Unfair Uncertainty
April 9th, 2018
Sage Ira has been sniffing around the Jameis Winston investigation and its consequences.
BY IRA KAUFMAN
Welcome to Day 144 of Buccaneers Held Hostage.
Yes, it’s been almost five months since the NFL confirmed Jameis Winston is under investigation for allegedly groping an Uber driver in Arizona more than two years ago.
There have been zero updates from the league office about a probe that should have taken about 11 days to wrap up.
When I cornered NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell at the owners meetings in Orlando two weeks ago, he said he doesn’t got involved with the details of an ongoing investigation. He also cautioned me, “As you know, Ira, these things take time.”
Ain’t that the truth.
When Winston ordered that infamous Uber, Donald Trump was merely a presidential candidate. Joe Maddon’s Chicago Cubs were in spring training preparing to end a 108-year championship drought. Heck, Ali Marpet was still a right guard.
Nobody at One Buc Place has the foggiest notion when or how this probe will end, but one thing we can say with certainty … everyone’s pissed.
“They have their process they follow,” says Bucs co-owner Joel Glazer. “They do what they’re going to do. Clearly, we want it resolved sooner rather than later. Clearly, there’s some frustration it’s not resolved. We’re going to let that run its process. We’d like a resolution, but we’re focused on next season.”
That’s the point — this is all about next season.
The Bucs still don’t know whether Winston will be exonerated or suspended. That uncertainty is unfair to the organization and a fourth-year quarterback still trying to win over skeptics.
Recommendation Ingnored
Here’s the crazy part: Winston could be sidelined for an extended period, even if the results of the probe are disputable.
Let’s remember the circumstances surrounding the 6-game suspension levied against Ezekiel Elliott last year. The NFL waited until August to sanction Elliott for using physical force against a former girlfriend.
Elliott initially appealed, so he didn’t start serving his suspension until November. The Cowboys went 3-3 in his absence, finishing 9-7 and out of the playoffs.
Notably, the suspension was handed down although lead investigator KiaRoberts, the only person to interview Elliott’s accuser, recommended no suspension.
Kia Roberts no longer works for the league.
How are the Bucs supposed to plan for the 2018 season with a dark cloud hanging over Winston’s helmet? Can they count on him for 16 starts? How about 12, or 10?
Backup Plan
I’ll be the first to admit Ryan Fitzpatrick played better than I expected while starting three games last year, but he’s 35 and there’s a reason he is now a backup. Tampa Bay went 2-1 with Fitzpatrick, beating the Jets and Dolphins before losing to the Falcons.
For perspective, New York and Miami combined for an 11-21 mark. Also, during Fitzpatrick’s three starts, the Bucs converted only 35 percent of their third-down situations, compared to 43.4 percent on the season.
A lengthy suspension for Winston wouldn’t necessarily wreck Tampa Bay’s season, but let’s be real. It’s hard to imagine the Bucs ending a 10-year playoff drought without Winston doing the heavy lifting.
What happened to swift justice?
I guess the league’s too busy trying to nail down the catch rule. In my mind, Goodell’s minions have already dropped the ball.
Ira Kaufman is the most revered sports personality and writer in town. He has hung his hat at JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters since July 2016. Tampa Bay’s only Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, Ira busts out columns here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and his award winning podcasts fire Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can also hear Ira on SiriusXM Mad Dog Radio Wednesdays during football season, and see him now on Mondays at 10:30 p.m. on Spectrum Sports 360 (aka BayNews 9). Ira also is part of the FOX-13 Tailgate Sunday and enjoys beet salads, Riesling, Chiefs victories and needling Joe.
April 9th, 2018 at 2:21 pm
If I didn’t know any better I’d swear JBF is pining for Jaboo’s suspension. They bring it up more than the dam draft party at the Buffalo Wild Wings South TAMPA location sponsored by Miller Lite.
April 9th, 2018 at 2:25 pm
When Jameis doesn’t get suspended but rather misses 4-6 games due to injury bc he has no oline to protect him I’m going to let you know about it every moment of every waking day.
April 9th, 2018 at 2:26 pm
DB55- I’m pining for some closure. This ISH has gone on far too long. If the evidence was there, they would have already ran him up the flagpole. After all, this is “slow season” for NFL news.
