The Beard Is Gone
March 17th, 2019
Moves on. Gets a fat raise.
UPDATED: 5:41 p.m. Journeyman backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is gone. And he may not be a backup in the near future.
From multiple reports today, Fitzpatrick signed a two-year deal to infest South Beach and solve Rubik’s Cubes for the Dolphins.
Don’t think the Dolphins are drafting a quarterback in next month’s draft?
Fitzpatrick, who was wildly inconsistent with the Bucs — one minute looking like Dan Marino and the next moment leaving fans pining for Stewart McClown — was doomed when the Bucs hired Bucco Bruce Arians.
In no uncertain terms, both Arians and his offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich declared America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, as the Bucs starting quarterback.
And Arians later added he didn’t want a backup quarterback that would distract Jameis, who confessed that after he served his three-game sentence for his hassle with an Uber driver he felt pressure to match or exceed Fitzpatrick’s play. This led to sloppy play from Jameis.
When Fitzpatrick hit free agency, there was zero chatter out there in league circles that Fitzpatrick would return to the Bucs. Of course, in January, Arians said Fitzpatrick would an asset to the Bucs, which all fits in perfectly with the season of smoke blown around the NFL.
UPDATED: ESPN reports it’s a 2-year deal for Fitz for $11 million and a load of additional incentives. He earned $3 million and change from the Bucs last year.
March 17th, 2019 at 5:23 pm
Good for Fitzy! Good guy. Get yours Ryan, for you and your family.
March 17th, 2019 at 5:24 pm
2 years, $11 million. Don’t know why that isn’t in the story.
March 17th, 2019 at 5:25 pm
Just like when DJax was officially gone, the Bucs got better today.
March 17th, 2019 at 5:27 pm
@Ndog: without Fitzmagic, the Bucs go 3-13
March 17th, 2019 at 5:27 pm
Those first few games to start last season were pretty fun to watch. The 400 and 3 td streak unreal.
He moves on to another team (8th team ?) and gets paid.
2 years 11 mil. Gonna miss the beard.
No question the dolphins are drafting a QB. They may just let New QB ease into new role with time.
March 17th, 2019 at 5:27 pm
This will be the last year for James Winston in a Buc uniform…….
March 17th, 2019 at 5:31 pm
Bet you they have a better wining record then Bucs this season.
March 17th, 2019 at 5:31 pm
Figured Ndog would say something nasty about fitz . I would have bet on it in Vegas.
Ndog. – just shows you are not a buc fan. And don’t act like one. You are a Jameis fan and went to FSU. He is god and everyone else is free game to crap on.
It’s Cause fitz play that sat Jameis on the bench. He was nothing but positive to Jameis. Funny that he got in Jameis head and you blame him for that.
March 17th, 2019 at 5:33 pm
jmiss butthurt feel better
March 17th, 2019 at 5:33 pm
Winston sucks 4 years and aint done sh-t but they keep making excuses for him. any other QB would be gone by now.
March 17th, 2019 at 5:35 pm
If Winston does not improve, does the 70-year-old coach start over with a rookie in 2020?
March 17th, 2019 at 5:40 pm
@Cobra
You realize there is a contingent of fans here who would say 3-13 would be an improvement because ALL they seem to care about is our draft position. LMAO
March 17th, 2019 at 5:43 pm
I hear a stat on the radio yesterday that the Dolphins have not had a ProBowl QB in 25 years….LOL…coaching vs talent….Shula had Griese followed by Marino….
talent > coaching 98% of the time
March 17th, 2019 at 5:47 pm
Maybe a late round comp pick for us…….depends on our other FA pickups…..
Lets hope Grimes decides he wants another payday and some team ponies-up big bucks….
Say what you will….Fitz was a good backup for us. Can’t really expect much better….we were a losing team with our #1 QB.
March 17th, 2019 at 5:52 pm
Good luck with the fins Fitz… moving on Donald Penn at RT if we can sign him cheap.
March 17th, 2019 at 5:58 pm
Great for Fitzy. Super Classy dude!
