Will Jameis Burn Out?
August 5th, 2015
Potential burnout victim?
All Joe and just about everyone who follows the Bucs had heard through the draft process and into training camp was that “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, was all football.
Jameis ate, slept and breathed football 24/7. Hell, his roommate, wide receiver Kenny Bell, said that Jameis will call out plays as he is dozing off, trying to trip up the rookie from Nebraska.
Heavy metal-head banging Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports wonders if a guy so wired into football may just fry himself. Based on talking with someone who knows Jameis, La Canfora fears if the Bucs don’t turn their fortunes around quickly, then the losing could get to Jameis and he could quickly become a burnout victim.
Some people who know Jameis Winston well hope he isn’t putting too much on his shoulders too soon, but figure he is. The kid has never really lost at anything, isn’t wired to do it, but the Bucs had the first-overall pick for a reason. He was pressing some in the spring and trying to do too much at times, which naturally leads to picks. His inner circle is urging him to focus on slow and steady progress and Winston spent his time between OTAs and training camp still in football mode. He brought receivers Mike Evans and Louis Murphy to Florida State, working out with them and trying to further cement their chemistry. He also continued to help new Seminoles quarterback Everett Golson try to learn that college offense. Winston is all football, but burnout can be real and the weight of expectations will be heavy. “I hope he doesn’t try to do too much, but that’s kinda the only way he knows,” as one person close to him explained it. Avoiding a brutal start to the season might be imperative.
The followng crossed Joe’s mind before. Joe tried to purge it but may as well offer it up now: Remember when former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik drafted leaky, sleepy Josh Freeman and claimed Freeman was all about work ethic, and even Team Glazer was remarked how Freeman was devoted to his craft in the offseason?
Then, as it turned out, Freeman’s football desire waned. So were we conned about Freeman from Day One, or did Freeman burn himself out due to all of the losses?
Notice just yesterday, Bucs right tackle Demar Dotson told Joe that Jameis has a winning attitude, something Freeman didn’t as a rookie, Dotson claims.
Worst of all, is the Freeman saga a cautionary tale of what could happen with Jameis if this franchise doesn’t get its act together soon?
August 5th, 2015 at 9:05 am
I would just like to try and make it to a second contract with him. Not sure how long it’s been since we’ve done that. One more draft and I see our window starting to open in Winston’s third year. IMO
August 5th, 2015 at 9:10 am
Yes, “if” the Bucs lose. They are not. Heisman Trophy, National Championship, Baseball, Rose Bowl, 26-1, Baseball, Combine, NFL Draft, first overall pick, OTA’s, Training Camp, Franchise QB and all the “other” stuff. Jameis is used to it. Bring it.
August 5th, 2015 at 9:17 am
Not worried about burnout….focusing too much on football…..usually it’s the opposite that’s the problem.
Jameis will inspire others to focus on winning….
August 5th, 2015 at 9:23 am
I admit it could be a concern considering the losing history of franchise and the current staffs acceptance of mediocrity. Hopefully ownership will put the right people in place to ensure the bucs are winning sooner than later. I am convinced the glazer boys need a strong president of football operations to bridge the gap between ownership and gm / coach… not dungy or McKay either living in the past is foolish and unproductive.
August 5th, 2015 at 9:30 am
No, because it’s what he loves & football is like recreation.
August 5th, 2015 at 9:45 am
‘Losing’ could certainly hurt his psyche, but it probably wouldn’t be enough to turn him to the dark side. What would hurt the most is if he didn’t believe that the Bucs (owners/management/coaches) were as committed as he is to winning. IOW, I believe that a rough rookie season will not permanently hurt Winston, but if, during the next off-season, the team does not get the kinds of players/coaches that he believes are needed to start winning…
August 5th, 2015 at 10:17 am
Sorry, but Freeman’s brain and ability to focus for more than 5 seconds went out the door when K2 and his “briefcase” of adderal came to the team…Understandably, the local “media” never wanted to dive into that, but noone should ever wonder why Schiano promptly shipped K2 off the team, or wonder how exatly Freeman got “burned out.”
August 5th, 2015 at 10:24 am
Throw a few picks starting preparation for a new season and the nervous nellies start having doubts. What if.. oh my god.. I told you.. woe is me..
August 5th, 2015 at 10:41 am
For you to compare Winston to Freeman is crazy. No two QBs are the same. They aren’t similar at all. You guys are too afraid of the past.
August 5th, 2015 at 10:48 am
this is why I said that Bucs fans don’t have to have big expectation for this season.
I’m just hoping to see more fights, more touchdowns, defeats with less poinys than last season but I’m not expecting a lot more of victory.
The team needs time.
August 5th, 2015 at 11:30 am
Joehelldeloxley…I like that thinking.
August 5th, 2015 at 11:44 am
Jameis Winston is the type of player that will never burn out, he’s use to pressure situations. He has been a 2 sport athlete since the age of 8, and he has been on top of both sports, while still maintaining a 3.8 GPA. He will only get better as a QB ,he can soley concentrate on football now for the 1st time in his life. He’s amazing he has the total package,, the personality, the big arm, the leadership , the work ethnic, the high football IQ. And he’s only 21 and still learning and maturing, the future is bright for him as well as for us fans. GO BUCS
August 5th, 2015 at 11:44 am
I think JW is well aware of how much this team sucked last season, and prior to last season as well. The kid is very grounded despite all the hype thrown his way. Grounded while all the while hypes his own self up.