April 9th, 2018 at 2:26 pm
Barkley would really come in handy to help the offense in Jameis’s absence.
April 9th, 2018 at 2:30 pm
And there isn’t even a better free agent out there now. I mean, I find it hard to believe Johnny Football would be worse on the field than Fitz, but Fitz is the better teammate. Cutler is out there still, but he thinks he is worthy of a big paycheck.
No…we’d have to draft a QB or rely on Fitz and Griffin. And drafting one before the third day would be insane.
April 9th, 2018 at 2:36 pm
I would bet the delay is the accuser lawyer taking their sweet time providing information to the league because:
1) they don’t have any solid evidence…and are working on coming up with some BS
2) closer this drags on to the season, the more leverage accuser’s lawyer has
April 9th, 2018 at 2:37 pm
This has dragged on for far too long for there to be no adverse outcome for Jameis. The NFL will have too assess some sort of penalty, simply to save face. If I were the Glazers (and I’m not) I’d offer up some sort of settlement with NFL, say a 3 game suspension at the beginning of the season. Chances are we won’t play any division teams that early in the season (Bears, Vikings, Giants were 1-2-3 in 2017). Fitz could take the team to a 2-1 record and Jameis would be ready for games 4-16.
April 9th, 2018 at 2:38 pm
I really dig how you articulated and positioned the understandable anger toward the league office in such a scathing manner Ira. I think that angle on the known and unknown facets of this saga was really important.
Of course none of us knows as of yet exactly where the “findings” culminate in either a exoneration or suspension for Jameis, but my very strong suspicion is that the NFL is going to immense effort to pre-position the facts (or supposed guilt–of the player conduct policy infraction) from the back end to inception, in an effort to hold up on appeal. Operation #WinstonWhooping still underway.
But hey, Go Bucs!
April 9th, 2018 at 2:39 pm
The NFL “dropped the ball” and inserted themselves squarely between a rock and a hard place by ever announcing “an investigation” in the 1st place. They’ve got nowhere to go with this.
The league is still trying to determine the “best time” to come out with “Claims against Winston were decidedly unsubstantiated” and that’s about all anyone will ever hear from the NFL on this matter. If that…
Hell – we’re still waiting to hear some word regarding results of the league’s “investigation” into the Josh Freeman “situation” 4 1/2 years ago…
April 9th, 2018 at 2:41 pm
Amen @Hodad!
SA-QUON would absolutely be even more incredibly valuable (if that’s possible) if Jameis were sat down for say the first 4 games of the season, no way in hell the league office gets 6 games out of this.
Go Bucs!
April 9th, 2018 at 2:52 pm
The NFL is just an insanely huge joke anymore. Goodell has drug the shield through the mud for so long it is no longer recognizable.
He should be tarred and feathered and led up onto the draft stage riding a jackass backwards with a dunce cap on his head.
April 9th, 2018 at 2:52 pm
*****************
STOP TALKING ABOUT IT … no one outside of Tampa even considers the “investigation” to be legit and everyone is expecting Winston NOT to get suspened … it does almost seem like Tampa media want Jameis suspended … just leave it alone.
As for Zeke … there was a police report, multiple witnesses and even VIDEO EVIDENCE he broke the NFL’s rules … there is NOTHING against Jameis and the only eye witness corroborates Jameis’ side of events … THIS IS A NON-ISSUE … STOP TALKING ABOUT IT!
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April 9th, 2018 at 3:06 pm
well, the one thing I don’t want to hear are more excuses……
first, as ira stated, the staff has known about this since November……they’ve had more than enough time to prepare this team in case Winston has to sit…….no excuses were made for lovie when kwon had to sit the final 4 games costing us a chance at the playoffs…..fans said lovie had plenty of time to adjust and find a solution…..dirk has had plenty of time to figure it out…..
second, as ira stated, the cowboys won 9games with the best offensive weapons missing 6games……the vikes made it to the nfc championship with a back up……hell, the dolphins lost their starter for the year and still managed to win 6games……
this staff has run out of excuses!!!!!!!!!…..no playoffs….no job……sounds fair to me!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….GO BUCS!!!
