Make Or Break
July 16th, 2018
Prediction.
The gloom-and-doom forecasts for the Bucs continue to pile up, and hot and sweaty training camp hasn’t even started yet.
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report piles on all the negativity of the Bucs’ 2018 predictions — not that they are unwarranted — with a prediction that the future of America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, is in jeopardy.
In short, Davenport lists of make-or-break seasons for various NFL players this fall, and he includes Jameis as far as Jameis getting a contract extension.
And Davenport forsees Jameis falling into the “break” category.
It’s fair to call Jameis Winston’s third NFL season uneven. His 2017 completion percentage (63.8) and passer rating (92.2) were the highest of his career. His passing yards (3,504) and touchdown throws (19) were the lowest—largely because he missed three games with a shoulder injury.
Most importantly, of Winston’s 13 starts, he won three. Over his first three seasons, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft is 18-27 with no playoff appearances.
To say this is a make-or-break season for Winston and his shot at a fat new contract isn’t an exaggeration.
It won’t be an easy decision for Team Glazer to bring back Jameis for the fifth and final year of his contract, some $21 million, if the Bucs have a losing record this fall.
Joe will also repeat. If Jameis does come back for a fifth season, he should be franchised in 2020 and perhaps again in 2021. That gives the Bucs two (albeit pricey) prove-it seasons.
Davenport also predicts doom for Derek Carr, Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott, among other signal-callers on his make-or-break list.
July 16th, 2018 at 8:03 am
Not to worry Joe’s…Jameis will show just enough improvement to earn a long term contract thus prolonging the debate and generating countless Jameis articles and following arguments….controversy sells !
July 16th, 2018 at 8:04 am
I’d trade Winston for ANY of those three QB’s on the make-or-break list….now!!
July 16th, 2018 at 8:09 am
@Joe … “If Jameis does come back for a fifth season, he should be franchised in 2020 and perhaps again in 2021. That gives the Bucs two (albeit pricey) prove-it seasons.” B-I-N-G-O. Or as Realist is won’t to say B-I-N-G-O !!!!!
Curious though. Wouldn’t that be FOUR prove-it seasons? (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
July 16th, 2018 at 8:16 am
It’s hard to disagree with Davenport. It’s a ‘win now’ league. His statistics are nice and all but wins are what he will be measured by.
July 16th, 2018 at 8:21 am
I would be opposed to franchising Winston instead of negotiating a short term contract with lots of clauses and few guarantees…….Earth to Joe…..this is a buyer’s market when it comes to JW. The last time I checked, he is simply slightly above average on the field….and let’s say, leaves a lot to be desired off the field.
No team including the Bucs will have serious interest in an expensive Jameis Winston.
July 16th, 2018 at 8:25 am
You’d be FIRED IMMEDIATELY for trading Winston for ANY of those 3..lol!! Joe is right tho. Those franchise years will mitigate any potential risk involved. Mahomes is totally unproven. Carr is super erratic. And dak was horrendous wout the #1 online and run game..GET A GRIP, folks!!!
July 16th, 2018 at 8:26 am
Dear Joe: you state “franchise JameISNOT” for a couple more years. As I stated last year, this clown of a quarterback will show his true colors….and he did. You and all the other Bucs (Noles) fans thought I was crazy. He will screw up again, or probably already has and it has not come out yet. He is a poor mans Johnny Miziel…why don’t you guys get it??? You do have to cut your losses in life from time to time. That’s just the way the world works.
The Truth.
July 16th, 2018 at 8:28 am
Az just paid Sammy sleeves 1 yr 20 mil, Tampa. He’s horrendous. You’ve lost perspective
July 16th, 2018 at 8:29 am
The difference between Jameis and the other three is obvious; no character or maturity issues
July 16th, 2018 at 8:32 am
Jameis needs to get off to a better start in the first half of the season.He is
8- 16 in the first half of the season. This indicator will foretell the Bucs success in the coming year. He may not be responsible for all the losses, but he has been the leader and we need him to play within himself and limit the turnovers.
July 16th, 2018 at 8:33 am
Look out Davenport Schwifty is going to blast you on this article. Talking about beating a dead horse or kicking the dog!!!!! Looks like this stench will linger until season gets started and will probably linger all year long. I’m kinda getting bored with all the useless opinions of the W Eater!!!!
