Benching Jameis For Fitz Not “Close”
September 14th, 2018
Former NFL exec weighs in.
The former right-hand man for Al Davis and Bill Belicheat, and a Bill Walsh gopher, Michael Lombardi has strong feelings about the Bucs quarterback position.
And he believes those who are willing to quickly hand over the keys to the franchise to backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick after the Bucs beat the Saints last week have had way too many shots on Bourbon Street.
Lombardi, in his podcast for The Ringer, lauded the man he calls “The Harvard Hammer” for having the “game of his life” Sunday but the job of franchise quarterback should stay with America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
Lombardi also admits he’s not a Jameis kind of guy, either.
When his co-host, Nate Frazier, mentioned Jameis should already have lost his job to Fitz after Sunday’s performance, Lombardi nearly fell out of his chair.
“No, nnnoooo, nnnnnooooo chance,” Lombardi bellowed. “I think Jameis Winston has some issues but he will beat out the ‘Harvard Hammer.’ That is why I was rooting for Teddy Bridgewater to go down there because I think he would have given them a dimension, too.
“But I don’t think [Jameis] is close” to losing his job.
At least sober minds like Lombardi are speaking out. Lombardi, in a discussion not about the Bucs, cautioned about the allure of Week 1 overreaction. Lombardi could have qualified the hysteria around Fitz as overreaction as well when he said of Fitz, “It will be interesting to see what he can do with Philly because Philly can put pressure on him.”
You can hear the full podcast segment below. Lombardi talks about the Bucs sporadically throughout the pod but a good chunk of the Bucs chatter begins at the 13:55 mark and the Fitz vs. Jameis talk begins at 58:05
Hat tip @Chrisbell323.
September 14th, 2018 at 9:02 am
Stat Carriers can now take a breath….
September 14th, 2018 at 9:13 am
Far too soon to even think about that ish. Now if he throws 8 more TDs to 0 ints for another 800 yards and two more wins then we are in those waters.
September 14th, 2018 at 9:13 am
Finally someone with a brain…
Anyone who thinks Fitzpatrick is a better QB than Jameis for this franchise longterm is smoking some good stuff…We’ve seen this from Fitz at every stop he’s made in his career…He looks amazing in spots, then the wheels come off the rails resulting in a train wreck…
Fitzpatrick is doing his job as a backup and holding down the fort until Jameis returns period…
September 14th, 2018 at 9:17 am
There is only one part of this story that is unique.
IF a player was the uncontested number one at his position…ME13..GMC..Grimes….and of course the franchise QB JW…you are not supposed to be able to lose your job because of injury. The spot is not only held for you games are provided with “comeback” expectations realizing the player is coming off an injury.
But that’s not why Jameis has missed these three games. I understand some who want him to “earn” his job back or those who wish to “punish” Jameis.
But we don’t wish to cut our nose off to spite our face.
If JW would have gotten his job back immediately if he missed three games due to injury, the only reason to not give it back to him after this three game suspension is to prove a point that would harm us as much as JW.
Other than game four because of the MNF short week backed up by a bye after the game…JW will start. He is our starting QB and his job was never REALLY up for grabs.
September 14th, 2018 at 9:22 am
The Glazers will make this decision. Until you see his picture back up on the stadium…
September 14th, 2018 at 9:24 am
I have openly confessed to being a “Jameis hater” (mainly because he has been us in this position, among other reasons), but the coaches have to start him when he is eligible to return. If he was not suspended at this point in the season, he would have been the starter from Day 1.
I am praying that he doesn’t do something boneheaded while he is gone.
September 14th, 2018 at 9:26 am
Still kind of fuzzy if he thinks Bridgewater competes with Jameis.
September 14th, 2018 at 9:30 am
Lombardi…..ya that guy is a hack he also stated that Doug Pederson had no business being a HC and was the worst coach in the NFL, so ya on lombardis beliefs
September 14th, 2018 at 9:32 am
If FITZ is winning he should continue to play. We are not saying FITZ is the long term answer. If he develops a chemistry with receivers he should play it out. I would still like to see Jameis hit DJAX is full stride on a long pass when it counts.