April 9th, 2018 at 3:07 pm
I could care less. If Jameis is guilty then he will serve his time. Next man up.No excuses about losing. Jameis must take responsibility if fate deems it so. We didn’t win because Jameis was suspended? Nope. Not acceptable. I’m sick and deehyam tired of losing and the excuses. Get her done or get going Koetter and Smitty!!! Often times where theres smoke, theres fire. Hope Jameis had his extinguisher..for his sake! How come Mariotta name never comes up smeared? I know why..He’s just an all around better guy than Jameis. Truth hurts huh?
GO BUCS…But you’re running out of excuses to many of us.
April 9th, 2018 at 3:18 pm
I’m starting to believe that there will not be a suspension……the NFL is taking far to long to investigate what is a relatively contained and simple accusation……it is patently absurd to accept…..“As you know, Ira, these things take time.”
That, my friends….is the biggest bag of BULL$HIT…..I, and probably Ira have ever heard.
April 9th, 2018 at 3:22 pm
I and the “real fans” will give a Huge pass to the coaches if they suspend JW3 this season!!! I think we will hear a answer right after OTA’s as their is a quite month for the league office to hand out verdicts without much fanfare from the media!!!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!
April 9th, 2018 at 3:26 pm
@Tampabaybucfan
You hit the nail on the head!!!!! Punishment from the league office seems to coincide with fan backlash!!!! And no one is talking about this except local sports media!!!!!!!!! most likely, nothing will come of this investigation!!!!!!
Go Bucs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 9th, 2018 at 3:28 pm
^^^No freakin’ way Realist! Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the Eagles just WIN a Super Bowl with a back-up?! No! No passes! ALL teams deal with adversity, it’s where coaches actually are put to the test.
If you want to settle for mediocrity and excuses, that’s your business. “Real fans” are tired of being raked over the coals with promises of improvement only to get groin-punched by the never-ending, excuse laden pressers.
Just say NO! We will not accept it!
April 9th, 2018 at 3:38 pm
Sorry don’t believe in Koetter, Licht or Smith.
April 9th, 2018 at 3:39 pm
If you listen to what Jameis initially told Uber…it sounds like Jameis and a friend were in the rear passenger seat and another person who may have acted inappropriately was in the front seat. It sounds like the driver used Jameis name because he paid for the car. So far it seems, Jameis and his friend have refused rat-out who the person in the front seat. Nobody seems to be in a hurry to clear this issue…
April 9th, 2018 at 3:41 pm
How nice it is to be a small market team! If Jameis played for the Jets, Giants, 49ers, etc, this would have been long dismissed.
April 9th, 2018 at 3:51 pm
@NFLnut.
I always respect your posts but I couldn’t disagree more. DB55…I’m not surprised by your take but NN…you’re different.
Sticking our heads in the sand like an ostrich and not ever discussing does NOTHING!!!
It’s America…land of the lawyers.
This blog has a cardiologist and many other professions represented. If we have attorneys here is your chance to hit the big time.
Somebody needs to challenge the NFL. How would they respond to a lawsuit that threatens action for damages to a FAN…This would gain national notoriety of the type the NFL would not want. The cable channels and fans from other cities would love to see somebody take on the mighty NFL…and given they have ABSOLUTELY no case…no charges…only witness backs Jameis…I’m not really sure what happened that night…whether he touched her or not has become irrelevant at this point without proof…especially since the ONLY “proof” there is comes from a witness who supports Jameis.
This damages us emotionally as fans!!! It harms the Buccaneers as a business entity…IE…there is damage from a NON INCIDENT.
They absolutely need to resolve this NOW. If Jameis gets suspended then we have the 7th pick and there may be a worthy QB left. Perhaps that would cover our butts going forward. If Jameis comes back and stars in the final 12 or 10 games we have a Jimmy Garapolo on our hands if we don’t miss on our draft pick. Then we have material damage caused by the idiots at the NFL who would have in effect robbed us of a draft pick.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Any attorney’s here. I’ll be the plaintiff if you need someone to represent…(pro bono…lol)I know very little about the law…but if it helps I bet you could get dozens of other fans like me to join a class action suit. In fact I’d put up $20 to help fund it…a couple hundred other fans…or more could chip into a fund as well. We’ll call it the “Free Jameis fund”.
