Another Win-Now Move
May 19th, 2017
“Jason, it’s time.”
If you think the Bucs haven’t heaped a ton of pressure on themselves for the 2017 season, then you’re just not paying attention.
This morning, as Joe shared, the Bucs signed 34-year-old Harvard man quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to backup America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston. Reports say it’s a $3 million, one-year deal.
So the Bucs no longer have to turn to a quarterback who might soil himself if Jameis gets injured and can’t play.
Undrafted Ryan Griffin and former Falcons seventh-round pick Sean Renfree are QBs who have never failed — or succeeded — in the NFL like Fitzpatrick has. But they’ve never played a regular-season snap. They might be great or completely unfit for duty.
Like most teams who believe they are contenders, the Bucs weren’t willing to gamble on a mysterious QB who wasn’t a significant draft choice.
The beauty of Fitzpatrick is his Harvard intelligence. He’ll be able to hang with the extreme football IQ of Jameis. Just yesterday, quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian said Mike Glennon was a big loss, in large part, because he won’t be in Jameis’ ear any long pointing things out and challenging him.
Fitzpatrick, with 100+ career starts, can do just that. Jameis is the franchise, and anything that can make him a shred better is a necessary edge in a division with Matt Ryan, Drew Brees and Cam Newton.
Joe loves that Fitzpatrick spent his last two years in the AFC East. The Bucs play four games against that division this year.
If Fitzpatrick can help Jameis break down nuances in the Patriots defense — he’s had strong games against New England the past two seasons (7 touchdowns versus two interceptions) — as well as the Dolphins’, then he’s well worth the investment.
May 19th, 2017 at 12:27 pm
Someone didn’t watch this guy play for the Jets. He is a garbage QB. Let’s hope we never see him on the field.
May 19th, 2017 at 12:31 pm
Fantastic move! I love this.
May 19th, 2017 at 12:35 pm
OrlandoBucs Says:
May 19th, 2017 at 12:27 pm
Someone didn’t watch this guy play for the Jets. He is a garbage QB. Let’s hope we never see him on the field.
He was fantastic in 2015 when the Jets had a solid team around him … garbage team in 2016 and greed brought him down to earth.
It’s great veteran signing to hold a clipboard, tutor and backup Jameis in garbage time.
Quit f’n crying.
May 19th, 2017 at 12:36 pm
Someone didn’t watch this guy play for the jets… more than just last year. He was a very good QB in 2015. Let’s hope we never see him on the field… though.
May 19th, 2017 at 12:43 pm
Sorry Joe, I don’t see it. He’s Josh McCown II. At least McCown got us the first overall pick.
May 19th, 2017 at 12:43 pm
a win now move would have been grabbing jason mccourty at corner or sign russel okung or dj fluker to shore up that seive an OL, but signing fitzpatrick is a win now move? dude better be on the bench all year, but then again with this crappy current OL, he may play….
May 19th, 2017 at 12:48 pm
Wow, you must not know what a win now move entails.
Josh McCown is a below average starter but an above average backup sooo….
I think you missed the target with that one.
May 19th, 2017 at 12:48 pm
I love having him on the sidelines….under center, he will shrink Dirk’s playbook tremendously. Winston was all about going downfield and the offseason moves double down on that tendency. Fitz is not that guy and defenses & coordinators know it. Happy to have an experienced guy in the QB room, but there will still be plenty of excuses to be made about “we couldn’t run our offense” if Winston goes down
May 19th, 2017 at 12:53 pm
Pick6 Says:
May 19th, 2017 at 12:48 pm
***but there will still be plenty of excuses to be made about “we couldn’t run our offense” if Winston goes down
Insert any backup caliber QB and this still applies.
May 19th, 2017 at 12:58 pm
i am comfortable with fitz as our backup, hell i kinda like it
May 19th, 2017 at 1:14 pm
Excellent addition, looks like these folks are serious.
Better man up Dirk and Jason, Glazer’s have been known to get antsy real quick.
May 19th, 2017 at 1:19 pm
@OrlandoBucs
Fitz is NOT a garbage QB. He played for the Jets last year. The Jets were last year and are now officially hot garbage (The new Browns of the NFL ) trying to seal the deal on the #1 pick in next years draft by by looking to start Josh Mccown. I don’t care if you’re Tom Brady, if you’re under center for the Jets, you will also look and end up playing like hot garbage. The Jets are a modern day Titanic without life boats…no one who plays there will get out alive, especially in the stat books.
May 19th, 2017 at 1:27 pm
What 79 just said.
