The Bucs, Winston And Contracts
April 2nd, 2015
OK, for the fraction of Joe’s readers pounding the drum about when the Bucs can sign Winston and why don’t they get him into One Buc Palace as soon as possible, Joe has your answers.
The Bucs could begin negotiations with Winston now, but there is no (smart) rationale to do so.
The main reason is teams (pick any year, any team, any player) don’t want an 11th hour surprise on their hands. They don’t want to unearth something or have an incident happen that would prevent them from taking a player after they’ve signed him. Or, for example, a team owner losses his mind on the eve of the draft and wants to do a Mike Ditka and trade away the farm.
Second, if the Bucs signed Winston, per NFL rules, no rookie can be at a team facility until he is drafted (except as one of the 30 players teams can bring in for pre-draft interviews). So signing a guy early offers zero advantages from a team perspective and, frankly, isn’t smart business. It really serves no purpose.
If you are to ask, “Couldn’t the Bucs sign him and give him a playbook?” Re-read the second paragraph. Besides, the Bucs installed some of their offense for Winston to learn already.
April 2nd, 2015 at 2:52 pm
Thanks for the clarification Joe.
I can accept that somebody may go RGIII nuts and just offer too much.
That makes sense.
But if we’re worried Fameis can’t get to the end of the month without another “incident” then that should be a deal breaker. What’s going to happen after the end of the month that makes him a safer pick.
If he has an “incident” on May 30th AFTER we’ve signed him we’re still just as hosed. We have to believe he has grown up and his incident days are behind him or we shouldn’t even be thinking about him to begin with. Just sayin”
As far as NFL rules about Fameis and OBP…rules are meant to be broken. Ask Bill Belicheat.
Would it be illegal for Fameis to call up some new found buds in VJAZ and Evans and begin tossing the ball at the USF practice field? Of course the team would have nothing to do with this in any way. wink wink.
April 2nd, 2015 at 2:55 pm
I’m not sure sure it’s as written in stone as everyone is saying. That’s the best answer to that question, the Bucs will wait until the final hour of the draft to get a great trade offer, and if not they WILL take Mariota. Id bet my house on it. L&L are talking up Winston to get some trade offers. Then if nothing materializes Licht will say “after a long hard process we feel comfortable making Mariota our quarterback.”
April 2nd, 2015 at 2:58 pm
If Winston is the guy without a doubt and the Bucs are totally in love with him, why publicly say you want to trade down!? Becareful not to breathe in to much smoke, you might end up with lung cancer. I also remember Licht saying something along the lines of ” hold on Bucs fans it’s gonna a crazy ride” and he said that in early February
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:00 pm
Pretty simple. Don’t want to publicly show your hand. Say winston gets arrested and they go with Mariota, as of now they can say that he was their guy all along.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:04 pm
@SuperSam
I don’t know if you’re right or wrong. Only time will tell. I shall say this though. That’s a bold prediction and if you’re correct you should repost it and claim scoreboard!
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:04 pm
@supersam
I’m curious as why you dont like JW? From a off field stance, I can see why you may not like him. However from a football stance I am confused, because football wise JW is better than MM, as passer. The mental side of the game, JW has the edge from being in a pro style system. You have a lot of negative post about JW, I would like to hear your reasoning behind it.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:12 pm
Ho hum.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:14 pm
anything short of the playoffs and winston is a failure. a beefed up OL and koetter and glennon could easily get us 8 wins, possible playoffs.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:14 pm
Hey. Surprise. Another Jameis article. Dude change your website. Are you even covering the bucs anymore. Joejameisfan.com. I wish bucs nation wrote more articles cause this just isn’t fun anymore.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:14 pm
They have to gamble on a QB sooner or later.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:15 pm
L&L haven’t said they want to trade down. They said that they will obviously be listening to all offers, and it makes sense to do so. Some team can always come along and offer some crazy deal to trade up, so you have to at least listen. I doubt that offer comes though, and they will take Winston without hesitation.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:16 pm
So why bring in Mariota? Oh, because they don’t fully trust Winston so they are just doing their due diligence? Please. They haven’t made up their mind like everyone thinks. But but but but I read on JBF and Mockdrafters everywhere that Winston was the pick. I still say it is an “if” for Winston. Also still prepared for 4 scenarios (Mariota, Winston, D-line, trade down).
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:16 pm
^^^^^^^LMFAO^^^^^^^
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:17 pm
I think its telling that there is all this talk about folks trading up to get MM but I have yet to hear anyone say they are interested in, rumors about, or sources say, involved in trading up for Winston.