July 16th, 2018 at 8:33 am
The worst outcome is that the “make or brake” falls in the middle!!!! Lots of yards, but not a lot of points and wins!!!!!!!!! Then as joe would like to see while handing out 25 million, 28 million dollar contracts, while the new coach and GM’s marching orders are to “FIX” Jw3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 16th, 2018 at 8:43 am
@Bob in Valrico – If Jameis cannot get off to a good 1st half with:
OJ, Brate, Evans, D-Jax, Goodwin and a 3 headed backfield, he NEVER will. THIS roster is poised to be explosive on offense, and if JW can’t maintain explosive consistency, someone else most likely will.
July 16th, 2018 at 8:52 am
Everything is so exaggerated now. The media overreacts to get fans to overreact. We’re bucs fans and we know exactly what disappointment looks like. There’s nowhere to go but up, this season can’t be worse than last simply because they stunk and we know exactly why, if that happened this year if would have to be due to injury because there are no other excuses. I get it people don’t think much of Winston but hard to think anyone would take Blake Bortles in a quarterback swap and he’s won playoff games. This is the time to ignore doom and gloom predictions to look and see with your own eyes. You have no idea who most of these people are with their predictions. The jags have Blake bortles and no one is worried about the quarterback assuming because they went to the playoffs they’ll do it every year from now on…. It’s just silly talk
July 16th, 2018 at 8:53 am
Young and Dumb yes
bad QB, absolutely Not!…
If you haters took the time to look at the positive things hes done on the field you’d realize that Jameis already owns passing records that may not be touched for a long time, if ever…
I stand behind our QB…this Uber incident is old news and he will learn from this…
Go Bucs! Gitter dine JW…
July 16th, 2018 at 8:54 am
I agree with the 2020 “franchise tag” if: Winston has a good 2018 that warrants coming back in 2019 (big IF). HOWEVER, I still expect the Bucs are re-negotiating his 2019 pile of cash option year. Still, even if he’s here in 2019 (and I expect he wlll be but not as the face of the franchise), they should draft a QB. They need a long-term guy that can actually lead this team, not be expected to be facing allegations for sexual misconduct, not repeatedly embarrassing his team on and off the field, not getting his own players suspended, and not screwing over his team mates, owners, and fans by being unreliable in whether or not he will be available to do what he was brought here to do. So far, there is no real reason to think he has a future here beyond 2019. As I said before, this is not only “prove it” but “earn it back” regarding team captain and starting QB.
July 16th, 2018 at 8:59 am
Jameis WILL PLAY out his contract under the 5th year option, 21 mill is not a significant amount to pay for a starting QB. I haven’t done the math but my guess would be that it’s slightly above the league average for all starting QB’s.
July 16th, 2018 at 9:06 am
He is a below average qb with questionable decision making choices, lot of blame on licht & koetter as well
July 16th, 2018 at 9:06 am
A Derek Carr for Jameis Winston trade would turn the nfl on its head. Winston and Gruden would own the nfl.
July 16th, 2018 at 9:12 am
I’ll leave this response “generic” this time:
Many folks have claimed that the Jaguars would have won the Superbowl with Jameis and not Blake Bortles.
Did you know that Bortles lost his #1 receiver, Allen Robinson, in the first game of the season? Did you know that the Jags’ #2 receiver, Allen Hurns, played only 10 games, and only started eight. Did you know that Bortles had 6 TDs and 0 INTs in the first quarter of games this year? Did you know that Bortles threw for 8 TDs and only 3 INTs during the 2nd qtr. of games? Did you know that he threw for 7 TDs and only 3 INTs during the 3rd quarter of games this year? Do you think that having a QB throw for 21 TDs and only 6 INTs through the first three quarters might, just might, have helped their defense to play a bit more aggressively? But yeah he sucked compared to our messiah, America’s quarterback, Probowler, Jameis Winston, who threw for only 5 TDs and 5 INTs during the first half of games, and not a single TD pass during the 2nd quarter.
