About The Times’ Jameis-Glazer Report
March 27th, 2018
Confusion following 24 hours of commentary
There’s a report out tonight that really confuses Joe — and for good reason.
Early this evening in Orlando, various members of local Buccaneers media had independent 1-on-1 sessions with Tampa Bay co-chairman Joel Glazer. It’s an annual tradition.
By request, Joe went last.
Of course, the official NFL investigation into America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, was a subject on tap for all media.
Jameis is accused of inappropriately touching a female Uber driver two years ago, which quickly resulted in him losing his right to use the ride service. It’s now month No. 5 of the league probe into the behavior of the face of the Bucs franchise and he could be suspended, so it’s an important element to the 2018 season.
Shortly after 6 p.m., a Tampa Bay Times story published from Rick Stroud stated, “Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer said he believes Jameis Winston has done nothing wrong.” Hooray! thought Joe. However, the quotes in the story don’t include Glazer actually saying that.
So Joe is flummoxed.
During the JoeBucsFan.com chat with Glazer, there were multiple questions about the Jameis investigation. None of the answers from Glazer included that kind of firm statement about the innocence of Jameis.
Glazer heartily lauded Winston in a few different ways (Joe will share all soon), but here was the final exchange on the matter.
JoeBucsFan.com: I know you said the league is doing its thing [with its investigation into Jameis’ behavior]. Has Buccaneers ownership finished its own investigation into the matter, from your own perspective? And are you done with it from your end of it?”
Buccaneers co-chairman Joel Glazer: That’s something in these cases the league handles. Here’s what we know: We know Jameis Winston the player we drafted, the player we’ve worked with for the last several years, who’s worked his butt off inside our building, who’s been unbelievable in the community, who’s been a great leader, a great teammate, above and beyond anything we could have asked of Jameis Winston. So the NFL is going to run their process. We continue to look forward and I can only speak to Jameis and the Jameis I know.
Something just doesn’t feel right with this entire situation.
Wouldn’t it be nice — and fair and just for the Bucs — if the NFL made this a priority?
Roger Goodell told JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman over a glass of wine last night that these investigations take time, and Goodell didn’t answer Kaufman’s follow up questions.
In February, Joe learned the NFL had yet to talk to the alleged star witness in the probe, Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby. And in late February, general manager Jason Licht told Joe he didn’t know if Jameis had been interrogated by the NFL. Early today, Licht and Dirk Koetter individually said they are frustrated by the investigation.
This evening, Glazer didn’t come out and say something crystal clear, such as, “The Buccaneers have looked into the matter and are satisfied Jameis acted in accordance with team and NFL rules.”
Joe wants to 100 percent believe Stroud’s report in the Times, which strongly implies ownership firmly believes Jameis will be exonerated by the NFL. Joe really, really does. That would be great news. But it’s just not adding up tonight.
March 27th, 2018 at 7:37 pm
Well that cleared thing up….
March 27th, 2018 at 7:37 pm
I wish that either Jameis or Ronald Darby say who was in the front seat that night.
And by the way stop calling him America’s Quarterback.
March 27th, 2018 at 7:43 pm
We need to see a quote from the Times….not a reporter’s interpretation of a conversation or a conclusion drawn from bits and pieces of an interview.
Of course Glazer will put the most positive spin on it. One thing is very clear….there is some feet dragging by the NFL….. (these investigations take time) Yes they take time if you want to take your time with them…..this should be expedited and it’s not like there are 30 or 40 persons to interview…..
Here is the questions for all involved.
Who was in the car?
Did you see the alleged offense occur?
Did you hear a complaint from the driver at the time?
Do you have any video, audio or any other corroboration of the incident?
Now….How much time did that take?
I rest my case.
March 27th, 2018 at 7:43 pm
There ought to be a rule in the CBA that limits the time the NFL can take. This is jacked up. These guys haven’t even talked to the witnesses and it has drug on, sitting in some office drawer. Meanwhile, a franchise hangs in the balance of their decision. NOT COOL.
March 27th, 2018 at 7:46 pm
In addition if you could obtain the cell phones of all involved to verify their location on the night in question….fine. If they don’t hand them over or have “lost” them, then consider that with your conclusion witness credibility.
