Growing Up
April 12th, 2016
Joe remembers but a year ago how the self-appointed moralists and the sophists and the do-gooders screamed to high heaven that the Bucs should steer clear of America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
The way some described Jameis, he was just short of Charles Manson, an evil monster. That was from most folks who likely never, ever talked to Jameis much less followed his college career.
Of course, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht knew better. And of course, Jameis helped himself. Did he at times act immature? Perhaps. But there’s no question Jameis won over just about everyone he has come into contact with this past year by being above board and becoming the team leader, writes Bob Harkins at TodaysPigskin.com.
[I]t does speak to an increasing maturity in the rising star, and perhaps an awareness of his own status as a leader for the franchise.
He’s saying the right things, and that will carry him well moving forward – with management, with the fans, with his coaches and with his teammates. All of it will reflect well on him and help him as he tries to take a prominent position in moving the franchise forward.
The only thing Joe can add is thank goodness Lovie Smith and Licht saw through all the nonsense and the howls of protests from all corners. Even a high-ranking member of Lovie’s inner circle was dead set against Jameis, no less a figure than Father Dungy who did his best to torpedo plans the Bucs’ plans to draft Jameis, a shameful stunt Joe will never forget.
Joe knows the Bucs were under an incredible amount of public pressure to stay away from Jameis. Good thing they stayed true to their instincts and research.
April 12th, 2016 at 9:08 am
Spot on Joe. The hit job people like Dungy did on this kid pre-draft was shameful and from the look of it totally off base. I also remember mentioning to other JoeBucsFan, fans that the true test of JW’s maturity/worthiness was THIS offseason and how he conducted himself. So far, so outstanding.
April 12th, 2016 at 9:20 am
Thanks to Jameis–I am a Buc fan, honestly I used to only watch FSU football on Saturdays, JW got drafted and I decided to give the NFL a look. I watch/read it all now. JW made it happen!
April 12th, 2016 at 9:20 am
Hope is a great thing and Jameis provides it.
April 12th, 2016 at 9:26 am
@firethecannons – I took a similar path to following the Bucs. I was an FSU fan and loved Warrick Dunn. I followed him to the Bucs and rode the Super Bowl wave that followed a few years later. I’ve spent every year since paying for it. Hopefully you’ve gotten on as we’re reaching another swell of good football under Jameis
April 12th, 2016 at 9:31 am
Dungy never bashed Jameis. Dungy just believed Mariota was special. He’s on to something from what we did see last year. Let’s all move on already.
April 12th, 2016 at 9:34 am
@Chris K: http://www.si.com/college-football/2014/09/23/jameis-winston-tony-dungy-nfl-draft
April 12th, 2016 at 9:46 am
Dingy was great and all but no one needs to take his advice on QBs
April 12th, 2016 at 9:48 am
I don’t listen to that big pile of Dungy anyway.
April 12th, 2016 at 9:53 am
Dungy has lost all credibility with his hypocritical BS… You can’t forgive a proven guilty Mike Vick and defend him yet trash Jameis who was actually innocent. The Hall of Fame lost credibility by putting Dungy in before the likes of Tom Flores and Jimmy Johnson… And to be clear, Mike Vick paid his price and earned a second chance. My issue is with Hypocrite Dungy and his judgemental arse not Mike Vick. I am glad Vick turned his life around and has done some good.
April 12th, 2016 at 9:57 am
Tmax – I love Tony Dungy, loved what he did for the Bucs while employed by the Bucs. I think he deserves his HOF bid and I wish him well. But his self sanctimonious take on Mr. Winston was born out of what seems to be an easy target, and in taking that route, Mr. Dungy certainly lost a bit of shine in my eyes.
April 12th, 2016 at 10:04 am
ChanEpic
I respect the turnaround the team had under Dungy. Dungy did a great job with Sam Wyche’s talent that being said; The legend of Dungy has surprised his actual accomplishments.
April 12th, 2016 at 10:23 am
Tmax – Yep pretty much.
April 12th, 2016 at 10:25 am
Thanks for saying that Chris K, Patrick in VA, Dungy say he wouldn’t draft him in the first round, not that he wouldn’t draft him… Secondly, he said he would have to talk to him and further investigate, isn’t that what GM’s do… Thirdly a lot his premise was on having a relationship (his son played for Oregon) with MM. So I don’t get the Dungy hate and a lot of y’all were surprised and relieved that nothing major came of the FSU Title XI stuff, all that still isn’t over. I’m for Jameis and the Bucs, I’m for Coach K and the Bucs, I’m for the Bucs and have moved on from past Buc transgressions but I celebrate the guys who made this team relevant again (not an FSU fan at all), but celebrate, Brooks, Dunn and now Jameis
April 12th, 2016 at 10:45 am
…or it was the Glazer’s decision ultimately since ya know they own the team. My guess is that if incompetent Lovie Smith tried to draft Mariota the Glazers would have overridden him, especially after notching a 2 win season.