Imagine how he might have done if ME13 went down in the first game, and he had lost Brate or Jackson. But you’re right, the Jameis-led Bucs offense scored 18.96 points per game (and that’s adding any defensive scores, if any to his total).
tickrdr
July 16th, 2018 at 9:18 am
OneBuc55- I don’t want to take anything away from those stats but those type of stats have become more common over the years. Since Jameis entered the NFL (2015): 13, 13, and 7 Qbs have thrown for 4,000 or more yards. That is hardly rare.
Now, if he could pair those stats with the W’s, we’ll be in good shape.
July 16th, 2018 at 9:18 am
21 million is not too high compared to other Qb’s pay for next year, combined with the salary cap going up we will be ok.
July 16th, 2018 at 9:18 am
So we waste 2019 and 2020 waiting on America’s Choir Boy not to sputter under center and be inaccurate with passes and hang on to the ball? I hope this isn’t the hardest call the glaziers have to make in 3 more years. Ugh
July 16th, 2018 at 9:19 am
21 million is not too high compared to other Qb’s pay for next year, combined with the salary cap going up we will be ok.”
Are those other QB’s actually not mediocre on the field?
July 16th, 2018 at 9:25 am
make or break for lots of folks at OBP……
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!….#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
July 16th, 2018 at 9:25 am
Everybody is saying that this is a make or break year for Winston as far as wins go and overall performance.
However, Winston being Winston he could do something off of the field or even on the sidelines to get himself in trouble again or embarrass the Franchise.
I hope that Winston realizes how fortunate he is to only have been suspended for 3 games and to still be on this roster
July 16th, 2018 at 9:27 am
Joe would suggest five if he makes it through 2021. Jameis has kept his nose clean since March 2016. If he gets through 2021 without incident, the Bucs should be home free
July 16th, 2018 at 9:36 am
Cut him. His nose isn’t clean for two years. He just lied late last year about the uber crime.
July 16th, 2018 at 9:39 am
Why should Mr. Winston get franchise tag at 29 million for 2019 based on 2018 QB salaries? What has he done to deserve that type of one year contract? Potential, “His football mind” his NFL wins and loss record? Please explain what he has done so far in his NFL career to deserve that salary amount? Has he helped his team reach the playoffs? And you say maybe even tag him again in 2021? You feeling Okay? I understand it is not your money. What happens if he is again not taking this team to the playoffs in those Tagged years. I agree this is a very important season for Mr. Winston. If he again does not raise the games of his Olineman and running backs and team like a franchise savior is supposed to do. Then why would ownership want to bring him back? Maybe all the “publicity” he is bringing the team?
Good luck this season Mr. Winston. I am cheering for you to bring it and not just talk about bringing it.
Go Bucs!
July 16th, 2018 at 9:40 am
Pete, if Jameis gets 21 million next year that means he was not mediocre this year.
July 16th, 2018 at 9:40 am
My man! What’s happening Tandyman?!
Regardless of what some think, JW is going to be under a microscope of epic proportions, as is the entire staff. The bottom line is that if he does not improve, and the Bucs don’t improve, he will be like a fart in the wind! He and Koetter are tied together. Another 5-11 season will be the “swan-song” for many a coach, AND player.
July 16th, 2018 at 9:40 am
“Lol! The sheep making predictions! Franchise tag JW3? How about the Elephant in the room?”
“Elephant in the room and the factor in JW3 future here in loserville is…
The 2019 1st round QB pick in the draft”
“America’s poster” Kobe Faker
July 16th, 2018 at 9:41 am
Whether it’s with Jameis or without Jameis, I could care less. The Bucs need to start winning football games! That’s what Buc fans SHOULD expect!
July 16th, 2018 at 9:47 am
I haven’t heard one word from the Bucs about wether or not JW’S future is in jeopardy. You guys just talk a bunch of sh!t… if I’m wrong send the link to the story/video stating his future is in jeopardy
July 16th, 2018 at 9:57 am
Joe, no one really knows (but Jameis…and I think his judgement/standards are going to forever suspect anyway) if he’s “kept his nose clean” since March 2016. And certainly his lies and deceit that seem to have been in play as early as just weeks ago definitely are cons for keeping him on.