March 27th, 2018 at 7:47 pm
So he enjoys a few stolen crab legs and likes Fondling people cares this America right?
March 27th, 2018 at 7:47 pm
Stroud obviously talked to a different Glazer brother.
March 27th, 2018 at 7:48 pm
I don’t know what’s not adding up. Seems pretty clear. The Glazers are confident in the person they know in Jameis. They also don’t seem to know exactly what happened, or they don’t want to comment. And the NFL is dragging its feet. What’s there not to understand?
March 27th, 2018 at 7:49 pm
From what I understood the victim can still take legal actions. Statue of limitations gives her a few more weeks to pursue(sorry I forget th3 actual date, April something I think) legal charges.
Makes a lot of sense for the NFL to wait back and see if this incident is headed towards court before they decide how they want to pursue it themselves.
March 27th, 2018 at 7:51 pm
Fitzpatrick got ur back Joe no worries!!!!! Bucs pick Qb at 7 lmao…….nothing good happens after midnight Winston!!!!
March 27th, 2018 at 7:52 pm
He wasn’t even in a the car. He was down to local publix checking out the seafood
March 27th, 2018 at 7:54 pm
Glazer said what he had to say. This entire matter has them in a very uncomfortable situation. Sounds like Glazer is ready to go into full damage control mode. If Winston did in fact do what he is accused of, it is a PR nightmare for the Bucs
March 27th, 2018 at 7:54 pm
All people do on this site is bash team captains and pro bowl players. I get it we have sucked for a long time. Things can only get better. Can’t get much worse let’s embrace crab legs and good looking women let’s be happy Gerald McCoy is a nice guy let’s turn over a new way of thinking about this franchise
March 27th, 2018 at 7:55 pm
You mean Stroud made something up?
Say in ain’t so! I find that… unbelievable 😛
#DontBanMe
March 27th, 2018 at 8:00 pm
Thanks for all the diligence, Joe and Ira!
This is a huge deal in regards to our 2018 playoff chances. I have or #3 can play 16+ games for us barring injury this year.
March 27th, 2018 at 8:04 pm
Alan,
Winning is the best deodorant.
Dekempeer says that and he quotes the great bill parcels.
March 27th, 2018 at 8:05 pm
Im not sure the NFL or Godell is willing to cripple this franchice and a budding star QB. Jameis =$$$ and ticket sales.
March 27th, 2018 at 8:06 pm
I like it SteveK!
March 27th, 2018 at 8:17 pm
Sounds like the Jameis he knows is a lot better than the Jameis he doesn’t.
March 27th, 2018 at 8:23 pm
Huh? (Long story made short).
March 27th, 2018 at 8:28 pm
@JimmyJack
The date was March 13……since she reported the incident immediately to her employer…..it is my believe that the 2 year statute runs from that date….I see no reason why it would be extended……I’m not an attorney….one may be reading that may have an opinion….
There are cases where the statute is extended but this is a civil case and I don’t believe there is a reason to extend.
March 27th, 2018 at 8:49 pm
He wasn’t even in the car people. Don’t worry about Jameis he will be fine. I’d be more worried about the Amish rifle Ryan Fitzpatrick he has knack for find a way to start foot ball games and I think he is a true curse to any franchise he plays for. He just finds a way to get on the field very bad for James. If your superstitious take this very seriously if your not disregard every thing I just wrote
March 27th, 2018 at 8:53 pm
I don’t get the huge discrepancy. Reading the Glazer quote he said it is contrary to the Jameis he knows and he hopes it resolves quickly.
So he expects him to be cleared.
Mountain out of mole hill.
March 27th, 2018 at 8:55 pm
Stroud is a hack. Hate that guy.
March 27th, 2018 at 8:58 pm
Thanks to Ira Kaufma for banging this drum. It takes sports reporters who are willing to ask the tough questions in order to get anything done.
The only way the NFL can justify ANY suspension is if they find PROOF that suggests or proves that Winston or his witness lied. (E.g., Tom Brady destroying his phone) Someone made a good point earlier that the cellphone data could possible provide very good evidence about who was in that car at the time; unless it was switched off.
