Is Mariota Benching A Perception-Changer At One Buc Palace?
October 16th, 2019
This post likely only will make sense if you accept that ego is a huge, driving force through most NFL organizations.
And it you don’t accept that, well, then Joe suggests you read something else.
As Sage JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman noted yesterday in his column, the 2015 quarterback draft class is the NFL equivalent of a soiled diaper. Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota were the top dogs selected No. 1 and No. 2 overall, and no team is wishing it drafted Garrett Grayson, Sean Mannion, Bryce Petty, Brett Hundley or Trevor Siemian.
But Winston and Mariota have underachieved, culminating in the benching of Mariota yesterday by the Titans, likely the end of his low-scoring, low-turnover reign in Tennessee.
So Joe has to wonder whether with Jameis’ future completely unknown, did the benching of Mariota just make life easier for the Bucs’ front office and for Team Glazer, if they’re contemplating moving on from Jameis after the season.
Hey, it’s hard to look terrible when your quarterback failed along with his entire draft class of QBs.
General manager Jason Licht easily could make a case to his bosses that the Bucs just ran into bad luck in 2015 but still drafted the very best quarterback available, even though guys like Father Dungy and Peter King, among many other influential NFL voices, were huge Mariota supporters entering the draft.
That kind of reality interpretation might soothe Team Glazer as they ponder the future of Jameis. Team Glazer won’t be carrying the shame of drafting the wrong 2015 QB, which could make them less hesitant to move on from Jameis. No more competing with the Titans to save face and, yeah, that kind of stuff matters. No ownership group wants to look horrible on major decisions.
Everything happening in the quarterback market will affect the Bucs’ decision on Jameis, from injuries across the league to performance of many low-paid QBs, potential retirements, and more Mariota-like implosions, in addition to the college gridiron and final draft position.
If Jameis keeps playing down-and-up football, the Bucs QB decision could get extremely complicated.
Just don’t think Mariota falling on his face is insignificant to the big picture call by Team Glazer. And yes, their voice is heard on major decisions.
October 16th, 2019 at 12:55 pm
Americas Quarterback, Playoff winning Marcus Mariota.
There I fixed it for you.
October 16th, 2019 at 12:55 pm
Shouldn’t be….hopefully Jason Lite is not a copy cat thinker…Oh wait !
October 16th, 2019 at 12:57 pm
How about the fact that Steelers, Panthers, Saints are all winning with back up QBs. Steelers QB was not even on the roster 2 weeks ago , practice squad player. Jamies is far from the only problem but he is surely not the answer. Anybody can turn the ball over 6 times a game.
October 16th, 2019 at 12:57 pm
This is the laziest analogy I have ever seen. The Jameis fumble was not something you could defend. Again those interceptions except the 4th down punt into double coverage he threw to Godwin is a crock. Mike Evans was responsible for 2 of the interceptions especially the 1st one when he ran a bad route. Jameis had to throw around a linebacker, and if Evans was where he was suppose to be that would have been a completed pass. His arm was hit on the next one. Kuechly made a great play, and he was also hit on that interception. The final one Evans should have turned around and it was a touchdown. Evans dropped a 74 yard touchdown. Nothing on trying to run Evans out of town. I can understand trying to get eyes, but good lord can be get some actual old fashioned analysis.
October 16th, 2019 at 12:57 pm
It’s a “What have you done for me lately” league. Like within the last month kinda league.
October 16th, 2019 at 12:59 pm
What the hell, let’s trade players right now. Might be a win for the players and the teams. Too bad it’s mid-season and they’d have to learn a new playbook. Other option is simple, play Griffin. Sameis Jameis is out of lives in Tampa Bay.
October 16th, 2019 at 12:59 pm
glazers and licht setup jameis to fail unlike mariota who has had a solid running game and oline since day one. Jamies plays for a small market irrelevant nfl charity case not a nfl franchise. comparing mariota and jamies is not comparing apples to apples…. bucs have a xfl backup roster headlined by a failed drivers education instructor / fireworks expert with a #1 receiver who loses concentration more than he should the rest of the roster outside of godwin is well let’s just say the xfl has higher standards….