Also for all JoeBucsFans I have created a Tournament Challenge group. Feel free to join if you like College hoops.
http://fantasy.espn.com/tournament-challenge-bracket/2019/en/group?groupID=2905220
March 17th, 2019 at 6:01 pm
Yeah baby nothing says success like going on your eight team! Have a great two games I’m Miami bearded wonder!
March 17th, 2019 at 6:05 pm
Another team, another kid. Good luck Fitzmagic.
March 17th, 2019 at 6:09 pm
Fitzmagic was fun while it lasted, he’ll never go down as a solid starter but perhaps one of the best backups in history lol if that were a thing.
March 17th, 2019 at 6:11 pm
Hey Joe, do you think Fitzpatrick’s contract is significant enough to earn the Bucs a compensatory pick next year? I think we should have two already from Kwon and Rudy. Thanks
March 17th, 2019 at 6:11 pm
I did warn my buddy who is a fins fan. Caused he asked to what expect
Consistently inconsistent
Highs of highs and lows of very lows.
He just needs to back up Brady at one point in New England and he can say he played on every AFC east team
March 17th, 2019 at 6:13 pm
What draft compensation pick will the Bucs get when Jamyth moves on after next season ?
March 17th, 2019 at 6:14 pm
“Full trottle tankage…
Miami has absolutely no interest in this year draft QBs
Both Giants and Miami is interested in 2020 Tua and Justin Herbert”
Kobe Faker
March 17th, 2019 at 6:18 pm
Good luck Fitz!!!
Thanks for the awesome 2-0 memories of 2018 you showed the fans how a good qb can perform with these weapons
March 17th, 2019 at 6:18 pm
Bird Says:
March 17th, 2019 at 5:31 pm
Figured Ndog would say something nasty about fitz . I would have bet on it in Vegas.
Ndog. – just shows you are not a buc fan. And don’t act like one. You are a Jameis fan and went to FSU. He is god and everyone else is free game to crap on.
It’s Cause fitz play that sat Jameis on the bench. He was nothing but positive to Jameis. Funny that he got in Jameis head and you blame him for that.
What was nasty, I just said we got better today? We did get better cause when you have a player like DJax that divides the locker room when anyone in their right mind knew Fitz wasn’t the future then both the player (Fitz) and the one causing the stir is to blame. If Fitz truly cared about this team he would have stepped in and stopped the nonsense. But did he, of course not, he dressed up for the media and played up to the weak fans who would be into the show that everyone with a brain knew wasn’t going to continue. There is a reason every team he has been on has lost, do you truly believe that is just happenstance?
March 17th, 2019 at 6:29 pm
Fitz had a better completion % then Winston .
March 17th, 2019 at 6:29 pm
@Ndog. I’m a huge Winston fan and you probably know that, but I disagree that Fitz should have intervened. Besides, we don’t really know what he did or did not do. Jameis tried to duplicate Fitz’s early season success. The truth is Jameis has to be mentally strong enough to come back after the suspension and play his game. Nobody can be blamed for JW’s lackluster season except for Winston.
March 17th, 2019 at 6:34 pm
This isn’t even an article about JW. Why are we even bringing him up? Fitz is getting a nice paycheck in Miami while they tank, SO WHAT??? He wasn’t ever going to be the starter here so booo hooo. Let’s see what Winston can do with a PROVEN coaching staff. They negativity on here is crazy. Y’alls families must hate ur negative @sses.
March 17th, 2019 at 6:37 pm
Ndog. You shouldn’t blame Fitz, you should blame Koetter. Koetter handled that situation poorly, he is a great offensive mind, but he isnt HC material.
March 17th, 2019 at 6:38 pm
To all of those that wanted Fitzpatrick to be the starting quarterback and yall wanted Jamies gone now yall can go root for the Dolphins since yall franchise quarterback Fitzpatrick left . I will root for Jamies as long as he is on this team and maybe if he leaves I would hope he plays well but not against the bucs . I don’t wish no one to failed but for people like Fitzpatrick and other old quarterbacks that keep getting chances is just crazy to keep around. Let these young guys learn and get better.