At this time last year, many (including myself) were saying Winston is a model citizen since being a Buc. It turns out, we were wrong. So you may THINK his nose has been clean. One more allegation…and the investigation alone (guilty or not) will put this franchise in another tailspin.
July 16th, 2018 at 9:59 am
Knoxville- His future is tied to Koetter. If Koetter is canned, it is likely that a new HC will want his own QB. Also, thus far he has been a good but not great QB. He has room to improve but can the team afford to wait another 1-2 years for him to mature? It’s an unenviable position to be in with the #1 overall pick the Bucs hoped to be THE guy.
July 16th, 2018 at 10:01 am
I think the Glazers will give him his full 5 years and make a decision at the end of that. If he still has a losing record and hasn’t made the playoffs…why would you keep him? You let him walk after 5 years of losing. Hard to argue otherwise.
You gotta believe we draft a QB pretty high next year as well.
July 16th, 2018 at 10:05 am
Joe….how in the heck do you KNOW that Winston has kept his nose clean since March 2016??? Crazy talk…you’re just guessing and hoping.
Joe Says:
July 16th, 2018 at 9:27 am
Wouldn’t that be FOUR prove-it seasons? (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
Joe would suggest five if he makes it through 2021. Jameis has kept his nose clean since March 2016. If he gets through 2021 without incident, the Bucs should be home free
July 16th, 2018 at 10:08 am
Joe would suggest five if he makes it through 2021. Jameis has kept his nose clean since March 2016. If he gets through 2021 without incident, the Bucs should be home free
Aren’t you missing one important word here Joe?……..IF…..If Jameis has kept his nose clean since March 2016.
How do we know?…..the last incident took a year and a half to surface….
IF
July 16th, 2018 at 10:11 am
No matter how good or how bad Winston is, on or off of the field, as long as Jason Licht is the GM here, he will be the Bucs starting QB.
If this season is another bust, Glazers need to totally clean house with Licht, Koetter, Smith, Winston, etc.
July 16th, 2018 at 10:16 am
@Tampabaybucfan
IF,,, Jw3 can keep his nose clean!!!!!!!!!
IF,,, Jw3 can win!!!!!!
If,,, Jw3 can become an accurate thrower!!!!!!
If,,,Jw3 can cut out the boneheaded behavior on the field!!!!!!!
If,,, Jw3 can regain the trust of players, coaches and fans!!!!!
It all sound like that everyone is just looking for someone else!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 16th, 2018 at 10:28 am
The posters on here are becoming the pitch fork mob…can’t deal with all the needless HATE for something NOONE here can prove! That is what’s disgusting!
They are taking over JBF.. sooo gotta find
July 16th, 2018 at 10:32 am
STICKCARRIER’s ….GO BUCS…HURRY BACK JABOO!
July 16th, 2018 at 10:38 am
Meh…you’ve never lied??? Why would he admit anything to the media
Guess you fell out of heaven this morning…
Get over it buddy, it’s old news, hes been punished for it and he isn’t going anywhere, guess you better find another team to root for…
July 16th, 2018 at 11:06 am
Isn’t it funny that the vast majority of Winston apologists, enablers and excuse makers commenting here are folks that have some tie to FSU?
I guess they are just use to their idols and heroes being Criminoles.
Sorry guys, but this is a site for True Bucs fans.
July 16th, 2018 at 11:14 am
I can understand the some of the haters points of view. In reality it’s the same for BOTH sides.
You see, you can’t help who you love. The haters of Jameis love the Bucs too and they feel stuck
The other Bucs Lovers feel Jameis is an actual human that makes mistakes and is not a cyborg. And deserves a chance to make it right. These fans ALSO are in love with the Bucs. (I’m in that category)
Then there are those who in REALITY don’t care who the Bucs quarterback is as long as we win. (I’m also in that category)
But then there are those who have no true allegiance to the team but rather love to hear themselves puke all over any and everything. Probably both sides of the “LOVE” side should NOT tolerate those people at all!
I’m going to defend Jameis playing hard for this team because he is the best quarterback we have ever had love or hate him. Period
If we can in “REALITY” find a better QB I’m always interested. But until then “it is Jameis” folks.