October 16th, 2019 at 1:00 pm
Smashsquatch Says:
October 16th, 2019 at 12:59 pm
What the hell, let’s trade players right now.
godwin is only tradeable buc pal…. the rest have bad contracts or flat our SUCK!!!!!! remember players that bucfan thinks are good or trade worthy are actually less valuable than human feces at the treatment plant….
October 16th, 2019 at 1:01 pm
Titans are showing they are the better organization between the 2 because they finally except reality and are making decisions to hopefully better their future..
JW is an anchor sitting ate the bottom of the sea keeping the Bucs ship from going anywhere as other teams improve and are passing them by..
As long as they start JW, they are accepting loses and very poor team quality!
October 16th, 2019 at 1:04 pm
The decision is very easy, not complicated. You have a horrid QB. YOU DON’T PAY HIM MILLIONS!!! This team has some talent in place. A new QB doesn’t have to be an instant Tom Brady to make progress.
October 16th, 2019 at 1:12 pm
I always said the JW vs Mariota thing didn’t matter to Jason because both qbs would be good. I was right, it doesn’t matterbut its bc they both suck and weren’t extended and both should be free next year. Some years its jw and mariota at the top and some years its rivers and eli at the top
October 16th, 2019 at 1:18 pm
In 2015, there were a few of us that wanted to ride it our with Glennon. But the homers wouldn’t have it. Our FSU savior was going to save the franchise. Anyone who actually watched college football knew these guys weren’t good. Neither of them. We should have traded down and built up the trenches.
Honestly, it wouldn’t have mattered because Licht couldn’t draft a fart. We’re screwed as long as he’s allowed to make any football decisions at OBP.
October 16th, 2019 at 1:22 pm
Bad pick in 2015, worse choice to remain in 2020.
October 16th, 2019 at 1:25 pm
The Mariota decision is irrelevant. The only thing worth noting is that the Titans had seen enough.
Organizationally, few successful teams would have tolerated either’s lack of production. With so much draft capitol invested, Joe’s 100%. It’s about ego. Failing with the #1 OVERALL pick in the draft isn’t just “egg on the face” of the franchise. It sets a franchise back 5 years in this case.
October 16th, 2019 at 1:29 pm
Will Winston still be America’s Grop….errrr, Quarterback after he’s benched? Asking for a friend…..
October 16th, 2019 at 1:31 pm
@bucsfanman… not really all about ego, its all about keeping your job. Jason wants to keep JW because he aint going to be allowed to pick the next qb
October 16th, 2019 at 1:31 pm
At this point, I would take Sean Mannion over Jameis and spend money on a corner or pass rusher.
October 16th, 2019 at 1:32 pm
Jameis was supposed to help fill the stadium too. All those FSU supporters ya know.
I didn’t want either QB. Carr was my pick the year before.
As far as the rest of the season, give the Soiled Messiah 1-2 more games and if he shats himself …… PLAY GRIFFIN!
And put Tanner Hudson in as well after we trade OJ.
October 16th, 2019 at 1:33 pm
Lack of production? Winston has produced- if you mean wins then that’s on the coaches and GMs not on Winston- it’s a team effort right?
October 16th, 2019 at 1:35 pm
mike- Yea, I get what you’re saying, it’s survival. But think of it like this. How would you like to have on your GM resume, “FAILED 1st overall pick in the 2015 draft”?!
That’s going to follow you around for a while!
October 16th, 2019 at 1:39 pm
Winston to me looks like he scared to throw the ball he holds it for too long and his accuracy sucks after this long in nfl and still making same mistakes. time to move on pay the other guys not Winston and trade oj or brate for picks but with mr licht the GM we all know he will miss more than he hits on draft picks.
October 16th, 2019 at 1:45 pm
I firmly believe that if the Bucs could do the #1 overall pick in the 2015 draft again, then drafting Jameis Winston is *still* the correct decision. Most free agent and draft decisions after that #1 overall pick is where things became disastrous for this team. That and hiring Irk Koetter.