March 17th, 2019 at 6:41 pm
Oh I 100% agree Jameis was weak sauce with him being mentally weak due to Fitz but we do know Fitz played up the whole Fitzmagic crap and he also just happened to use DJax clothes to pull it off. Let’s be real here the guy went to Harvard you don’t think he had any idea what was going to happen. But I totally agree Jameis was weak and I was seriously disappointed in him but he did realize his mistake and did adjust his approach upon his second return, it’s just to bad he couldn’t depend on his head coach and fellow QB to help him with the internal strife that tore the team apart and had to overcome the situation PLUS his own head coach and fellow QB whose is in the same room as him.
March 17th, 2019 at 6:49 pm
Montez Sweat is going to drop like a rock now. Heart condition discovered during combine.
March 17th, 2019 at 6:56 pm
Hey man…..
I said it before.
Those were the 2 most exciting games I’ve witnessed as a Bucs fan since 1976.
NOBODY expected us to win those first two games let alone do it like we did against the Saints and the Super Bowl Champs!!
I was at the Sombrero when we beat KC 3-0 to get into the playoffs in 1979.
That was a great win but ultimately kinda boring.
Fitzmagic was fleeting and anyone with a brain and/or computer knew it wasn’t gonna last…….. but G-dam it was great!!!
Sorry Fitz’s hot streak caused a young F-up QB to question who he was and try to replicate the Magic once he got back, but what can you say.
JW had to feel like an A-hole watching that happen.
I’m sure he thought we had NO chance of winning those games without him.
Well, that’s all in the past ……..
And JW…… I hope you can get your sh!t together…… CONSISTENTLY this year, because I love my TEAM!
Go Bucs!!!!!
March 17th, 2019 at 6:58 pm
Good for Fitz…performed well in Tampa by and large. I sure hope this doesn’t mean the triumphant return of the galloping giraffe, however.
March 17th, 2019 at 6:59 pm
There it is. I didn’t get to see your last post N-Dog. It was up to everybody else to pull Winston up. Yeah.
I pull for all of our guys, unlike you negative F’s. But why does everybody need to lift up a multi million dollar “franchise QB”, who is the victim of his own idiocy.
Next post you’ll tell us we need to do what we can to help Jussie Smollett, or no?
March 17th, 2019 at 7:00 pm
Lipnicki
That would mean we have two galloping giraffes, according to our fellow “fans.”
March 17th, 2019 at 7:02 pm
11 mill for 2 years is insane!
March 17th, 2019 at 7:10 pm
Thanks Fitz for the 2-0 start before it all came crashing down!
Shows that to win with a Bucs defense the QBs have to play absolutely out of their minds.
March 17th, 2019 at 7:24 pm
I doubt this takes QB off their board but it not ever have been on it. They could be looking at upgrading next year like Kobe mentioned.
Fitzpatrick is a name that gives an indication either way.
March 17th, 2019 at 7:25 pm
Typos**
March 17th, 2019 at 7:29 pm
*Aside from our Super Bowl win
March 17th, 2019 at 7:33 pm
Remember last year after game 2 when the Winston haters were saying we needed to, that week, resign Fitz to a huge new deal to lock him up since he was having a HOF level season and it was sure to last. LOL!
March 17th, 2019 at 7:35 pm
DooshLaRue <– Perfect example of a triggered dope who thought two hot games = future HOF and future of the team. LOL!
March 17th, 2019 at 7:36 pm
At the start of the season, Fitz brought more excitement to the Bucs and their fan base than anything or anyone had since they won the Superbowl. I hope he does well with the Fish and makes mucho money
March 17th, 2019 at 7:37 pm
People are talking about salaries without paying attention to the deal. ALWAYS first check to see how much of the money is guaranteed.
Big numbers sometimes sound good or bad but it’s only the guaranteed $$$ that count.