He’ll be just fine, but don’t expect some kind of major turnaround by him just being on the roster. Like Joehelldeloxley said the team needs time. I do have this feeling though that the Bucs have never had a QB on this team that works as hard as JW does. We’ll and he’ll be fine.
August 5th, 2015 at 11:49 am
I don’t know about Winston burning out, but I know most of the rest of us are close to a burnout after the way you constantly fawn, preen and worry about this young man.
I wonder if Winston has considered putting a restraining order on yoy, Joe.
August 5th, 2015 at 12:19 pm
If team doesn’t win it will be on Winston. Rookie year a pass but after that its all Winston. Drafted 1 overall and a qb he will right or wrong be responsible for bucs record.
August 5th, 2015 at 12:22 pm
So before he shows up, the media says Jameis is a hooligan and immature and will lose focus on football.
Now he is dedicated, learning plays, practicing hard….he’s going to be a victim of burnout.
Boy does the media hate this kid or what?????
August 5th, 2015 at 12:31 pm
Joe, I always wonder, how come when Raheem was the coach, all were heard regarding Freeman was what a hard worker he was. How Freeman is the first player in one buc and the last one out. Then Schiano comes in and its a different tune. Freeman lacks motivation. Freeman needs competition. Then he over sleeps and misses a team photo? I mean, what happened? What changed in late November 2012 that caused Freeman to go from setting franchise records to looking like a rookie? Was the news we heard under Raheem just lies to pump up the fans? I get it. Schiano was a jerk. But that’s just not an excuse to be a crappy football player. And some how, Freeman medical info was leaked. By whom, still no news. I mean, if it really was Schiano like some around here beleive, would we even hear about it in the news? I would imagine so considering nothing is sacred anymore. All I know is, from a fans perspective, fans who watched Freeman play almost every game of his career, something dosen’t add up. There is a variable in that equation that eludes the fans. Its too easy to beleive he was a drug addict, or 2010 was a fluke, or Schiano ruined this grown man. No. That may satisfy non Bucs fans that dont know spit about the Bucs and couldnt care less. But inquisitive minded Bucs fans know there’s something being left out of all this. Correct me if im wrong.
August 5th, 2015 at 12:33 pm
I just don’t recall ever seeing such questions posed at anytime prior to Jamies WINSton. But I’ll answer it, HELL NO!!!
August 5th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
America’s quarter. Now that’s funny. Can y’all say Jamarcus Russell?
August 5th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
Not sure we will ever find out. It is a million dollar question. Guessing — just guessing — it is a combination on being oversold on Freeman and him melting down mentally.
August 5th, 2015 at 12:52 pm
Jameis expects to win, and he is accustomed to imposing his will on college-level competition.
If the Bucs aren’t winning, he will get frustrated, but I seriously doubt that he will “burn out.”
Simply “putting in the work” has never made a QB great. There’s a world of difference between Winston and Freeman that far exceeds mere “work ethic.”
August 5th, 2015 at 1:02 pm
I think Freeman saw that Schiano drafted and preferred Glennon and he could not handle it mentally. Other factors may have been involved, like medication.
August 5th, 2015 at 1:12 pm
IIRC, there were a lot of questions early on about Freeman’s focus and dedication. Maybe Freeman responded to that criticism and tightened up, or maybe the Bucs’ spin machine simply went into overdrive to convince everyone he was working hard.
At any rate, Freeman was a classic boom-or-bust talent who had not much more going for him than big size and a big arm. The scouts and analysts that had him graded as a first-round talent were in the minority. They knew he would probably be drafted in the first round, because desperate teams reach for QBs, but opinions about Freeman’s future as an NFL QB were all over the map.
Winston was almost universally graded out as not just a first-round talent, but as a top-five pick. There wasn’t even much debate about whether Winston was worthy of being the first overall pick, and that debate only really existed because of Winston’s off-field concerns and because a guy named Marcus Mariota was also in the same draft.
In terms of football acumen and sheer ability to play the QB position, Winston blows the doors off of Freeman, and comparing the two at this point is fruitless.
August 5th, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Señor Mofo:
This is news to Joe. Hope you have some links to enlighten him.
August 5th, 2015 at 1:26 pm
@Joe
As I said: if I recall. I’m not going to fish around for links to six-and-seven year old rumors.
Besides, I said questions about his focus and dedication. Those qualities are not necessarily synonymous with simply showing up early and leaving late.
August 5th, 2015 at 1:51 pm
he makes up for being an interception machine by being one hell of a great teammate and hard worker. there is heaps to like about JW, just wish he didnt have such an elongated delivery and was more accurate.
August 5th, 2015 at 2:44 pm
Never heard that when he was a rookie. Seriously.
August 5th, 2015 at 3:54 pm
Grab your pitch forks if he doesn’t work hard enough and get the noose ready because he’s too focused on football.
August 5th, 2015 at 11:52 pm
I remember a post where Joe talked to WR coach P J Fleck. Fleck told Joe that by the end of the 2012 season, defenses had figured out the Bucs’ offense, and the offensive coaches weren’t able to adjust
August 6th, 2015 at 12:07 am
Here it is…
https://www.joebucsfan.com/2013/01/defenses-outfoxed-the-bucs/