That speaks volumes to me….I think 31 other teams will be thanking us to take him and take that decision off their plates.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:17 pm
Joejameisfan.com LMFAO
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:19 pm
@cspann HOnestly….on the field talent looks similar to me. MM looks faster but JW looks like he has a better arm…..the problem is…..off the field stuff cannot be separated from the on the field stuff in the new NFL. You have to be solid off the field to even be ON the field
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Sam,
Because everyone knows the Bucs are taking Winston. Nothing to trade up for. Even though there are articles about trading up with the Bucs to get Mariota.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Stupid decision to pass on Winston if they choose too. Nothing about Winston screams bust or mediocre quarterback, it’s just pure opinion for some. This would paramount to the colts waiting for that ultra trade up for Andrew Luck.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:24 pm
Also, the Bucs could tell Winston they are going to draft him and not do anything else until draft time. However, that would ruin the surprise, right?
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:26 pm
Joe there’s only 1 advantage for us Buc fans to have Winston signed….
That’s to stop the “we’re taking Mariota idiocracy” on these blog sites.
Oh well, ho hum.
“You can’t always get what you want.”-The Rolling Stones
I’ve waited this long, I can put up with these idiots a few weeks longer.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:26 pm
Sam, I didn’t know that you were in Jason Licht’s office…how else would you know the details of every team that has called the Bucs about the trade, what the teams are, and who they are hoping to get. Amazing. Please enlighten us some more with your obvious inside knowledge into what GMs are contacting the Bucs and who they covet.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:27 pm
@Skyline
I remember an interview with peter King where he said that he talked to Licht and Licht stated that he knew which QB they would take last November. Everything else is a formality.
@SuperSam
I will take that bet. Forget a free jersey, I am going to get me a free house!
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:27 pm
It’s not that I don’t like Winston from a football standpoint although I don’t care for his off the feild demeanor much, I just prefer Mariota. Sure Winston is a head of Mariota from a football standpoint right now,I’ll give him that, I just feel that Mariota has a much higher ceiling long term, and the fact you can rest assure knowing that Mariota will always be a high character guy. Where as Winston it might not be today, tomorrow, or next year, but I can’t help but get the feeling the guy is gonna screw up.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:27 pm
Supersame
You can’t bet the government nut house you live in that is not yours to gamble with.
Bird, will you be ordering a Home or Away Winston Jersey in a few weeks.
Welcome to Tampa Jameis. There will be no trade there will be no MM get used to it.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:27 pm
No trade!! Get the QB!!!
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:28 pm
@Sam
I don’t see how they are similar on the field. I’ve watch alot of games of both guys playing. To me MM is a product of a system that I have see other QBs put up big numbers i.e.(Dennis Dixon, D. Thomas). Let’s be honest OU has had a great offense for the last 8 years. JW comes in and takes the same team EJ Manuel had and makes them a juggernaut. Thne comes back with less talent and nearly went undefeated. It is a huge contrast in the systems they were in and the one JW was it translates better.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:28 pm
Sam Says:
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:19 pm
“@cspann HOnestly….on the field talent looks similar to me. MM looks faster but JW looks like he has a better arm…..the problem is…..off the field stuff cannot be separated from the on the field stuff in the new NFL. You have to be solid off the field to even be ON the field”
And he’s been vetted by the Bucs AND the NFL…or did you miss that?
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:28 pm
Bucs are fielding offers for Glennon and they have no other QB on their roster. It would be foolish to NOT pick a QB. If you are going to pick a QB and you just went 2-14, wouldn’t it make sense to pick the guy who you know can perform well in your system. I swear some people just can’t process logical thinking on this site or any other site for that matter.
Lovie and Licht don’t have time for a project even if they like him more than the ready made guy because if they have another terrible season, they won’t be around to see the project mature.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:29 pm
Any quarterback taken after Winston I can understand the heavy “it or bust” factor taken from fans. There is no talk of Winston could be great “IF” but all the talk is that he will be a great player the only issue is how great can he really be. All I know is that these teams will do whatever the hell they want to do and if they don’t pick Winston that’s their choice. But you can tell that Winston will not be a bust that’s for sure if anything he may not be Peyton but who is.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:30 pm
This what Winston said when asked if the Bucs were taking him #1 “No indication. Right now, I can’t convince someone I’m different, but I can move forward.”