Or if there is EVIDENCE that proves that Jameis touched the woman. (Zeek – the pics, though not conclusively linked to Elliot, were proof that she was bruised by someone. Elliot had no proof that he did not do it, only his word. Proof that a crime (incident) occurred has to be step one.)
In the Case of Jameis, there has been NO EVIDENCE THUS FAR presented that anything happened, period. This is just bazaar that the case cannot be completed in a week or two now that the alleged incident has passed it’s statute of limitations which ended earlier this month. JMHO
March 27th, 2018 at 8:58 pm
*****************
JOE,
Seriously … give it a rest.
The driver never even filed a police report, has no proof and the ONE AND ONLY eye witness says she’s lying … there is nothing to talk about … leave it alone.
The Zeke situation included tons of physical evidence against him, a bunch of eye witnesses, even video evidence and it was front page news for months … basically NO ONE outside of Tampa even mentions the Jameis situation as NO ONE is really treating is a serious issue.
LEAVE IT ALONE.
*****************
March 27th, 2018 at 8:58 pm
Alan
How can you be such a hypocrite. You bash Jw for crab legs and crotches and then rant how other ppl bash team captains?? Damn lay off whatever u smoking or shooting up bro.
March 27th, 2018 at 8:59 pm
Joe’s calling BullSh!T! If he was going to say that it would have been something consistent and told to all that asked not just some muckraker from the local fish wrap!
March 27th, 2018 at 9:01 pm
They have nothing on him doesn’t matter
March 27th, 2018 at 9:01 pm
Joe
Yeah man. I am just confused as you. One of them know. Just trying to hush hush about it
I believe NFL will just suspend him with or without merit. Is it that some of their own employees been accuse too? Maybe they want to handle that first then go accordingly??
March 27th, 2018 at 9:07 pm
The “alleged” incident took place on March 13 and the “alleged” “victim” had until March 13, 2018 to file a lawsuit … she didn’t. There is no case … this whole thing is a non-story.
March 27th, 2018 at 9:10 pm
This’s pisses me off that the NFL plastered Jameis all over NFL.com, BSPN and NFL Network as this sex crazed deviant, but they drag their feet on the investigation.
I want to see results… bottom line is, if #3 is the bad guy we all fear he could be, then we need the proof so we can kick his @$5 to the curb and use the 7th pick in the draft to pick up one of these QBs everyone is frothing our the mouth over.
Truth is, I don’t want that crap on the team I have invested over 20 years of my sports fandom on.
Get him outta Tampa if he’s that guy, or prove he’s the guy we want to love and move on.
March 27th, 2018 at 9:11 pm
Alan
You are a tool
March 27th, 2018 at 9:14 pm
Thanks TBBF and Nut. I thought it was a April date for some reason.
Either way I had figured when the story first broke that it would take a long time. I figured for sure it would all be settled before the season opens.
That should always be a goal with offseason cases like this. To have them settled before the season begins. As long as they don’t have to rush a judgement that seems fair to me…..I see no reason to cry foul about the timing now since it is only March.
March 27th, 2018 at 9:18 pm
I wish this team stop playing around and make Joe the GM. I think we would be in the playoffs or even SB by now!!! Again. Facts
March 27th, 2018 at 9:28 pm
Speaking of unwanted touching I think we now know why Chris Baker wanted to play in Tampa.
http://www.fox13news.com/news/local-news/tampa-named-worlds-top-tree-city
March 27th, 2018 at 9:32 pm
“The NFL is fearful what evidence the uber girl and clune the title9 attorney has under their sleeves. This attorney wants to make a name for himself and peg the NFL as much as Jameis. IMO, the reason its taking so long is because Clune has evidence and waiting for the perfect time to put the hammer down….on both the NFL and Jaboo”
Kobe Faker
March 27th, 2018 at 9:32 pm
NFLNut,
You know the Joe’s like BS so there not going to just let it go. They want that We had it first pat on the back!!!!
March 27th, 2018 at 9:42 pm
Jameis has already been suspended for six games. Glazers asked Goodell to keep it on the down low for a smoke screen for a QB at #7.