October 16th, 2019 at 1:51 pm
Mariota is the better QB … he took the titans to the playoffs and defeated the chiefs as under dogs in the playoffs at arrow head … there is no comparison to the two … both QBs are garbage but out of the 2 Mariota is better
October 16th, 2019 at 1:56 pm
2nd to last paragraph I disagree with. If he continues down and up or up and down play thrn that dosent muddy the waters at all. Just confirms inconsistent is who he is, epically year 5 ad is as much a sign to move on as anything.
October 16th, 2019 at 2:04 pm
I think there is no way that Arians tied himself to Jameis privately with the Glazers…
I’m quite sure he told them he would “try” to fix Jameis or if he couldn’t he’d groom another QB for them.
Glazers & Licht were desperate for a HC with BA’s credentials…..
My only question about who we would have been better off with Winston or Griffin in the London game is….what sort of hospital stay Ryan Griffin would have…..Jameis is one tough dude…..”physically”……mentally….I think he is quite weak.
October 16th, 2019 at 2:17 pm
If he keeps playing up and down football it actually makes the decision easier to not pay a guy 30 mil for inconsistent play. Ego is how you get fired, Winston cant muster one single season of consistency long to get any kind of recognition and positive momentum from media going into the next season in his 5th year. Does not sound like someone you pay 30 mil a year to.
October 16th, 2019 at 2:21 pm
I said before that 2015 draft that neither Winston or Mariotta were true NFL franchise QB’s. And turns out I was correct.
Mariotta being benched is no big surprise, just like last season when Winston got benched and watched Fitz.
Time for both the Bucs and Titans to admit their mistake, cut their loses and move on.
October 16th, 2019 at 2:51 pm
glazers could very well step in and say sit him….
but i say keep him in until about week14….
JW has a habit of winning the last 3games killing our draft hope….
GO BUCS!!!!!
October 16th, 2019 at 3:00 pm
The time to move on passed awhile ago.
October 16th, 2019 at 3:07 pm
Mariota is now on our team? Since when?
October 16th, 2019 at 3:07 pm
If Winston leaves Tampa, contrary to what others want us to think, he’ll quickly be offered a job with a top team. And will probably excel there.
October 16th, 2019 at 3:20 pm
It’s amazing how all you idiots now think that Mariota sucks too! Before you all wanted him!!!!! You guys have NO CLUE!!!
October 16th, 2019 at 3:41 pm
Jamies will be ok . He had a bad game and to me that’s just part of the game. I remember when Payton had 6 interceptions in 1 game and no one never said draft another quarterback. But Payton had bill Polian as his gm . That’s the differences but ok let’s move on from Jamies and see who’s going to be the next scapegoat when we still can’t make the playoffs. If you don’t have a running game or a defense it doesn’t matter who the quarterback is the team is going to lose. You can’t espect a quarterback to come in and win with a trash defense and running game and trash offensive line and tell him it’s all on you go win !!! Lol lol lol
October 16th, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Yeah reading a lot of garbage about Mariota was better because he took his team to the playoffs… Mariota didnt take his team to the playoffs, his team and specifically Tennessee’s defense took Mariota to the playoffs!
I actually still think both QBs can have great NFL careers because they both have fight & dedication to them. I cant speak on Mariota’s flaws, but witb JW it is clearly all just mental. He can somtimes panick, doesnt process field info quickly enough, and tries to do too much– these are bad traits that have been allowed to cultivate in him from poor coaching in his youth. You can try & coach around some of these flaws, but that will hopefully be another coaching staff’s problem.
The Bucs need to figure out how to win, with or without JW
October 16th, 2019 at 4:05 pm
JW is WAY BETTER and WAY MORE TALENTED than $134m man Jared Goff.
HOWEVER, the Bucs may want to simply franchise JW in 2020 … that may tick JW off though and he may refuse to sign the tag which will force the Bucs to let him hit free agency.
If he hits free agency, a TON of teams will likely make him a mega-offer, which could include the: Patriots, Dolphins, Steelers, Bengals, Broncos, Raiders, Chargers, Titans, Cowboys, Redskins, Bears, Panthers, Saints and 49ers.
That’s FOURTEEN TEAMS … and all it will take is TWO to make the bidding get wild and for JW to end up with a mega contract.