September 14th, 2018 at 9:32 am
If FITZ is winning he should continue to play. We are not saying FITZ is the long term answer. If he develops a chemistry with receivers he should play it out. I would still like to see Jameis hit DJAX is full stride on a long pass when it counts.
September 14th, 2018 at 9:33 am
We sure do talk about a player a ton for someone who is not even on the team. Time waster
September 14th, 2018 at 9:40 am
Fitz is a temporary solution. He may give you 5 good games, he may give you more, or maybe less. The Bucs need a permanent solution at the QB position. They thought they had drafted that franchise QB, when they made Jameis the 1st overall pick in 2015. They have a lot invested in him, they have to stick with him. Jason Licht can’t afford another high draft bust on his resume.
September 14th, 2018 at 9:40 am
PLUS: did any of you snowflakes listen to Derrick Brooks comments about JW??? Oh, I forgot snowflakes don’t listen to people when it does not fit their brain dead agenda. I would much rather listen to someone in the building (Brooks) than an outsider. M Lombardi is the same guy that said Fitzpatrick would fail miserably and the Bucs would be 0-3.
September 14th, 2018 at 9:43 am
It’s funny what people say after 1game. Sam Darnold will odviously be better than Joe Montanna.
September 14th, 2018 at 9:44 am
Yeah…Fitz sucks!!!!!!!!!! hehehehe……here’s to hoping for two more SPECTACULAR games from Fitzmagic!!!! And that first one was INCREDIBLE!!!! Who knew a Bucs’ QB could hit receivers deep, in stride??
September 14th, 2018 at 9:44 am
…..AND….be a decent human being off the field at the same time???
September 14th, 2018 at 9:45 am
Miken
I really don’t understand why people get all excited and bent out of shape over one game. It’s all hype, nothing more, nothing less.
September 14th, 2018 at 9:50 am
Wash rinse repeat. Come on joe. Are you going to write about every talking head’s opinion on the fitz/jameis debate? We get it, some say ride with fitz and some will say its jameis job. Move on until the moment of truth actually arrives. You get a lot of traffic. No need to try to feed the trolls every day 8 times a day. Here is an idea, interview rojo and ask him about being a healthy scratch and how did he handle it. Ask what is he doing to rectify it? Ask him what has been the biggest challenge for him thus far? You know real journalism. We can care less what peter king, kay adams, skip bayless, steven A, lombardi, boomer esiason, chris simms, rich eisen, chris collingsworth, mel kiper, bill pollian, kurt warner, adam schein, mad dog russo, mike florio, and whoever else with an @$$ whole has to say about it. Step away from the lazy journalism everyday over and over and over and over again.
September 14th, 2018 at 9:54 am
Why do so many people seem to think that one man’s success has to come at another man’s expense? We have two outstanding quarterbacks when there are some teams that would mortgage their future for just one good one. Can’t we all find plenty of reasons to be happy about that?
September 14th, 2018 at 9:57 am
Joestang…bullseye!
September 14th, 2018 at 9:58 am
webster
I’m still trying to get an answer for Noah Spence 4 snaps against the Saints
We’re talking a 39th draft pick here, whom they had great expectations
I have questions
1. Have they given up on him
2. Has the extra 35 lbs affected his play
3. Will he be on the roster next season
4. Do Buckner have a problem with him
September 14th, 2018 at 9:59 am
This coming from a guy who said he doesn’t post links on this site out of RESPECT for Joe.
You clicked on the article and read it, so it must peak your interest in some way.
Then you bash the guys who run this site, from the comfort of your double-wide.
Class act!
September 14th, 2018 at 10:02 am
Easy webster easy…good points though.
September 14th, 2018 at 10:09 am
My sister in law’s, cousin’s, brother’s uncle writes for the Post in BFE Alaska and she says Fitz is just getting started…
September 14th, 2018 at 10:16 am
@ billy
No i do not post links to articles on joes website or links on any other website out of respect for their business. And no smart @$$ i did not read the article. I read the title and knew exactly what it was going to talk about. I came right to the comment section and voiced my opinion. Its joes site and obvisously he can write whatever he wants. And i have never lived in a double wide. Dont get me and your momma confused.
