:17 pm
Bucs afar, that is honestly the first post that has made me second guess that we would ever seriously consider picking Winston…… The only thing that gives me comfort as a Mariota fan is that Lovie is the Overlord of football operations and his mentor & friend Dungy publicly endorses MM.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
I don’t know whats worse….Bucs afar post or the fact that it made anyone second guess themselves….this is his first GM position in the nfl so no one is letting him make decisions on their draft boards. and regardless of the players drafted to teams while he was in office….
how about this Licht has been on staff with one Super Bowl Champion (New England-2001), 2 NFC Championship teams (Philadelphia-2004, Arizona-2008), and 2 AFC Championship teams (New England in 2001, 2011).
he’s in the bucs front office so none of that matters neither does what quarterback you draft while tom brady is your starting quarterback….joe this is all your doing, I bet even you sit here and read these posts and shake your head at the way some peoples brain processes information
March 10th, 2015 at 1:35 pm
By Dane Brugler
NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst
March 8, 2015 8:32 pm ET
“1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Florida State QB Jameis Winston: Asking around at the combine, I couldn’t find anyone (NFL scout, analyst, etc.) who doesn’t think Winston will be the No. 1 pick to the Buccaneers.”
So is this guy lying and if so what does he have to gain by it?
March 10th, 2015 at 1:36 pm
Come to think of it didn’t Gil Brandt say the same thing about the combine….when it came to Winston? I think so.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:43 pm
87, seriously it’s a done deal. Jameis will be the pick and it’s not even close.
Watch these two videos:
http://www.bucsnation.com/2015/2/27/8122145/marcus-mariota-and-jameis-winston-rose-bowl-film-breakdown
That’s not some message board schlub saying “Mariota has the arm strength”…it’s a break down in the same vein that a scout will look at the film. And when you look at that, it’s not even close.
And that’s what the Bucs and every other scout see when they compare the two QB’s in this draft class. Mariota is attempting to go from pre-algebra to theoretical physics. Winston already has his PHD.
This isn’t close. The decision has been made. Jameis is the far superior QB. The tape doesn’t lie….you might as well send Eric the size you want for your jersey now.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:56 pm
@joe
Everyone but you knows its a done deal. I get it you love the hits you’re receiving from winston haters. I just hope the bucs hurry with it already so we can put these fools(winston’s haters) out of their misery because I’m sick of arguing with them about it.
March 10th, 2015 at 1:56 pm
I’m not even sure Winston can spell PhD
March 10th, 2015 at 2:00 pm
When was the last time the first overall pick was traded?
Not quite a slam dunk yet, but definitely an alley-oop at this point. All we have to do is slam it home then focus on drafting guys for the trenches. Firepower is worthless if you can’t stop enemies from taking down your artillery.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:04 pm
It’s about as close to to “slam dunk” as a pick gets – the only other thing I remember being this sure about was Luck going to the Colts in 2012 #1 overall. This feels as sure as that.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:05 pm
iamkingsu…weeks and weeks ago I told fans in here that arguing was fruitless. That they better come to grips that Winston’s going to be the pick.
I too can’t wait until this month is over…because I think most of us will KNOW who they are taking 3 weeks away from the draft, even if they don’t tell us.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:09 pm
^^^^^ This guy is getting a free Winston jersey
March 10th, 2015 at 2:10 pm
Funny as hell to watch you guys argue over something that hasn’t happened and you have no control over. Downright hilarious
March 10th, 2015 at 2:12 pm
ODB…Creamsicle at that!
The last creamsicle jersey I had was Vinny’s back in 87.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:13 pm
@87 I still have my Creamsickle Leroy Selmon jersey
March 10th, 2015 at 2:17 pm
I even know where to pick the jersey up in case he reneges on the bet.
Clean Athletics is in St Pete.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:37 pm
Winning cures all NFL ills.
Winston is a proven winner. Winston is a proven clutch player at the most important position on a football team. Winston is easily the most fiery and positive leader to come to the NFL in many years. Winston has one of the best football minds coming out of College that anyone has ever seen. Winston has all the physical tools you could hope for at the QB position and has proven over time that he works his butt off to be the best that he can be. He expects to win Super Bowls. He expects to be one of the best QBs in the NFL at some point. He is willing to work as hard as it takes to achieve those goals.
Anyone who does not see these qualities in Jameis Winston either doesn’t want to acknowledge them or flat out doesn’t know squat about football.
Winston will be the Buccaneers QB as of 8:10 on April 30th 2015.
Anyone who does not like that idea better come to terms with it sometime in the next 51 days.
March 10th, 2015 at 2:45 pm
The Bucs are implementing PR 101. Elevating both candidates to #1 overall pick status. The Buc fanbase will be able to support either candidate.
Those with the “slam-dunk” wishful thinking have no more info than Joe or anyone else and none of them have a clue at this point….likely because the decision has not yet been made.
March 10th, 2015 at 3:06 pm
Not gonna lie: right now I wish every post on this blog was Jameis-related. I can’t get enough of this sh**. Joe; keep it coming man.
Smoke it while you’ve got it.
March 10th, 2015 at 3:36 pm
He got by on arm strength and talent alone.
He is a bigheaded spoiled diva.
He is lazy and overweight.
He is slower than Glennon.
He is a theif, a liar, and maybe even a rapist!
Why does anyone want this guy!!!???
March 10th, 2015 at 3:37 pm
Hes josh freeman except arrogant not awkward.