May 19th, 2017 at 1:28 pm
Again Matt Forte said everyone in that lockerroom was playing solely for himself last season.
May 19th, 2017 at 1:29 pm
The article can be found on yahoo sports.
May 19th, 2017 at 1:31 pm
And I think we all should be able to agree, any move made that prompts Dallas to say “fantastic move” should be considered just that. A fantastic move.
May 19th, 2017 at 1:36 pm
DB55- sorry dude but this whole thing about Kap is just dumb. First, you don’t know if they did or did not approach him. Second, Kap wants to contend for a starting job. In case you hadn’t noticed, we finally have a franchise QB here. Why would he even want to come here? There are jobs out there that he could compete for now and I’m quite sure that’s what he is interested in.
Finally, regarding his politics, i believe most reasonable adults respect his right to protest. It seems that he and others that may support him have a real problem respected those that may disagree.
May 19th, 2017 at 1:37 pm
I’m convinced you people thinking this is a bad move simply don’t know football. What is it you people want? We are talking about a backup QB. If you want really high quality, more than likely they think they can start somewhere (see Mike Glennon and most likely Kap). This means you are usually left with vets like Fitz who are at the end of their career and are happy to hang on in a backup capacity for a couple of years or young, inexperienced projects that may be able to help in a spot.
This is a great move. Fitz can come in and run the offense if needed with confidence. He’s a really smart guy that can help JW and the coaching staff. What else do you want?
May 19th, 2017 at 1:43 pm
DB55- one thing you are correct about is that there is something wrong with Joe’s site. I have been having the same issues you mentioned over the last 3 days.
May 19th, 2017 at 1:44 pm
Looking good – Now Sign Gary Barnidge. lol
May 19th, 2017 at 1:45 pm
JabooBuc
As you know brotha. Its been going on since the inception of the site.
May 19th, 2017 at 1:48 pm
Jaboo
I agree with you. Excellent points.
There are two kinds of backups in the NFL…the young kids like we had…or vets who are hanging on like McCown, Fitzpatrick and a few others.
The kids sometimes have more upside but also a lot more downside…it’s real crap shoot with the kids out of school. The vets not so much upside but not as much downside either. They’re at least not going to poop themselves at being in an actual NFL game
May 19th, 2017 at 2:17 pm
extreme football IQ of Jameis…then M.M. football Iq which was way higher according to the nfl then Jamis must be out of this world
May 19th, 2017 at 2:23 pm
^^^
ben….dover – loser
May 19th, 2017 at 2:29 pm
Fitz is a great signing.
An upgrade over Glennon IMO for less than 1/2 what we were apparently willing to pay Glennon to stay. And we get a comp pick for “losing” Glennon – bonus!
Definitely better than McCown as well and we are also paying Fitz less than 1/2 of what the Jets are paying McCown.
May 19th, 2017 at 2:39 pm
I’m happy it’s not Kapersuck.
We got a veteran behind Jameis. On paper we have got ourselves a scary looking team.
No major injuries to key players and a touch of luck and the Bucs can freak the heck out of the NFL
May 19th, 2017 at 2:51 pm
I swear…some of you expect a the team to have three starters deep at every position…
May 19th, 2017 at 3:07 pm
Man, a lot of people on this forum just don’t understand football. Fitz instantly becomes one of the best backups in the league with far more experience (and successes scattered about) than MG even had. We want great depth at every single position on the field – but some of you are whining because the Bucs are choosing not to depend on Griffin in the horrific event Winston gets injured?
Just stop whining. You want a 23 year old QB to have a vet 10+ years older than him in the meeting room with him. Fitz has seen it all in multiple locations and offenses and can def keep the Bucs alive if he ever had to sub in during a game or start a few weeks. Terrific signing and a guy who can still play for another 3 or so years as a long term backup if things pan out.
This is one of the best signings of the year for the Bucs.
May 19th, 2017 at 3:20 pm
I AGREE WITH JOE
I think Fitz will be good for Jameis, he will see things Glennon did not recognize, he has 100+ starts. Glennon has less than 16.
Backup QB was one of my biggest concerns. Would like to see them sign Nick Mangold and one more O-lineman FA.
Got to love what Licht has done in a few short years.
May 19th, 2017 at 3:38 pm
DallasBuc Says:
May 19th, 2017 at 12:31 pm
You mean the “lapdog GM” did something right?
May 19th, 2017 at 4:04 pm
Ummm didn’t he throw 6 ints in one game ?
May 19th, 2017 at 4:07 pm
Backup QB problem solved just like that.