March 27th, 2018 at 9:43 pm
It’s a privilege to use Uber….not a right.
March 27th, 2018 at 9:43 pm
Ur so incorrect mike30
March 27th, 2018 at 9:45 pm
Soebucs
So we use a 7th pick on Qb for 6 games? Ok.
Whatever Qb u bring here from the draft cannot and will not beat Jw for a starting job.
March 27th, 2018 at 10:03 pm
This is not a Super Bowl winner
March 27th, 2018 at 10:06 pm
So much for a Fair and Speedy Trial.
Built or innocent, Get this fini.
March 27th, 2018 at 10:06 pm
It will never be resolved until we rid the team of the cancer93. The league is dragging its feet because of the perennial loser cancer93. So are only way of ever knowing what will come of this is getting rid of the cancer93.
Signed
Tmax
I beat him to it before he could post that. we all know what he was going to say.
March 27th, 2018 at 10:08 pm
I bet cancer93 was in the front seat. He thought she was one of his action figures. Case solved release the cancer93.
Signed
Tmax
March 27th, 2018 at 10:18 pm
NFL is doing ownership a favor….if they suspend him now, Bucs struggle to sell tickets, suites, etc….Winston and all players are well aware they are to report to ownership and the NFL of any incident or situation like this….Winston especially should have known after all the crap he created at FSU….but Mr Eat A W…didn’t so he already violated that policy. Expect a suspension
March 27th, 2018 at 10:40 pm
Joe you all are all over this story. I’d be surprised if you’re able to stir up enough media attention to pressure the NFL to suddenly make this a high priority item. I think for the most part the NFL already has an idea of what the judgement will be but they’re managing things from a PR standpoint and planning for the right time to publish their announcement.
If the Bucs are that concerned that the season is in limbo pending this decision then they need to prepare and plan to start the season with their backup. If they don’t have confidence in the backup then bring in someone else. The Eagles won a championship with their backup filling in for 3 or 4 games. The Patriots went on to win a championship last season without their QB playing in the the first 4 games or so. If the Bucs are a solid team they should be able to manage several games without Winston if it comes to it.
March 27th, 2018 at 10:41 pm
It could be completely intentional. With the me too movement and the disgrace we have for president the last thing the league probably wants to see is Jameis in the playoffs or god forbid the SB. They may wait until the Bucs are 5 or 6 games in and if they are winning more than they are losing they may lay down the hammer at that point to make sure he isn’t in the playoffs.
March 27th, 2018 at 11:02 pm
Can we please get a real Prez of football ops instead of these three stooges?
March 27th, 2018 at 11:34 pm
***********
To the conspiracy theorists and JW-bashers,
First ya’ll claimed the Glazers were tanking free agency and I told you they would SPEND BIG as they’re all-in on Jameis … I was right … as usual.
Now ya’ll are saying that they know Jameis will be suspended for 6 games but are keeping it hush to sell season tickets …. NONSENSE.
IF the team knew Jameis was going to be suspended for 6 games, I believe they would have let Fitzpatrick sign somewhere else and made a play for Nick Foles, and if they couldn’t get him, traded for Tyrod Taylor or signed AJ McCarron. That they did nothing of the sort is proof positive that the team (a) doesn’t believe Jameis will be suspended at all, and (b) are so all-in on Jameis that even if he is suspended, they are still dedicated to him and planning to build around him long-term.
Everyone, R-E-L-A-X.
***********
March 27th, 2018 at 11:38 pm
Alan Says:
March 27th, 2018 at 7:47 pm
So he enjoys a few stolen crab legs and likes Fondling people cares this America right?
—-
It could have been worse..he could have been accused of fondling some crablegs…that would have ended his NFL career..#CrablegsLivesMatter
March 27th, 2018 at 11:56 pm
Why should the NFL get in a hurry, Joe?
March 28th, 2018 at 12:05 am
Have a better question for you: So it is better to drag this into a regular season? How does that help anyone?
March 28th, 2018 at 12:07 am
It cleared one thing up…
JW#3 IS YOUR QB FOREVER!!!
Like Big Ben… He aint going NO FREAKING WHERE…. Suspend him who cares… He has a decade and a half to go….