JAMEIS WILL GET $$$$ PAID $$$$ …. either in Tampa or somewhere else!!!!
October 16th, 2019 at 4:24 pm
Jamies will get paid by Licht to justify the pick. He overpaid Smith and Marpet just to convince us all they were great picks. 4-12 the next few years because we will not be able to afford any free agents and we all know Licht SUCKS on draft day.
October 16th, 2019 at 4:26 pm
Cant make rookie mistakes in years 3, 4, and 5. Time to draft a smart QB. Then draft orher smart players. These guys cant seem to retain the info being taught.
October 16th, 2019 at 4:56 pm
Lol it’s funny cause everyone here acting like the sky is falling and Jameis Winston should be benched are the same people who will be singing his praises next week when he lights up Tennessee. After 5 years this is who he is. No matter who trys to coach the bad Jameis outta him he will always be Jameis cutler. Great games which solidify your belief in why he was taken 1st overall sandwiched in between duds. Give this man a solid defense and running game and you can win with him. Idk if you can pay him at market value as your franchise qb though. And if he wants to test the market, who is honestly gonna throw a boat load of cash at him to make him theirs?
October 16th, 2019 at 5:01 pm
Let’s trade Winston for Mariota! What’s the worst that could happen?
October 16th, 2019 at 5:26 pm
If the Glazers don’t already realize that they’re associated with major mistakes then self awareness must be a completely foreign concept to them.
October 16th, 2019 at 5:31 pm
I bet the Titans felt the same way last year when Jameis was benched.
October 16th, 2019 at 6:06 pm
Trade Winston for Mariotta straight up for the rest of the season and see what happens.
I would not mind giving Ryan Griffin a shot if the Bucs are wavering about Winston’s future. We need to see what he has in a league where unknown back-ups have caught on fire,
I am weary of Winston’s boneheaded play.
October 16th, 2019 at 6:08 pm
Wen #3 plays good he’s dam near best in the league an offense you don’t believe me just take out his 2 bad games 9ners an saints an he is playing better than Mahomes. Then he goes out an plays like he did against the saints an 9niners so honestly idk what to think about him. He has all the talent in the world to be better than the best I don’t care if you believe me or not but he does so if these coaches can fix him then keep him I know it’s bin 5 years but it’s only him a few months with a real coach so I know it will take more time. I honestly don’t want to start over with another rookie QB an go thru this whole process again. Mahomes has a real coach an he even sat his whole rookie year so he could develop don’t think Alex smith kept him on the bench he’s way more talented them smith but Andy is smart an developed him well before starting him can’t say the same about Winston
October 16th, 2019 at 6:16 pm
Jameis winston is our matthew stafford. compare both of their numbers at each point of their careers. pretty much the same numbers
October 16th, 2019 at 6:25 pm
If Jason Licht ran into bad luck in the 2015 draft, what would you call the 2016 draft? It’s not bad luck Joe, it’s a GM who doesn’t know what he’s doing. I was surprised when the 49ers hired Lynch as their GM. Lynch knows something about winning football being about defense. He used first round picks on D linemen instead of WR, and DB’s. He gets you win in the trenches. He stole Jimmy G from the Pats for a second rounder. He’s nothing special, but he’s never thrown 5 picks in a game, and never will. Joe, Licht can fool you, and the Glazer dimwits, but most fans see him as the biggest failure in the league.
October 16th, 2019 at 7:07 pm
Getting benched by the bucs could be the best thing to ever happen to Winston.
Howard would gladly bet $500 right now with anyone who doesn’t think Winston would be a terror on a halfway HALFWAY decent team. Bill Belichek is watching all this unfold through the blinds in his office window Lol
Go Winston! Get out while you’re young! Glory awaits!
October 16th, 2019 at 7:20 pm
#1bucsfan,
Well said.
And it is because of JW’s insane talent and ability to have amazing games that would inspire a crazy bidding war for his service if he ever hits free agency … Bucs fans are probably the stupidest fans in the entire NFL when it comes to judging QBs … that’s what you get when you’re fans of the ONLY TEAM in NFL history to dump THREE different QBs they drafted who went on to win Super Bowl rings on other teams.