March 17th, 2019 at 7:38 pm
Good for him! I knew he’d get picked up for more $$. Good luck Fitz, except when you play us.
Gardner Minshew with a 4th or 5th anyone?
March 17th, 2019 at 7:38 pm
Jay-Miss couldn’t handle anyone else getting the spotlight. Fitz’s start energized this fan base in a way that Jay-Miss could only dream of.
March 17th, 2019 at 7:39 pm
BrianBucs,
My apologies, I pretty much said exactly what you said but I didn’t see your comment.
March 17th, 2019 at 7:40 pm
@Munch
Re read my post Fancy Man.
Never said that.
March 17th, 2019 at 7:41 pm
…… talk about being triggered…..
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
March 17th, 2019 at 7:51 pm
Bye Felicia!
March 17th, 2019 at 7:55 pm
Funny how people forget fitz also got benched twice for throwing interceptions. Fitz is the ultimate journeyman quarterback. Teddy Bridgewater was just there and about to sign because he’s from the area, sure he was told they were drafting a quarterback
March 17th, 2019 at 8:06 pm
thank you fitz for your time here! I am happy to see that he has found work, i really enjoyed his run with the bucs. He showed flashes of greatness with the weapons we have here. Too bad the current idiot playing qb cant get out of his own way.
March 17th, 2019 at 8:17 pm
No one seems to remember he lost his last 5 starts.
March 17th, 2019 at 8:22 pm
Fritz was the best Bucs story last season. Wish him the best.
March 17th, 2019 at 8:48 pm
“hassle”… that’s an interesting term for it! Goebbels would be proud.
It’s such an insult to honest Bucs fans everywhere that you keep calling this turkey “America’s QB”. Half the Bucs fans from 5 years ago are waiting for him to flame out so they can get their team back. Do you think it’s a coincidence so many people were Fitzpatrick fans, even though Fitzpatrick is terrible?
I’m looking forward to the day Joe realizes he went all-in on a pair of twos.
March 17th, 2019 at 9:09 pm
And some seem to forget Jameis lost 4 of his last 5 games. 2 of which the defense gave up 20 or less points. But right now he won’t have to look over his shoulder.
March 17th, 2019 at 9:22 pm
@Ndog. Yup, I agree with all that. I was disappointed in JW too but I also respect the man. He always mans up and never makes excuses. He even spoke positively about DJax. If that was me, DJax and I would be fighting and I’m winning that fight.
March 17th, 2019 at 9:23 pm
Rodd Munch
Nobody said they needed to lock up fitz for the future. Nobody claimed he was a HOF. Lol though. They said to go with the hot hand. His jersey went to HOF cause he was 1st to have consecutive 400 and 3 td ganes. I think you even agreed he should play until the wheels fall off.
Yet you claim Jameis is above average at worst. I think you even said HOF but I may be wrong
Jameis winning percentage as a buc 38 %
Fitz winking percentage as a buc 40 %
Is Jameis more talented then fitz. Heck yes. Not even close. But his play has not been any different then fitz. Consistently inconsistent
Pretty sure Jameis was #1 pick
Fitz was taken in what round 7
Anywho. Thanks for sharing.
March 17th, 2019 at 9:31 pm
@tnew
Losing 5 starts is no big deal when Jameis has lost his last 10 plus road games…
Been watching since the mid 80’s never seen a Bucs QB play as well as Fitz did in those first few games. In over 50 starts Jameis has never looked like that That was fun as a fan I matter what you think of Jameis
March 17th, 2019 at 10:41 pm
Fitz throws picks and it’s” fitztragic. “ He loses a game and the joes and others stress the point that he is clearly just a backup journeyman. Nothing more. Not good enough to be a starter. It’s expected.
Jameis throws picks and continues to lose ganess , especially on the road and it’s the following :
Terrible coaching /no running game / bad receiver routes /oline sucks /kicker / weather /sucky defense. /bad owners / no depth / indigestion
Pretty sure both QBs had the same players and coaches to work with. Pretty sure both QBs were consistently inconsistent. And have almost same record as a starter for Bucs. Time to end the excuses. Put up or shut up.