This suit would gain sooooo much publicity which will upset Jameis’ people but it’s time to stand up to the NFL. If we get Michael Avenatti LOL or some other slick attorney we could have Goodell very nervous just with the threat of exposing how heavy handed these jerks have been.
April 9th, 2018 at 4:31 pm
Again, I think the NFL is just letting this die because they don’t want to deal with the social justice warriors. This is purely he said/she said stuff and there’s no evidence of anything, there was no cops called, it’s just one person latching onto a hashtag in order to get attention. The NFL isn’t going to come out and “clear” Winston since they don’t have any way to prove or disprove anything, so they just let this sit out there until people forget about it. I mean maybe if there is a big event that happens and the NFL can sneak out a statement saying the case is closed because there is no evidence, then perhaps they’ll do so if they don’t think anyone will pay attention, but right now if the NFL says there’s nothing to this case, it suddenly is trending on Twitter for 2 weeks when 97.99999% of the nation doesn’t even know this situation exists.
April 9th, 2018 at 4:33 pm
Db55
The Joe’s have a bigger hard on for Jameis than you do Of course they want this to blow over.
April 9th, 2018 at 4:38 pm
St Pete – the resulting negative publicity against the league you sort of described is exactly why this “investigation” will NOT lead to a suspension for Winston.
Not because some fan(s) sue the league which would go nowhere because there would be no proof of “damages” – but because Winston would have every right to sue the league for loss of income and damage to reputation if he were to be suspended without PROOF of wrongdoing.
King Goodell does not want to even crack the lid on that pandora’s box – that we can all be pretty sure of.
April 9th, 2018 at 4:45 pm
IF Winston did exactly 100% of what he is accused of doing to that female Uber driver and was not honest with the Bucs brass about it, then he should be released immediately
April 9th, 2018 at 4:52 pm
There truly is little to no fan backlash on this….not even really with Buc fans….you rarely hear this incident brought up. From what we know there is no video…..there was no battery…..perhaps some inappropriate touching….by who, we don’t know.
I just don’t think this is going anywhere….seems like the NFL is letting this simply drift away.
An important date has passed….the 2 year statute on a civil suit has run….so there will be no suit…there was no police report. Apparently, the Uber driver isn’t that motivated to pursue this aggressively. Now, her attorney is…but that is him simply continuing to promote himself as a champion of abused women.
I could be wrong…but I don’t think it is going anywhere.
April 9th, 2018 at 5:04 pm
I don’t get the repeated bringing this up over and over again. So no matter what the league says there is not anything the Bucs can do about it. So why should they worry about it? It like worrying about getting food positioning, what are you not ever going to eat again? No you keep eating and if it happens it sucks but you just deal with it if it does and move on. I mean lets be real here unless there is some hard evidence then they are not going to move on from him so if he gets suspended then you play the games and when he get back he’s the starter period end of discussion. What is the point of talking about this over and over again. Either he will get suspended and miss games or he wont then we move on. Now if there is some hard evidence he did something wrong now then you would have something to talk about but until then the rest is just worrying or the sake of worrying.
April 9th, 2018 at 5:15 pm
Wasn’t there video evidence in the Elliot investigation?
There is absolutely nothing against Jameis, its her word vs his. She never even filed a police report. It would be a huge pile of dog crap if he faces any suspension whatsoever. The fact that a decision hasn’t been made really tells you how this league is ran
April 9th, 2018 at 5:18 pm
No one is lining for JW3 to be suspended. We just want clarity on our 2018 playoff chances.
We should be worried, the most important player that on our team has uncertainty surrounding his eligibility to play.
Kudos to Joe and Ira for keeping it real. Funny to see the FSU homers getting upset about this topic coming up. They should be upset with jameis for putting himself in this situation. The Buc Fans deserve clarity.
If Jameis were to get suspended, then we need a new QB. Simple as that.
With that said, I believe in Jameis and expect him to lead us to the playoffs next year.
April 9th, 2018 at 5:20 pm
Big difference between JW’s and EE’s situations. JW has eyewitnesses. Zeke was a He vs. Her scenario. Even though the girlfriend backed off we all can assume there were $$’s associated with that change of direction. Not suspending Elliot would be an indictment of calling the victim a liar in an unstable climate around domestic violence and sexual assault/harassment.