May 19th, 2017 at 4:10 pm
Solid move.
May 19th, 2017 at 4:22 pm
I see us battling the Carolina Panthers for 3rd place in the NFC South.
May 19th, 2017 at 4:24 pm
Fitz>>>>Griffin & Renfree
We got Fitz for offseason and Monday thru Saturday in the QB room, not for Sunday on the field. If Jameis goes down, we have no chance anyways. 3M as a backup to add experience is a great move.
Bucs got better, not worse with this move. Would anyone prefer RG3 or Cutler?
May 19th, 2017 at 4:45 pm
Anyone would have struggled with that Jets team last year. The guy has played some solid QB, although intermittently.
Anybody better would want shot at starting gig, which aint happening.
To me, the guy brings as much to the table as Glennon if not more.
May 19th, 2017 at 4:49 pm
This is a big upgrade from albatross Glennon. As a Harvard Grad, Fitzgerald will pick up the playbook fast and with all his experience he will be helpful during games for Jameis like an extra QB Coach. He is a gunslinger like Jameis is and will move the Bucs well if Jameis goes down.
May 19th, 2017 at 4:50 pm
Last years Jets team was a train wreck. The year before 2016 Fitzpatrick had a career year. A seasoned Veteran with 116 starts or 1 of 2 rookies with ZERO NFL starts? I’ll let some of you would be Head Coaches pick.
May 19th, 2017 at 4:52 pm
I just heard a report that Brate and Fitz are also opening a law firm in Tampa for something to keep them busy during the off season.
May 19th, 2017 at 5:03 pm
If jw went down we’d still have a chance to win with Kap. That’s all I’m saying.
May 19th, 2017 at 5:26 pm
Both Kap and RG3 cant play in Koetters system
They wouldnt stay in the pocket or keep their eyes downfield to the 2nd and 3rd option when the rush comes in
Both cant throw in anticipitation routes and tight windows
Both would be holding the ball and sacked over and over again
May 19th, 2017 at 5:39 pm
Comparing Fritz vs the long necked Giraffe?
Are you kidding me? You ever see the long neck talking/mentoring to Jameis on the sideline?
Fritz have learned from atleast 7 HCs, OCs, QB coaches, multiple systems…etc
Fritz has 5X more knowledge than polaroid Bark and glorified OC/receivers coach Monk
Standup! Who said no one reads my posts!
“Kobe said Jameis needed someone to stand beside him during the game. So I spent 3 million to have someone he can stand beside him”
Jason Licht
May 19th, 2017 at 6:10 pm
Kobe yousa a funny dude! All I know Fameis coming into his 3rd and most important year of his development couldn’t have asked for a better backup. You know he’s gonna give Fitz all the respect he deserves and will pick his brain apart. As long as Fitz no longer has asperations of starting ahain and can live with being a back up he’s gonna love mentoring Fameis. We don’t want that Favre problem thst Aaron Rogers went through.
May 19th, 2017 at 6:11 pm
Love the signing. Great move by Licht and Co.
In Licht we trust!
May 19th, 2017 at 8:07 pm
This is why doug martin will stay on the team. Hes the most experienced back.on the roster. When the second half.of the season hits your.gonna wish.doug martin was still here
May 19th, 2017 at 8:16 pm
Signing helps none…. Jamies goes down season is over. All in would have meant spending more money on OL / secondary our biggest weakness
May 19th, 2017 at 8:55 pm
He doesn’t have to win a Super Bowl. If Winston goes down for two games he needs to win one. HE can do that. That can make or breaking a season.
May 19th, 2017 at 9:37 pm
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May 20th, 2017 at 2:51 am
It’s a savvy move. Fitz has played in big games and can sling the rock. Not always a winner but fights at the position in ways we are not used to in this town before Winston.
Instant fit. Credit to Licht on this one for sure
May 20th, 2017 at 6:28 am
I think after this season, we’ll be the team free agents want to sign with to get a chance to win it all. Great signing. I’m sure Fitzie was intrigued to work with Jameis. 3 mil to watch him ball. Nice gig if you can get it.
May 20th, 2017 at 9:03 am
I like this move! With the weapons at hand I think we’ll see “the good Fitz” if the time comes.
May 20th, 2017 at 5:45 pm
I don’t see how some people don’t like this move, SMH. He’s a veteran QB who will be a mentor to jameis, big time upgrade at back up.
May 22nd, 2017 at 8:35 am
Thank god dom is gone isn’t making decisions for our front office cuz he knows jack about football and we’d likely be in cap he** if he was.