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:31 pm
No inside information, just a gut feeling. I’ve been wrong plenty of times before, but to me it seems the Bucs are saying one thing but will be doing something different come draft night.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:31 pm
@cspann to your point, Dennis Dixon was a beast in college and probably should have won the Heisman if not for his injury. Dude can barely make an NFL squad now.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:31 pm
I see dumb people.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:33 pm
Everyone says we’re taking Winston, everyone said the earth was flat not to long ago too. You don’t know until you know.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:33 pm
Newbucsfan
But you can tell that Winston will not be a bust
_______________
LMAO, please tell the NFL scouts your secret because they haven’t figured out who will be a bust and who won’t.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:34 pm
I think the off-field stuff is overblown. I think that JW didn’t realize that he was a huge public figure and that his life was on display. JW probably thinks that he’s just a regular guy, but he is not because of his accomplishments. He now sees that and I think he is adjusting accordingly to being a public figure now.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:35 pm
Stop the we’re taking Mariota idiocracy!
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:36 pm
this guys gonna make dolly partons bust look small
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:38 pm
I’m surprised Dixon got drafted just because of his injury. I figured he would have been at best a 7th rounder or an undrafted guy. He was never a good passer. He was more of a running back that happened to throw every now and then. Should have converted to WR or something. Kind of like Tebow should have converted to a H-back.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:41 pm
lol poor 87’…you got awhile to wait for that.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:41 pm
No talk about taxing for Winston because it’s a lock!!! The would have to pay crazy amount. Light said if we think franchise QB there we are not taxing down.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:42 pm
@Skyline Crew
The point is that the OU offense has been good for some time, even before MM got there. MM stats are misleading imo.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:44 pm
@ just took…. Get ready to find yourself another team!!! You, Robert and subparsam will have fun watching the jags next year. It’s done!!
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:45 pm
I Just Took a Winston and it stained the rim Says:
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:36 pm
“this guys gonna make dolly partons bust look small”
Now I see dumb children.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:45 pm
No other QB at Oregon compares to Mariota. He is the best QB to ever come out of Oregon. His stats blow all the other QBs there out of the water.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:48 pm
87′ you shouldn’t talk about your kids like that bro. They are yours.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:49 pm
Skyline—- can’t remember QB befor mm but he put up crazy numbers… System
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:53 pm
if 2,000 yds passing is crazy numbers than sure. But like I said none of them have compared to Mariota stats wise or play wise.
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:56 pm
It es more than that. I’ll check
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:57 pm
And it was Darron Thomas who was never drafted because he wasn’t any good.
His best year was putting up 2800 yds in 13 games and rushing for 486 yds. Average QB at best.
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:00 pm
But he only put up 6 int to 35 touchdowns… System. Mariota is the best at that system though.. I’ll give him that.
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:01 pm
Mariota’s Freshman year was better than Darron’s senior year. There is a reason none of the others were considered a #1 prospect. They weren’t that good. Sure their TD/Int ratio was good, but their yardage was sub par at best.
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:02 pm
Right, TD/Int most were pretty good at, but they couldn’t pass like Mariota and they couldn’t run like him.
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:03 pm
Pretty sure FSU QBs have around the same TD/Int ratio as well. Does that mean they are all the same?
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:05 pm
Mariota doesn’t go vertical that much… So many screen passes going for lot of yards
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:06 pm
I’ll give you MM was a better passer then the others, but the other QBs had better RBs than MM did as well. OU ran the ball better during the other QBs stints.
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:07 pm
What if I told you that Mariota lead the NCAA last year in passing over 15 yds?
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:08 pm
Can’t see the alpha male in him. So quiet. Can’t see him taking control of huddle at all… Sorry, just my perception.
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:10 pm
Greg Schiano would have scared the living crap out of Mariota worse than Freeman.
Winston…he would have loved Schiano.
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:10 pm
In plays over 15 not actual passes traveling past 15 . He gets a ton on bubble and screens that go for yardage.
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:11 pm
Mariota showed a nice touch on long throws. He completed 54 percent of his passes thrown at least 15 yards downfield, the highest percentage among Power 5 quarterbacks and 16 percentage points better than the Power 5 average.
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:12 pm
Supersam Says:
April 2nd, 2015 at 2:55 pm
“the Bucs ….WILL take Mariota. Id bet my house on it.”
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I’m calling your bluff Sam. let’s meet tomorrow and have my lawyer draw up the proper paperwork for that bet. You get my house if Mariota is the #1 pick by the Bucs – and I get yours if Winston is the #1 pick by the Bucs. If they draft any other player or trade back its a push.
I’m serious Sam. Let’s do this.
Free house sounds good to me.
Of course you won’t and probably won’t even respond – so how about instead you just STFU about Mariota being the Bucs pick. It ain’t happening.
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:13 pm
It’s all moot point. Pick is Winston
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:13 pm
I wonder what Nybucsfan changed his name to……
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:16 pm
Well it isn’t a mute point. Just dispelling the myths about Mariota.