April 9th, 2018 at 5:22 pm
St Pete,
Preach! Love the “going ostrich” analogy. It’s ludicrous to not think about it. My favorite team’s playoff chances are riding on Jameis’ performance/eligibility to play. To insist it’s not brought up is a strong case of FSU Homer Denial.
Sorry, the truth will set us free.
April 9th, 2018 at 5:26 pm
It would be nice to know the outcome of Jameis’ NFL investigation by draft night. If he were suspended 6 games, we could draft Baker Mayfield and let him compete early and may the best man win the job.
I 100% agree with Realist. If Jameis gets suspended for 6 games, my fan expectations change as we will be out the #1 overall pick, our franchise QB. At that point I’d expect everything but QB to look a lot better.
And please don’t compare us to the Eagles. They made a helluva run, and don’t be confused they have a deep d-line and Nick Foles, their backup, might be just as good as our starting QB. Wentz is a MVP candidate. I hope our QB turns into that.
April 9th, 2018 at 5:27 pm
AND THE WINNER IS………@BUCSFANMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bucsfanman Says:
April 9th, 2018 at 3:28 pm
^^^No freakin’ way Realist! Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the Eagles just WIN a Super Bowl with a back-up?! No! No passes! ALL teams deal with adversity, it’s where coaches actually are put to the test.
If you want to settle for mediocrity and excuses, that’s your business. “Real fans” are tired of being raked over the coals with promises of improvement only to get groin-punched by the never-ending, excuse laden pressers.
Just say NO! We will not accept it!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!!!…..#NOPASSESIN2018!!!!!!…..GO BUCS!!!!!
April 9th, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Thanks for the um, moral support 813! I’m not trying to win anything but, it’s tiring to hear excuse after excuse, season after season. We would not have tolerated it, and didn’t with Lovie, all of a sudden we’re worried about revolving door policies?! I can’t wrap my head around it.
In short, good organizations do not tolerate this BS. At the very least, Mike Smith should have been fired. Simply “liking” one coach over another is not a reason to accept failure.
Suspensions and injuries are part of the NFL product. Failure to prepare is preparing to fail (I stole that from a post BTW!).
No free passes.
April 9th, 2018 at 6:12 pm
Jameis will not be suspended by the NFL…..not without a riot….inexcusable for the NFL to take this long and then announce their finding of fault after all this time….it is a simple accusation to sort out.
April 9th, 2018 at 6:19 pm
BucEmUp – You’re correct on Elliot, they had footage of him yanking down some chicks top. I don’t know if it was actually against her will or if it was just her being a tease and not really caring. Oh, and I didn’t even realize this, but there is also a second video of him doing it again and a chick slapping away his hands, but then flashing people anyways, so again I don’t know if it was just playing around or if he was really being a creep or not. I think the videos made it pretty tough for the NFL not to do anything when mixed with the allegations and the police being called, even if Elliot faced no criminal charges. The case with Winston is absolutely nothing like any of this unless there is a lot more to the story than anyone knows – and it doesn’t sound like there is anything to the story other than a woman trying to get some attention when a hashtag was trending.
April 9th, 2018 at 6:23 pm
So many absolutes today! No excuses, no passes, no chance, its absolutely nit right…. See ya tomorrow when little to nothing has changed. Go Bucs!
April 9th, 2018 at 6:56 pm
I think the NFL wants Jameis to settle this himself. This lawyer took 700k of the 950k FSU settled for. Kinsman got 250k. The plaintiff’s attorneys asked FSU to keep the settlement secret, but citing sunshine laws and all that FSU released the details almost immediately.
The fact that Jameis isn’t settling makes me think he’s innocent. In this scenario the best way for the NFL to protect itself is to do nothing.
April 9th, 2018 at 6:59 pm
He won’t be suspended. The NFL would open up another can of worms if they start suspending players based on inappropriately groping accusations.
April 9th, 2018 at 7:03 pm
Innocent or guilty. JW plays or he doesn’t. None of it matters. This team is a basement dweller. Until proven otherwise. That’s when I will care if he plays when we actually make contenders.
April 9th, 2018 at 7:10 pm
@TBBF
Thanks for talking me down off the ledge. lol
I think your scenario makes the most sense and the more I think about it the more sense it makes. The statute of limitations was the critical element.