Next story…. Start beating the Drum for AP
#PetersobToBucsALLDAY
March 28th, 2018 at 12:27 am
The NFL isn’t going to announce anything while #MeToo is still trending, I really think it’s that simple. The come out and say their investigation found nothing then all the SJW’s go nuts and it becomes a national story, meanwhile if the NFL says nothing the story just eventually goes away.
March 28th, 2018 at 12:53 am
I think the lack of information and the slow pace are entirely predictable:
1. Everyone is lawyered up. Things do not move quickly when that is the case. Once the Uber driver hired the same attorney who represented Jameis’ accuser at FSU, it put everyone on notice of potential litigation. That slows things down. No one is going to just get interviewed.
2. The League has come down hard on teams that have criticized the process. Look at NE and Dallas. Jerrah just cut a 2 mil dollar check for his criticisms. The Glazers are not pot stirrers. They may be privately frustrated, but I doubt they will say anything publicly.
3. The NFL’s investigative standard is lower than the criminal standard and much looser. The NFL is concerned with things like how a player’s conduct impacts the image of the league, and any company now a days, including multibillion dollar ones, is or should be concerned about conduct towards women. As a result, I would expect the NFL to do a very thorough job to avoid criticisms no matter the result. That means a thorough investigation that is well documented and hard to criticize. If there is any doubt, I am guessing Jameis (and maybe Darby and/or third passenger, if there was one) gets some sort of League suspension, even if their conduct was not criminal or something that the DA chooses to pursue chargers on.
4. No matter the resolution, no way the NFL releases a decision during the dead period before the draft when there is almost no NFL news to report on. It would be a story for weeks. Instead, they will likely issue a decision before the draft, before the HOF induction/game, before the opener, etc. That way it won’t be the huge story. NFL is in a hard position–it has received criticisms on both fronts regarding its investigations: (1) not thorough enough/too player friendly (Ray Rice); and (2) too punitive to players and teams, not based on sufficient evidence (Deflategate and Zeke).
Finally, I am not surprised Glazer answered Joe’s question the way they did. They won’t admit they did any type of investigation unless it becomes advantageous to do so. The lawyer that the Uber driver has hired tried to subpoena documents regarding the bucs investigation into his FSU accuser. I think the Bucs are likely to make it sound like the NFL is doing an investigation and not make any statements that they are doing one of their own. Whether that is true or not, is probably somewhere in between. I am sure they have looked into some things, but I doubt they have kept much of a record of it.
Of course, this is just me speculating. As of today, none of us really know (1) what happened in that Uber; or (2) what the NFL is going to do.
March 28th, 2018 at 12:59 am
I know its a little off topic but did anyone see the VH3 video? Not a good look
March 28th, 2018 at 1:15 am
Joe, this sounds like Glazer is very supportive of Jameis based on his experience with Winston so far. He cannot state anything more than that-sounds like all they know is what they see and that is a “very good” teammate, person and franchise representative. Sounds as if he wants to believe Jameis based on his excellent experience with him up to this point. Don’t see any need for concern here with Glazer attitude toward him.
March 28th, 2018 at 1:16 am
NFLNUT…
It simply amazes me how just because they don’t know the facts…based on events from college these posters always jump on JW.
Noone is pounding the drums but them…IMO the suits know more than they will admit for the very same reason JW didn’t run through the locker room telling his team mates Yo…guess what an Uber driver acused me of…so ridiculous😲☠
March 28th, 2018 at 1:29 am
@dexterOHMAN
what video are you referring to?
March 28th, 2018 at 2:00 am
Svenson that’s pretty spot on. Nothing is happening now and if / when it does, chances are it will be once the Bucs have very little time to make a backup plan.
March 28th, 2018 at 2:41 am
Svenson, you said a lot that is not referenced. I wish he would provide references to the ton of things that he spoke with conviction as if he have proof of attorney and what information that attorney requested. Providing the source of your statements would make for good reading if you could share it sir.
I don’t even know where to start with this from the accusers side. Why are allegations made public, but the accuser’s name is private. This is a reasonable consideration, if the story can be confirmed as 100 percent true, which is almost always impossible. That is especially punitive since the man is usually assumed guilty until proven innocent in the court of public opinion.