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:24 pm
But the bucs are going winston sorry about misspell hate this auto spell thing
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:26 pm
Why are people still talking about Mariota? He’s going to the Eagles and he’s going to be great.
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:33 pm
87.. you see dumb people and kids? You’re drunk, get out of the mirror. If everyone loved Jameis as much as you do the case would be closed. It apparently is still under deliberation.
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:37 pm
“Skyline Crew Says:
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:16 pm
Well it isn’t a mute point. ”
What’s a mute point? It’s that like a silent moot point?
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:43 pm
Buccfan37….anyone that thinks the pick is anyone other than Winston at this point to me is an idiot. Someone has to say it. It might as well be me.
I’m not saying that have to love him as much as me. I’m saying they are too dumb to see he’s going to be the pick.
Anyone that makes a screen name like this : I Just Took a Winston and it stained the rim.
Is a childish moron in my world. I don’t know about yours.
April 2nd, 2015 at 4:44 pm
to see he’s NOT going to be the pick***
You can’t fix stupid!
April 2nd, 2015 at 5:01 pm
@supersam your posts are down right hilarious LOL
@skyline in his breakdown of MM, jeremiah daniels went down a list of oregon QBs and all their stats were just as good as MM but MM seems to be the best pro QB prospect they’ve had since Joey Harrignton
April 2nd, 2015 at 5:06 pm
Marcus has a average arm strength every long pass over 50 yards was short. I saw a replay where Winston threw a pass 60 years in the air with a man in his face for a TD. I am a gator fan but the best pick for the Bucs is Winston.
April 2nd, 2015 at 5:15 pm
Buccfan37 it is only still under deliberation on these local websites. Everyone with much more inside knowledge than fans like us is saying it’s a done deal.
As far as the posters saying that MM is the only one being mentioned in trade rumors it is because everyone knows the Bucs aren’t trading down. It would be too costly and nobody think the Bucs will give away their shot at Winston. Apparently nobody is sure what TN will do at #2. However on Draft to the Path the other night they did say that if Winston fell to #2 they would snatch him up.
April 2nd, 2015 at 5:44 pm
I know that people will be changing names like crazy if things don’t pan out as they have PROMISED.
Here is what I’d love to see so I could come back here and LMAO.
I’d love to see a Tennessee-Tampa Bay Super bowl with MM versus Fameis.
Perhaps then the debate would be a little more rational.
April 2nd, 2015 at 5:56 pm
StPete last year this time all the mocks and all the experts were saying Clowney was the pick. While the experts and mocks tend to be way off the further you get into the draft they tend to always get that pick right.
If something crazy happens and they take MM I will take my medicine on here and hope like crazy he succeeds. If they trade the pick or draft someone other than a QB I will probably won’t be on here as I will either give up on the Bucs or have a broken computer (or both).
April 2nd, 2015 at 5:59 pm
lol.
Joe writes an article explaining pretty simply why it’d be stupid to sign anyone to a contract before the draft; and somehow people are jumping up and down taking it as some sign from the heavens that the Bucs aren’t sold on Winston.
Couldn’t make this stuff up.
Joe also forgot to mention any player in the draft could have a freak accident injury before the draft which would make signing them early dumb.
April 2nd, 2015 at 7:15 pm
Grafik, 2800 yds isn’t 4000 yds. Sorry but Mariota is the passer to come from Oregon. Maybe he should look at the stats again.
April 2nd, 2015 at 7:17 pm
Like saying Weinke, Ponder, and Winston were just as good.
April 2nd, 2015 at 7:36 pm
You do realize that Winston threw more passes under 5 yards than Mariota right? If anyone took the time to look at the breakdown of JW and MM stats you might be surprised. They do not support the narrative. Investigate. Which QB performed better under pressure? Which QB performed better against the blitz? Which QB performed better when throwing beyond 20 yards? Which QB performed better when rolling out? When forced to scramble? When using play action? When throwing over the middle? When throwing to the sideline? Don’t believe the hype!! By the way, in case you think I cherry picked these questions, the answer is not the same to all.
April 2nd, 2015 at 7:58 pm
@cremesicle.
Did I say I was privy to everyThing? Pretty sure I was clear about rumors or sources say vs saying there were NO offers.
He is an engaging kid….some say a leader…..just not my kind of leader. A true leader to me leads by example. I do agree though this site is really turning into a JW circle jerk. I’d like to see some MM stories just in case. Last year Johnny good time….. I still think joe hasn’t really gotten over it.