IF…the league had exonerated #3 and then the girl filed some multi-million dollar suit and went all TMZ that would move it back into the court of public opinion exactly where the NFL does not want to be.
If as TBBF points out if the date for civil suit has passed then it’s just dies out.
April 9th, 2018 at 7:12 pm
if they suspend him today or next month it makes little difference. clearing this matter before training camp starts should be the goal.
April 9th, 2018 at 7:32 pm
JJ
I agree. I don’t think even if they suspended him tomorrow we would pick a QB in the draft.
April 9th, 2018 at 7:34 pm
as far as fans saying there is no evidence of anything we just don’t know that. Winston claims there were 4 people in that car. that’s 4 smartphones that could potentially contain a mountain of evidence. there could be eyewitnesses and their could be security cameras that contain evidence. there also could be testimony about that evening from non eyewitnesses.
if they find no hard evidence about Winston but do find evidence that he lied about what happened that night he likely will be suspended.
not sure where the notion that there is no evidence comes from. it’s very hard to believe any fans actually knows that to be true. If you do please let us know what you saw on Winstons smartphone ffom that night and let us know who the mystery passenger was please. Nervous Bud fans would like to know.
April 9th, 2018 at 7:43 pm
I love Winston. I am a FSU fan and love that he is my favorite Nfl teams Qb. I will say this, if he turns out to be lying and did do this, I think he should not be given a get out of jail free card like he got for the crab legs issue. They are obviously 2 different scenarios, getting hooked up with free food is honestly not a big deal, even if it breaks NCAA rules. He never stole anything, it was a clear “hook up” from a fan\ friend who worked at publix. However if they have proof he did touch the uber driver and find out he lied about it. Then that means he lied to his coach, gm, ow er, and fan base. I take him for his word that this is a nonsense accusation, BUT IF evedence ( apparently there is none) proves he is quilty. I will lose all respect for him and think the Bucs should find a new Qb. BUT I REALLY DOUBT HE DID THIS and think there is a “witch hunt” going on trying to tear this young man apart. Just get it over with for Gods sake, no way in the world it should take this long.
April 9th, 2018 at 7:45 pm
JimmyJack…
I agree about phone issue…rrason I am stating there is no evidence is because if they had it then why wat so long?
April 9th, 2018 at 7:54 pm
Drafting a QB is never a bad idea for a team that hold 3. If they take a QB they outta just cut R.Griffin. 4 QBs in camp basically leaves 1-2 of them standing around diddling their thumb.
April 9th, 2018 at 7:56 pm
Obviously the league is trying to sweep this under the rug and you guys keep trying to say, “That’s not u clean up a mess… THIS is how u clean up a mess!!”
Just forget about it and let it fade away like they’re trying to do.
April 9th, 2018 at 8:03 pm
The NFL just drags their feet when it comes to player investigations. Can anyone remember any player investigation getting resolved in a short month or two?
Even worse then the investigation maybe the appeal process. Can anybody tell me why these appeals take months? All the facts and evidence have already been released. It’s hard to imagine why it takes over a week to get an appeal.
The investigation isn’t the bad part. The bad part is when their is a suspension you want to appeal. Let’s all pray to the football Gods that we don’t have to live through an appeal process.
April 9th, 2018 at 8:07 pm
SteelStudBuc……Not a good user name. BucStudSteal would work better.
April 9th, 2018 at 8:15 pm
Jimmyjack
Bucs ain’t drafting a Qb. No way they gonna waste a pick on a guy who will be riding the bench.
April 9th, 2018 at 8:16 pm
If there is no evidence to uphold what this woman is accusing Jameis of doing, She should have to come on JBF and apologize to us all. Then she should have to pay Jameis Millions of Quarters from her Uber Meter!!!!
April 9th, 2018 at 8:28 pm
*************
STPETE,
I think you misunderstood me … talking about the issue only draws attention to it, which defeats the purpose Bucs fans have, namely that Jameis gets to play. This “investigation” is receiving basically ZERO buzz outside of Tampa … it’s a non-issue and will likely end with no suspension at all … UNLESS … loons in Tampa keep making a major deal about it.
STOP TALKING ABOUT IT.
And, no, Bucs fans have no legal case against the NFL … at least not right now.