September 14th, 2018 at 10:24 am
Non-issue. Glazers, Licht & Koetter will all have a hand in deciding who starts after these first 3 games. Somehow I don’t think they’ll consult Lombardi during their decision-making process. Nor the Joes nor any of us. And yes, as someone’s already said, we’re blessed to have a plethora of QBs who can run this offense. Now that the obligatory Jameis-diversion is out of the way, can we all get back to focusing on our next game with the Eagles, just like out Bucs T-E-A-M has done?
September 14th, 2018 at 10:24 am
I COULDN’T care less.
September 14th, 2018 at 10:45 am
Let the bucs get some national respect across the nfl…Trade Winston!!
September 14th, 2018 at 10:57 am
If the Bucs coaches and management are not talking about questionable players I take that as there is nothing to report on potential bad news.
September 14th, 2018 at 11:03 am
This is a moot point until Fitz plays 2 more games. A lot of opinions can and will change after the 3rd game.
September 14th, 2018 at 11:03 am
the consensus is:
“fitzie, hold onto the starting qb job as long as you can bro, because once we go back to jameis there is no looking back again”
September 14th, 2018 at 11:19 am
ONEBUC55:
I concur!
September 14th, 2018 at 11:22 am
@ doosh
Take your hooked on phonics want to be english teacher @$$ some where else. You have to be pretty lame to make grammatical error comments on the internet. Enjoy going on dates with your hand.
September 14th, 2018 at 11:29 am
Lol right because the picture being up on the stadium is gonna tell you everything you need to know about the most important position on the field in the sport. So much overreaction to the simplest things makes people look foolish. Media doesn’t know and they are in the building and talking to players, it’s a need to know basis and not even the other players need to know yet but people know so much about nothing based on conversations by people who know nothing
September 14th, 2018 at 12:14 pm
No sane or knowledgeable fan thinks Fitz is better. We – as fans – want them both to be great and I hope they are.
September 14th, 2018 at 12:44 pm
This is Jameis’s team.
September 14th, 2018 at 2:20 pm
No matter what happens we need to see JW play this year. It would be stupid for the Bucs to NOT play Jameis and pay him 21 million next year. He hasn’t proved he is a franchise QB yet. Do any of you really think JW would have won that game against the Saints? Any turnovers and we would have been on the losing end last week. Fitzy played the game of his life and we still BARELY won. I think Fitz will start week 4 against the Bears and JW will be back after the bye. Why would you play Jameis when he hasn’t practiced in 4 weeks? I would love to see Fitzy go 3-1 the first 4 weeks and everyone arguing that he should remain the starter. Chances are that JW will start week 6 no matter what the Bucs record is, but I would like to ride the hot QB if he is winning. Time to beat the Eagles! Go Bucs!
September 14th, 2018 at 4:48 pm
Jameis is on the couch. He did not get injured, he lost his starting spot due to a disturbing violation of league rules and, more importantly, basic ethical standards. He is not entitled to the same spot on the roster he had when he left, as if he had sprained his ankle at practice.
If Fitz wins one of the next two, and does not have a poor showing on MNF, he starts against the Bears, AND, as long as we are putting points up on offense and winning, he’ll be at the helm after the bye and for the rest of the year.
Dirk’s words will be: “Ryan Fitzpatrick is our quarterback.”
#TheAmishRifleIsFree
#FreeTheAmishRifle
September 14th, 2018 at 9:04 pm
99.97.92……
I totally agree that JW is not entitled to his old job…I’m simply stating we don’t wish to punish him just because he deserves it…especially if it hurts the team.
September 15th, 2018 at 3:04 am
SOSDD
September 16th, 2018 at 9:24 pm
Not There should quit laughing and sober up. Here are the facts: The Glazers will decide on Winston, not you. They have have taken his picture down and not said a word of support for Winston since, and that’s all we know. So open your eyes and take the smirk off your face. We’ll see soon enough…