March 10th, 2015 at 3:56 pm
and teacherman777 touches kids…
see how unfounded accusations work? (example)
March 10th, 2015 at 4:07 pm
Wow. Teacherman777 is a pedophile? That explains a thing or 2. I’ll make sure and spread the word. Wait – was he arrested, charged and convicted? Ah – who cares about those details – I’m calling it into the Tribune anyway….
March 10th, 2015 at 5:21 pm
Wow. Pickgrin touches Winston? That explains a thing or two too.
March 10th, 2015 at 5:52 pm
it could be more the a smoke screen. It could also be a fishing expedition. Make everybody believe Fameis is a slam dunk and step back and observe the blowback.
Whether you Fameis lovers wish to admit it or not there will be blowback, I’m over debating whether it’s deserved or not or whether he’s actually St. Jameis.
It doesn’t matter!!! The fact is that there will be baggage coming with Fameis.
If he wins a SB then he can morph into Ben Rapelisberger…signs that still show up at NFL stadia.
Whatever I hope the Bucs make the right choice. If it’s Fameis then fine. Just be prepared for all the attendant publicity.
I DO think as soon as they make up their minds they should just go ahead and sign the guy. Why not get a big head start with the playbook and learning the offense whether it’s Fameis or Mariota? I do not see any advantage for the Bucs in prolonging this IF they already know their selection and their draft board is set as Licht implied last week.
March 10th, 2015 at 6:12 pm
I didn’t know that about Teacherman. I knew he liked kids but wow, didn’t realize why.
1st pick overall smokescreen? Too funny, keep it coming St Pete BF.
Thanks for link CREAMSICKLE, Loved it! That QB breakdown pumped me up for the upcoming Bucs season. I hope we don’t blow the pick. I kept thinking of all the posters on here that said MM outplayed Jameis in the Rosebowl and anyone who didn’t think that was stupid etc…
March 10th, 2015 at 6:20 pm
TBBF…I’m fully entitled to think it’s a slam dunk.
Just as I’m entitled for a let down too.
March 10th, 2015 at 6:30 pm
87, Fyi I would never reneg on a bet….. Nevertheless, Mariota will be our #1 draft pick, so it’s a moot point, IMO.
March 10th, 2015 at 6:31 pm
StPeteBucsFan Says:
March 10th, 2015 at 5:52 pm
I DO think as soon as they make up their minds they should just go ahead and sign the guy. Why not get a big head start with the playbook and learning the offense whether it’s Fameis or Mariota? I do not see any advantage for the Bucs in prolonging this IF they already know their selection and their draft board is set as Licht implied last week.
————————————————————————
I agree SPBF. It would greatly benefit whichever QB they choose to get signed and get to work with coaches and learning the playbook ASAP. Would give that QB a big leg up heading into rookie minicamp and OTAs.
Something tells me though that King Goodell has put the word out to the Bucs not to sign or reveal their choice until draft day. Taking away the element of surprise and intrigue regarding the 1st pick is bad for business as far as the NFL is concerned I’m sure.
March 10th, 2015 at 6:38 pm
Pickgrin…if the pick is Mariota then he should have been signed a month ago.
That boy’s got a lot to learn.
March 10th, 2015 at 7:10 pm
Matt Baker, Times Staff Writer
Monday, March 9, 2015 9:49am
“This isn’t a shock, but Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is the near unanimous pick for the Bucs, according to my weekly survey of mock drafts. Only one of the pundits I track still projects the Bucs to pick Oregon’s Marcus Mariota; that’s SI’s Chris Burke, who hasn’t updated his picks lately.”
The final tally
Winston 13, Mariota 1
Yet Erik is CONFIDENT that the pick will be Mariota and all these analysts are full of shyte.
March 10th, 2015 at 7:17 pm
Just saw on TV that Teacherman777 was seen trying to abduct a child. Bill O’Reilly and Brian Williams both say they saw him take the child.
March 10th, 2015 at 7:18 pm
I’ll bet the “left nut” of a certain stuttering-stammering show host/newspaper reader, that the Buc’s don’t pick Winston. At least as far as that’s concerned.
March 10th, 2015 at 7:22 pm
Schlomie BarMitzvahCircumcisiStein Says:
March 10th, 2015 at 7:18 pm
I’ll bet the “left nut” of a certain stuttering-stammering show host/newspaper reader, that the Buc’s don’t pick Winston. At least as far as that’s concerned.
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If you can guarantee that happens on air without drugs, I would be willing to consider the Bucs not taking Winston.
March 10th, 2015 at 8:22 pm
Watch Glennon beat Winston come training camp.
March 10th, 2015 at 10:46 pm
flmike Says:
March 10th, 2015 at 1:56 pm
I’m not even sure Winston can spell PhD
Winston was accepted into Standford. What school were you accepted into. Can you spell philosophy degree? Do you even know know what philosophy degree means?
March 11th, 2015 at 6:11 am
If they draft that piece of crap Winston, I am done with the Bucs. Go Jax!
March 11th, 2015 at 11:08 am
I am sure not sold on Jameis…..I genuinely hope that Lovie & Licht are doing their due diligence and vetting any and all potential prospects….More importantly, I am hoping that there is another team (or two) who values Mariota or Winston more than we do, and offers a couple of 2015 First Round picks, an additional Second Rounder; (or just their two lower first round picks and Drew Brees with a re-negotiated contract!)
March 12th, 2015 at 11:26 pm
Charlie Casserly just did his first mock. Winston to the Bucs at #1. He said easiest pick that can be made on the board. He moved along quickly. You guys are just killing me with this “if Mariota is the pick” and “if they go with Jameis” stuff. I’m telling you, it’s done