Let’s not be too liberal with the player evaluation skills of Lovie or lapdog in this situation. Once 1st overall pick was set the cake was baked for Winston.
April 12th, 2016 at 11:57 am
Father Dungy, Lovie Smith, Monte Kiffin are all grossly overrated. If Dungy was so great he would have won more than one SB. Good thing he played Lovie Smith in the SB. It was the only reason he has one under his belt. And can’t forget about a QB named Manning that won him the SB. Dungy should have won more. No matter, he’s in the hall of fame now. The hall is now a complete joke. Political Correctness at its finest.
April 12th, 2016 at 12:17 pm
Gotta hand it to Jason Licht, he’s hit a “QB trifecta” in Tampa. He has wisely tuned out the JBF noise to (1) waste any draft pick let alone a top 10 on Johnny Manziel, (2) avoid Jameis Winston like an STD from some of us (myself included…gotta man up and admit I was wrong about the kid), and (3) thus far avoid foolishly trading away an NFL starting caliber QB (Mike Glennon) who’s on a cheap rookie contract for some 4th round or later draft pick like some here have been crying for. Despite a first year FA disaster I have to say Licht seems to have learned from his mistakes, and if he played a part in getting Lovie removed and the current coaching staff in place then I’m all aboard the “in Licht we trust” train.
April 12th, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Look, hindsight is 20/20 and you can say “I told you so” till you’re blue in the face. It doesn’t matter. He’s still got a ways to go yet but I’m convinced he’s the right guy.
Here’s where I eat crow: I wasn’t “against” Jameis per se. I just happened to like Mariotta better. Sure, part of it was the off the field stuff, but I always thought he was a good player. I’m happy that I was wrong and wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m a Buc fan, that’s what I am. Jameis looks to be the real deal. We’re lucky.
April 12th, 2016 at 1:03 pm
Those who still call Licht “lapdog”, exactly who now is he supposedly a lapdog to?
April 12th, 2016 at 2:49 pm
For all the support I threw at Jaboo last yes I never ever would have thought that a year later Jameis Winston’s jersey would be hanging in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
April 12th, 2016 at 5:43 pm
WilliamWallace- if you were reading for comprehension you would have clearly understood that my comments were in reference to the drafting of Winston under the auspices of incompetent Lovie Smith and his brave little lapdog Jason Licht. Perhaps you just decided to ignore the context so that you could rhetorically pose your question under a false premise. Common tactics around here by the crowd who find it difficult to debate the merits of a point and instead make up an argument to attack.
For the record, I refer to Jason Licht as a lapdog only in the context of his time under his hiring manager and lovable benefactor incompetent Lovie Smith but not the time period since his merciful firing. It is accurate and I am consistent.
Go find another tree to bark up.
April 13th, 2016 at 8:46 am
In my opinion the jury is still out. Now, I’m not now nor was I ever a “Jameis hater.” As an FSU fan, I knew Winston has what it takes on the field, but like so many I was concerned about him “off the field” given his track record.
Admittedly, he has done all the right things since before the draft, continues to do them today and seems to be maturing into a team leader, a great representative of the Bucs and himself in the community and an all around good guy. Still, he’s only 22 years old and less than one-year removed from his draft day. We have to see how he handles the unremitting day-to-day pressure over the long haul.
Remember, Josh Freeman? He was supposed to be “the franchise quarterback,” particularly after his stellar performance in the 2010 season. Then, suddenly, almost overnight it all went south and today Freeman is out of the league. Maybe it was a basic character flaw, maybe it was Greg Schiano’s incessant pressure or maybe it was too much cash and easy living. We’ll never know, unless Freeman publishes a memoir, but something went awry.
As for Jameis he seems to be on the right track for the Buccaneers, for the Tampa Bay community and for himself. But, so many things can go wrong that a guy or gal doesn’t know how to handle at 22. Let’s hope the mentorship he has been receiving from Derrick Brooks, Dirk Koetter and others sticks for the long haul and in a few years we can put the questions behind us forever.