Also, JIMMYJACK … Jameis did NOT say there were four passengers. All Jameis himself said was that the driver was confused as to how many passengers there were and who it was that was sitting in the front next to her, that’s it. It was Ronald Darby who offered the info that he and Jameis were in the back seat and that someone else was in the front seat.
And again, there were multiple eye witnesses with the Zeke thing as well as a police report nd VIDEO EVIDENCE … with Jameis there is nothing but the one and only witness corroborating his side of events … it’s a NON-ISSUE.
*************
April 9th, 2018 at 8:39 pm
Lol @ NFLNut!
Like the shield/Goodell give a rats ass what the fans in Tampa are talking about. If they did, they’d verfify your prognosis and acquit Jameis.
Don’t be such a “loon” 😉
April 9th, 2018 at 8:43 pm
Lamarcus…..Ya never know. Licht could get one with a late round choice. Some fans saying to get a QB round 1…..Licht does not seem to be thinking that way at all. Not one report about Licht anywhere close to considering a QB #7.
The few random fans hoping that almost certainly will be let down.
April 9th, 2018 at 8:45 pm
Nut…..I read that Winston claimed there were two passengers with him. There was also Winston himself and the driver.
That’s 4 people. That’s what I said. 3 passengers and 1 driver.
April 9th, 2018 at 8:50 pm
It’s hilarious all the Fitz love now… last preseason like 90% of you all were saying Fitz was awful and should be cut.
April 9th, 2018 at 8:51 pm
Nut…If Winston gets found guilty about lying he is still in trouble. That’s the point. We will know in the next couple of months when they reach a verdict.
Until then I really don’t care. But it is a dark cloud hanging over Buc fans heads. So of course it’s going to be a talking point til then, no matter how hard we try.
April 9th, 2018 at 9:12 pm
This is one of the many reasons we should have passed on Winston. Going into his 4th year, he should be a seasoned veteran who doesnt turn over the ball and throws accurate passes even deep ones. Instead we have a truly questionable leader, 2nd highest interceptions of all quartebacks second to rookie Deshone Kiser and a habitual fumbler who cant hit a pass beyond 30 yards. #7 should be Lamar Jackson and trade Winston for a boat load of picks.
April 9th, 2018 at 9:14 pm
To the stop talking about it crowd, The Sage did us fans a big favor by pinning down Goodell and other people about why it’s taking so long. It makes it really hard to plan for next year. Three weeks to settle a much more complicated issue with the Panthers, “these things take time” for the Bucs…
April 9th, 2018 at 10:05 pm
Had Winston reported it when Uber began their investigation, this would be done. He’s goinng to be taught a lesson and the NFL will send all the players another example of what happens when you bring bad press to the NFL. That’s how they operate.
April 9th, 2018 at 10:28 pm
*************
STEVEK,
I stand by every word I typed … once again, you’re having a serious problem with reading comprehension and don’t seem to even understand what I typed. Try again.
JIMMYJACK, Do you have a link to support that, as you may be right, but from what I remember Jameis’ only claim was that the driver was confused as to how passengers were in the car and who was in the front seat. I don’t believe he said anything more than that.
*************
April 9th, 2018 at 10:34 pm
JimmyJack u sound like a hillbilly name. Don’t be too proud.
I’m a Steel stud framer.
April 10th, 2018 at 3:31 am
NFLNut,
I read your words just fine. I think you’re full of yourself and a little pretentious, but what do I know. I also disagree with your assessment and the way we should handle the JW investigation. Talking about it, as concerned fans, does nothing in terms of the Goodell/shield’s outcome of their investigation.
April 10th, 2018 at 3:36 am
NFLNut
Insulting ppl by calling them “loons”, or question their reading comprehension bc they have a differing opinion is pretty ignorant. Essentially you’re questioning someone’s intelligence, just for having a different opinion. Pretty ridiculous if you ask me.
April 10th, 2018 at 4:48 am
SteveK – I fully support NFLNut and his campaign to bring reading comprehension to the unadvantage like yourself. Hey it’s not your fault you dad left you when you were a child, you were just a kid, don’t blame yourself, and take the help that is being offered so you can better yourself!
God bless!
April 10th, 2018 at 6:55 am
Rod Munch,
What the hell, dude?