Yeah, both sides love the team so if you do I suggest getting behind the record breaking QB that we lovers do have…..
July 16th, 2018 at 11:17 am
@tickrdr
Uh sorry bro but please look behind just this past year when comparing Winston to bortles because it sounds like your endorsing swapping the two. There was a weapons for Winston mantra trending for a reason last year. He has one receiver since coming into the league. What do bortles do before getting a running back in the top of the draft? Absolutely nothing thank you very much. We have psychotic fans. No one watching him in the playoffs would have even thought he was a veteran quarterback much less better than Winston. Dude has training wheels on the entire season give me a break
July 16th, 2018 at 11:18 am
And who’s your college favorite Brian? The Gayturds perhaps?
July 16th, 2018 at 11:33 am
I hav no problems with some of the comments about whether we should continue to ride with Winston or not. We will see what we have to work with when training camp rolls around. I personally would like to see JW3 have an amazing year – and finally get that average QB monkey off his back.
It might be a bumpy ride – but Im a Bucs fan first!!!!!
July 16th, 2018 at 11:55 am
BFMMM….. Just got off mail route. They say we can’t text, talk on phone and carry mail all at the same time… I can LOL But can’t take that chance. Ready for something else besides all the Jamies chatter. Really can’t understand all that uphold him, but I guess that’s what makes the world go round. Keep spitting those words of wisdom. Watch my back Schwifty and Tired 87 and Senile are after me for stating Facts that W Eater is 18 & 28!!!
July 16th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
It’s not only Seminole fans that root for Jameis, it’s Bucs fans like me who know that all the looking isn’t his fault. He has made so bonehead and childish decisions, but he will mature…hopefully! Plus he is the best QB we have ever had and is still like 23. So let’s get past this rough spell and see what he can do with the offensive weapons he has, plus hopefully a half decent defense.
July 16th, 2018 at 12:10 pm
Don’t sweat it Tandyman. Got into a debate on Friday that just seemed to lead nowhere. Decided that night that I am not fixing to let somebody get my blood pressure going. Basically, I was told that being 4th in passing yards is somehow a silver lining to a 5-11 season! SMH! You can’t make this stuff up!
Season will be starting soon and I hope to be talking about these new d-linemen, especially Vea. Until then, stay true.
Stay cool brotha!
July 16th, 2018 at 12:37 pm
Nole4Jaboo
It ain’t the “stuff that no one can prove”… There’s plenty more to it than that.
Uber incident is just the icing on the nasty cake.
July 16th, 2018 at 1:41 pm
Same old posts after every article. Blah blah blah, Winston this, Smitty that, Klueless still clueless. Nothing new here. The games can’t start soon enough.
July 16th, 2018 at 4:55 pm
@jmarckbuc
Spill it!
What is this “plenty more” stuff?
We’d all love to know what you think you know
July 16th, 2018 at 5:33 pm
@Notthereyet
Tickdr made an accurate post. He’s a very smart man who doesn’t just shoot from the hip like many here.
“Uh sorry bro but please look behind just this past year when comparing Winston to bortles because it sounds like your endorsing swapping the two.”
Why must you guys put words in other’s posts. He was simply reporting FACTS yet the Jameis sycophants go nuckin futs and jump to conclusions whenever somebody posts FACTS that do not give their hero a pass.
I’m not sure where you read that tickdr was in favor of swapping Bortles for Jameis? He was simply making a point that last year the Jameis fanboys embarrass (my word not his) themselves claiming Jameis would have won an SB with the Jags. Bwaaahaaaahaaaa.
tickdr didn’t even draw conclusions just posted FACTS and yet again a Fameis fanboy feels the need to flame tickdr.
STOP with the freaking facts tickdr. I warned you about this once before. LOL
July 16th, 2018 at 5:35 pm
@GP…in his “first chance” there is all that happened at FSU…but being a poor leader to (from all I can see now) likely doing what Kinsman accused him on. But most all of us, me anyway, gave him the benefit of the doubt.