Luckily Arians is the right guy for the job.
March 17th, 2019 at 10:44 pm
Thanks Fitz! That N’orleans game was an absolute dream! We almost started 3-0 b4 our mental-midget “franchise QB” deservedly got himself benched when trying to duplicate your first 3-game greatness!?
Thanks for providing veteran-leadership for #3, we expect that he appreciates it…because, he is such a mature, appreciative, “blessed”, team-first, NFL-Ready QB!
Now you can fight with Minkah over the Fitzmajik trademark;).
March 17th, 2019 at 10:47 pm
Ryan Fitzpatrick is a quality backup QB. He’s also a good mentor and teammate. I hate to see him go but he’s getting paid and I can’t blame him.
March 17th, 2019 at 11:48 pm
No one seems to care how many starts Jameis loses since we blame the coaches and the rest of the team, so why should we care how many starts Fitz lost?
March 17th, 2019 at 11:57 pm
Dolphins.
Super Bowl baby!
March 18th, 2019 at 1:26 am
what does it mean that you have to DECLARE the #1 overall pick that HE is the QB?
March 18th, 2019 at 2:13 am
We got worse today
March 18th, 2019 at 2:13 am
heavy consensus out of new york is the dolphins are throwing in the towel on the 2019 season and planning big for 2020…they have been said to probably go about 2-14 this year before this signing and compete for worst record in the nfl…thus fighting for the first pick in the draft, along with other great draft picks…as well as a ton of cap money to sign a boatload of top tier free agents for 2020…so from what i’ve heard, the fins are basically tanking for 2019 and prepping for a big 2020…fitzy might be the bridge to the next qb and just chillin’ in the qb slot for a season or so, and mackin’ out on south beach with his fam …
#JustWhatImHearingOnNewYorkTalkRadio
March 18th, 2019 at 4:17 am
oooooh jameis, you can come out now,please dont feel threatened anymore, he is gone.
March 18th, 2019 at 4:28 am
What I don’t understand is how Jameis is America’s Quarterback?
He’s not a pro bowler… he was a last minute alternate like 2 years ago… making him a 3rd string alternate… pretty sad state of affairs don’t ya say Joe?
March 18th, 2019 at 7:57 am
This might earn us a comp pick or help us maintain what was earned when we lost Alexander/Hump. We shall see.
March 18th, 2019 at 9:08 am
And Arians later added he didn’t want a backup quarterback that would distract Jameis, who confessed that after he served his three-game sentence for his hassle with an Uber driver he felt pressure to match or exceed Fitzpatrick’s play. This led to sloppy play from Jameis.
^^^This was cringy to read. I’m embarrassed for BA and JW if Joe isn’t just making this stuff up. I got a bad feeling about the next 3 years.
March 18th, 2019 at 10:16 am
So sexual assault is just “hassle with an Uber driver” now?
this author sure goes out of his way to give JW a pass.
A common take here. Sorry, but Joe can’t go there on any guy who hasn’t been arrested for what he’s been accused. That doesn’t mean Joe respects Jameis’ behavior and choices. Jameis gets no pass; Joe’s just not going to convict the guy on these pages.–Joe
March 18th, 2019 at 1:10 pm
Koetter was coaching scared.He knew the hammer was coming down if he didnt get it right.
March 18th, 2019 at 1:11 pm
Haters are out today!!
March 18th, 2019 at 1:16 pm
Ahh, the glory days.
And by that, I mean weeks 1 and 2 of 2019.
Thanks Fitzy for the memories.
#FreeTheAmishRifle
#TheAmishRifleIsFree
March 19th, 2019 at 9:25 am
OK Joe but let’s be clear here a hassle with an Uber driver is tantamount to arguing over the tip.
What the NFL found was that Winston violated the personal conduct policy by “touching the driver in an inappropriate and sexual manner without her consent.”
Let’s not belittle the victim.
March 20th, 2019 at 6:03 pm
Finally something to celebrate! Woohoooo!