April 10th, 2018 at 7:11 am
K2 Says:
April 9th, 2018 at 3:39 pm
If you listen to what Jameis initially told Uber…it sounds like Jameis and a friend were in the rear passenger seat and another person who may have acted inappropriately was in the front seat. It sounds like the driver used Jameis name because he paid for the car. So far it seems, Jameis and his friend have refused rat-out who the person in the front seat. Nobody seems to be in a hurry to clear this issue…
————
The driver claims winston was the only one in the car at that time of the incident.
April 10th, 2018 at 7:19 am
Tampabaybucfan Says:
April 9th, 2018 at 4:52 pm
There truly is little to no fan backlash on this….not even really with Buc fans….you rarely hear this incident brought up. From what we know there is no video…..there was no battery…..perhaps some inappropriate touching….by who, we don’t know.
I just don’t think this is going anywhere….seems like the NFL is letting this simply drift away.
An important date has passed….the 2 year statute on a civil suit has run….so there will be no suit…there was no police report. Apparently, the Uber driver isn’t that motivated to pursue this aggressively. Now, her attorney is…but that is him simply continuing to promote himself as a champion of abused women.
I could be wrong…but I don’t think it is going anywhere.
———-
Her attorney is the same one who tried to prosecute winston at fsu…the attorney has a motive against winston.
April 10th, 2018 at 11:35 am
This should be very easy to investigate. . . who is the 3rd person Darby spoke about??? If Darby lied he had a reason and Winston probably gets 6 games and Darby gets a few as well.
This just doesnt smell right to me for some reason.
I think there is a problem and the league doesnt want to bring it out before their “lovefest” – the draft
April 10th, 2018 at 1:10 pm
The NFL may be aquiring /Reviewing video from the Fast food Drive thru.
The Uber Driver said Jameis was alone in the car, yelling anti-gay comments out the window as she drove.
He requested that she take him to a fast food restaurant.
Many Drive thrus have Video cameras.
Since she filed her complaint immediately, the tape would have been preserved. Would take awhile to aquire it.
One of many possibilities
Also, it is very easy to file for a continuounce, for an ongoing case. Then the statues of limitations are irrelevent.
Eric.
I stated awhile back. If there proves to be any truth to these accusations- the Jameis’ decision making on and off the field are too untrustworthy.
If A top QB prospect id available- We draft him.
Qbs are like land. Their Value usually improves.
We evaluate both- and trade the one we dont choose.
QB is the most critical position on the team.
After 4 years- we still dont know if we can trust Jameis decidion making.
We have a high pick, in a QB rich draft.
It may well be in our best interest to grab an option B
( but not Jackson)
April 10th, 2018 at 1:19 pm
StPete
Start a legal defense fund with $20?
Wow! You havent spoken to a lawyer in quite awhile.
April 10th, 2018 at 3:22 pm
Capt.Tim Says:
April 10th, 2018 at 1:10 pm
The NFL may be aquiring /Reviewing video from the Fast food Drive thru.
The Uber Driver said Jameis was alone in the car, yelling anti-gay comments out the window as she drove.
He requested that she take him to a fast food restaurant.
Many Drive thrus have Video cameras.
Since she filed her complaint immediately, the tape would have been preserved. Would take awhile to aquire it.
One of many possibilities
Also, it is very easy to file for a continuounce, for an ongoing case. Then the statues of limitations are irrelevent.
Eric.
I stated awhile back. If there proves to be any truth to these accusations- the Jameis’ decision making on and off the field are too untrustworthy.
If A top QB prospect id available- We draft him.
Qbs are like land. Their Value usually improves.
We evaluate both- and trade the one we dont choose.
QB is the most critical position on the team.
After 4 years- we still dont know if we can trust Jameis decidion making.
We have a high pick, in a QB rich draft.
It may well be in our best interest to grab an option B
( but not Jackson)
—————————
Did the uber driver request the video? Just because a complaint had been filed to uber doesn’t mean the uber driver tried to obtain video. The complained was filed in March of 2016. The NFL didn’t start investigating until Nov. 2017. Who knows if any video surveillance is still available during that time frame. If she filed a police report, the police would have likely confiscated the footage, but no such report was made. It also would have been valuable in a civil trial as well, but the statute of limitations has passed.