Kate the accuser: “I started driving, and right away, Jameis behaved poorly” by shouting, in part, homophobic slurs at pedestrians, said Kate, who did not want to be identified by her full name for fear of negative attention and potential backlash from football fans.
“He sexually assaulted me, and I have every right to tell the damn truth about it.”
First off, the alleged touching the crotch would have been inappropriate physical contact, if it happened as she described in her own quoted statements. The very statement of sexual assault is a lie and no one called he on it.
Second thing is she gets to accuse a man of assault that was not assault, even if what she said actually happened, her stated purpose was to spread the story in the press, but she does not want her name attached to the story. This is okay? This process is broken.
March 28th, 2018 at 3:24 am
DexterOHMAN,
I missed the Heargraves news/video. Do tell, please?
March 28th, 2018 at 6:17 am
America’s WHAT?
March 28th, 2018 at 6:58 am
America’s awkward embarrassment
March 28th, 2018 at 7:41 am
Not sure if this is even possible but couldn’t both attorneys say to the NFL we got this. They settle out of court and make it like one big misunderstanding. She gets the money he acts like nothing happened and life goes on. My guess would be they are haggling over the hush money depending on his potential new contract.
March 28th, 2018 at 8:20 am
Maybe we can bring in Joes’ 1st QB man crush…before his now 1st man crush QB….Johnny Football is throwing front of GM’s and scouts and playing in some kind of try out league….
March 28th, 2018 at 8:32 am
@JMan, don’t be so hard on yourself.
March 28th, 2018 at 8:47 am
@Joe – I get the distinct feeling that both the league and the team are both trying to let this all just fade away quietly. The driver, nor Uber, aren’t saying anything or making it a big deal. It seems like everyone involved is ready to just let it quietly go away. It almost feels like by you guys constantly banging the drum for it that you’re not getting the hint that everyone else is in on.
March 28th, 2018 at 9:25 am
John Clune, her attorney, would have filed a civil suit of he had anything to prove the allegations.
She signed him on as her attorney in November of 2017 (http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21474012/attorney-representing-uber-driver-asks-nfl-investigate-ronald-darby-defense-jameis-winston )
He had until March of 2018 to file a suit and he didn’t. That’s 5 months on his end.
At the time, Clune said:
“We have asked the NFL this morning to investigate Mr. Darby and are demanding that he immediately turn his phone over to the NFL so the GPS history can be forensically examined.”
“…to be clear, no one else was in the car besides Mr. Winston and if anyone is “confused”, it isn’t the Uber driver.”
Is Winston hiding something? Did he arrange for Darby to cover his tail? I doubt it. Per PFT, Winston turned over all phone and text messages to aid in the investigation (http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/03/27/dirk-koetter-pace-of-winston-investigation-frustrating/ ). He has nothing to hide.
I personally wonder how a big guy like Winston could reach over from the rear passenger seat and grope the woman.
And if her story holds up that it was only him in the car…then why would she let him sit in the front? Anyone that’s ever ridden Uber alone knows by instinct and policy you sit in the back.
I’ve told of my wife’s experience with Uber. They have a standing policy to take the driver’s side of things in all cases. And if you argue against the driver, their policy is to cancel your account and ban you. That’s the extent of their customer service, because that driver makes them more money than one passenger does.
I do not for one second believe the Uber driver, but I also do not think it matters.
Goodell will suspend regardless of proof. It’s the appearance of evil that he is concerned with.
Anyone here can talk about how wrong it would be. They can refuse to believe Goodell will suspend without proof. But when other players have been accused without proof, in almost every instance there has been punishment.
He WILL suspend Winston for at least 4 games. Not 6.
March 28th, 2018 at 10:36 am
Buccaneer Bonzai – You look to be right about the statute of limitations. It looks like she needed to file within 2 years based on some very brief internet research under Arizona law. Unless she entered into a tolling agreement with any of the potential defendants, then a civil lawsuit brought by the driver appears unlikely.
March 28th, 2018 at 8:17 pm
Goodell’s just drawing it out to show that he’s the man. He’s just an over-paid dick.