For three seasons…losing record, regression and at least no progression (being a mediocre QB for a team that historically has had mostly bad QBs…doesn’t make him the incarnate), looking like fool (Hard Knocks), looking like a fool again (eatin Ws), looking like a again (Lattimore), looking like a fool again (charging a ref), looking like a fool again (Evans suspension). Lying about his Uber facts, and getting busted AGAIN for breaking rules of conduct. And did I say losing record? Yes, but that’s worth saying twice. He ain’t that good, he ain’t a leader, and he’s not someone who can unite a fan base. Enough.
July 16th, 2018 at 5:39 pm
As a service to the many here who have vocabulary problems!
Definition of hate
1 a : intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury
b : extreme dislike or disgust : antipathy, loathing
We are freaking talking about a game and a player of that game. Why would anybody hate Jameis.
There are plenty here who hate his actions…and their results…hate a three game suspension without feeling that much about Fameis personally.
There are plenty here who are disappointed “bigly”. Some feel betrayed…others upset with the inability to trust a liar who has a long list of scrapes yet still felt OK to go out and get blackout drunk with perhaps the two most damning companions he could have selected.
July 16th, 2018 at 9:14 pm
@Roy T Blowford
Please accept my apology for trying to point out that OPINIONS are rarely FACTS
I have no problem with you or anybody else expressing their opinions
I get very tired of those who express their opinions as facts and use them to try to tear down someone who has made it to a position that they can never experience
Armchair quarterback all you want, it’s quite entertaining
July 16th, 2018 at 9:40 pm
This is his prove it year ..not next year.
July 16th, 2018 at 9:53 pm
@Roy
You did make some valid points but mixed in with them you added opinions which you are expressing as fact
Please keep them straight and separate
@stpete
Have you been reading the posts of the last few weeks?
some of them have valid points but quite a few have been vile rants filled with unfounded accusations and innuendo much like a very bad divorce
I’m sure that nobody here hates anybody, but some of these posts……..
July 17th, 2018 at 2:12 am
Any other NFL player listed by the league As a sex offender?
Anyone who thinks Jameis is innocent, has to be as dumb as a Rock.
Instead of contesting the charges- which was entirely in his rights!
He accepted a deal from Godell. And accepted being listed as a NFL sex offender.
Accepting that agreement will cost Anus Jameis Tens of millions of dollars.
And his reputation for the rest of his wretched career.
If the NFL hadnt found proof, Anus would have fought it in court, I believe. He said, she said. He would have won that case.
Instead, after the NFL investigation uncovered their evidence, Anus agreed to being listed as a sex offender. Agreed to 3 game suspension. Agreed at public apology( as lame as he is), agreed to therapy and couciling.
The league didnt release their evidence- to protect their brand.
But you would have to be a fool to doubt Anus’s guilt. Fortunately, as the league and Jameis hoped- there are quite a few of them around here.
You explain to your Daughters , Why you are cheering for a sex offender.
And its likely hes far worse. His discredited witness in this investigation, was the same witness in his Rape investigation. Kinda raises a few doubts.
This Franchise Fd up drafting him, thinking he would stop his immature behavior and alleged Criminal activity, when they misrepresented Him to us.
Is there anyone who believes hes done? Anyone think we can build a winning , counting on him
Did you all forget him assaulting a player last year.
Did you all forget Shelton Quarles preventing him from physically attacking a ref?
Go ahead a count on him! The league counted on people being dumb enough to excuse him
Just another pathetic mistake by this pathetic franchise. Waiting on their time bomb Mediocre QB to implode again.
July 17th, 2018 at 6:06 am
@noleforjaboo: wake up bro. Turn off that CNN, it’s got you straight tripping boo. You are dillusional. You gonna change your screen name when the Bucs bench the dumb as a bag of hammer Winocheo?????? To that end, I have over 2,300 employees throughout the US and immediately shred a resume if their “educational accomplishments” include FSU. They always say “I’m Fixin to do it”, which means it will never get done.
I speak the truth, I am the truth, and the truth hurts
July 17th, 2018 at 7:47 pm
@gp…You said “You did make some valid points but mixed in with them you added opinions which you are expressing as fact
Please keep them straight and separate”
Are you on drugs? Guess what? I will mix opinion and any other statements I promulgate as facts that I feel like. Here’s an idea: If you have an issue with a specific comment, then feel free to comment about it. It’s kind of how these things work.