They clearLy are taking a qb and it certainly appears the bucs are in love with him. As a buc fan….I hope he is the good guy they think he is.
April 2nd, 2015 at 8:19 pm
@charactermatters: c’mon now. Oregon runs a gimmicky offense. That really isn’t up for debate and that is the reason why all the experts give Winston the nod. He may be able to learn it but nobody really knows at this point. Bruce Arians actually said what he did at Oregon bears no resemblance to what an NFL QB has to do. He has a ton of athleticism and seems like a nice kid so I’m kind of rooting of him, but the Bucs are definitely making the right choice drafting Winston,
April 2nd, 2015 at 8:20 pm
Bares
April 2nd, 2015 at 8:25 pm
It seems the blog is finally settling down. Majority opinion is that the Bucs are taking Fameis.
But I also see that a majority of supporters of both QBS have said they’ll support the Bucs no matter which QB they pick.
I lean Fameis now but won’t be crushed if they pick MM.
IF they don’t pick one of the QB’s I will be upset with any other pick at #!. IF they don’t take a QB they better trade down for a BOATLOAD of picks.
April 2nd, 2015 at 8:37 pm
@supersam dude MM AINT coming to tampa. Some scouts have him at 17 to the chargers. JW is coming to tampa. If some 1 or YOU don’t like it. Root for the jags or the dolphins. It’s that simple. So many ppl talk about some stupid ceiling is higher than this or that. Look!!! u stand tall in the pocket and deliver the ball with accuracy that’s about it. Ask tom brady IT WORKS!! 4 rings. How many rings does mike vick or Colin Kaepernick or cam newton have?…O pocket passer’s dominate the NFL. Russel Wilson wouldn’t even smell the playoffs if it wasn’t for the Legion of boom and the rest of that SICK defense So there’s that. So stop day dreaming n giving yourself false hope cuz JABOO is on his way to the bucs!!!! Wooooooooo “leggo we skrong”
April 2nd, 2015 at 10:27 pm
LOL
April 3rd, 2015 at 4:27 am
Sam Says:
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:17 pm
I think its telling that there is all this talk about folks trading up to get MM but I have yet to hear anyone say they are interested in, rumors about, or sources say, involved in trading up for Winston.
That speaks volumes to me….I think 31 other teams will be thanking us to take him and take that decision off their plates.
————————————————————————————–
Yet over 100 credentials were given out to see Winston’s Pro Day…Yeah i know FSU had a lot of other players that will be taken high..But if you think that many people would have been at that Pro Day without Winston there you are fooling yourself..
April 3rd, 2015 at 4:33 am
Sam Says:
April 2nd, 2015 at 3:19 pm
@cspann HOnestly….on the field talent looks similar to me. MM looks faster but JW looks like he has a better arm…..the problem is…..off the field stuff cannot be separated from the on the field stuff in the new NFL. You have to be solid off the field to even be ON the field
—————————————————————————–
To your first point…. Are they running track or throwing a football?? And to your last sentence, If this was true you would probably lose about 50% of the league…There is so much dirt on a lot of these players that is never revealed(We’re all human)..They only reason the NFL is making a huge deal about off field issues now is because a video was LEAKED, not because of any preventative measured they put in place…
April 3rd, 2015 at 7:32 am
11th hours surprise? JBF, sounds like your concerns are greater than you’ve been letting on. WELCOME TO THE CLUB!
April 3rd, 2015 at 9:05 am
Supersam Says:
April 2nd, 2015 at 2:55 pm
I’m not sure sure it’s as written in stone as everyone is saying. That’s the best answer to that question, the Bucs will wait until the final hour of the draft to get a great trade offer, and if not they WILL take Mariota. Id bet my house on it. L&L are talking up Winston to get some trade offers. Then if nothing materializes Licht will say “after a long hard process we feel comfortable making Mariota our quarterback.”
——————————
So you’d bet your house that Mariota is the pick? Talk about people screwing up….how would your family feel being homeless after you gave away your home despite all the signs pointing to the contrary? I don’t think Jameis has ever made such a big mistake.
April 3rd, 2015 at 1:06 pm
I have thought long and hard about this. I will still support my home team no matter what the pick is. However, those of you who are ready to jump up and down like you just won at bingo if JW is the pick, annoint him the savior of the franchise, and run to the store to buy his jersey should take a long look in the the mirror and think about what you want to represent when you throw that Jersey on. I don’t claim to know whether he is innocent or guilty, but if you stop and think objectively for just a minute, you have to admit that it’s possible. Even if the odds are 80% innocent and 20% guilty, that 20% makes me uncomfortable.