TAMPA FANS that bash JW are just idiots … feel sorry for them, don’t get mad at them … they’re deranged.
October 16th, 2019 at 7:50 pm
Sorry guys, but No team will be rushing to sign a turnover machine.
Winston will end up just being a journeyman backup, but he will cost a couple of more coaches their jobs along the way
October 16th, 2019 at 8:27 pm
July Joe,
To quote the Sean William Scott from the movie Old School, “I like you man, bout you’re crazy. You’ve got a dart in your neck.”
No shot in hell Winston gets a mega offer. How can you possibly draw this conclusion with a sensible logic? Please elaborate, and thanks for the discussion! I have no belief in Jameis to get the job done on a consistent basis. I will be rooting for him and wearing his jersey on Sundays, but the bull crap play has to stop. Win or leave! Too many turnovers. Too, too many excuses and it’s painful.
You deserve a gold medal 🥇 for the mental gymnastics you provide to provide unwavering support for substandard play.
Why not pay a rookie peanuts for the same level of consistency/play, and most importantly results?
I’m sick and tired of the turnovers, holding onto the ball too long, and Jack ass decisions.
October 16th, 2019 at 8:49 pm
It boggles the mind that a lot of people are undecided about JW. The stiff should have been sent packing long time ago. He’s an embarrassment on and off the field and GM Licht is a total fraud. So that means JW will get extended just like Licht. Worse run organization in all of sports. The fans deserve so much more.
October 16th, 2019 at 9:14 pm
I’d like to see Griffin get a shot. We are not winning with Jameis, let’s see if Ryan can actually play QB.
October 16th, 2019 at 11:22 pm
Expected comparisons for these 2015 QB’s (JW3 and Marcus)…JW3 is real-deal, as NFL QB.
Mariota, was always pretend NFL QB. Amazing athlete…….
JW3 Landing in Tampa as #1, was/is killer for career. Zero Defense, Zero Kicking team. Zero Running game….. And Dirk Quitter, who never believed in JW3, killed his confidence. Never thought I would witness JW3 confidence issues.
BA is trying to restore JW3 magic ….still unsuccessful. Not sure it will happen…..
JW3 will never be successful QB in Tampa. JW3 is super-jittery, indecisive…. a shell of the real JW3 QB who was drafted. ….lost his mojo.
Assuming JW3 is cut loose at end of year….Who will sign him? And role?
And for TB, will new QB be Fromm or LSU QB?
October 16th, 2019 at 11:46 pm
I say trade Mariota for Winston and then all the Winston haters can have their dreamy man crush at QB and watch him take the Bucs to back to back Super Bowls.
October 17th, 2019 at 12:15 am
Sad thing is people think quarterbacks are easy to find… the same people that hate jameis also thought that dirk koetter and mike smith were the problem. Now we got 93 coaches that have the same losing record
October 17th, 2019 at 6:15 am
Tbbucs13,
No one wants Mariota. We want a franchise QB. Neither Winston or Mariota is it.
October 17th, 2019 at 7:26 am
The whole 2015 draft was crap in hindsight. Who is best player from that draft in the NFL? Maybe Leonard Williams, who is reportedly being shopped? Gurley who peaked and dropped? Oft injured David Johnson? Maybe one the Oline players? It might even be our very own Ali Marpet…
October 17th, 2019 at 7:30 am
Jameis is a bust. If he was a 5th rounder we’d be fine with his performance. He was the #1 QB overall! Time to draft a QB. Good class for it.
October 17th, 2019 at 8:20 pm
At this point we need to build a real team. Ain’t no quarterback is going to be successful here until you build a real defense and a offensive line. I think we have a running back but we have to let him run the ball at least 20 or 25 times a game without worrying about it they trust the quarterback or not . Jimmy G is not throwing the ball 35 or 40 times a game and they win and nobody is going to say they don’t trust him throwing the ball. He has thrown interceptions as well but they still win . How did Bret Favre throw so many interceptions and he still gets praises for being the all time interceptions leader. But he was on teams that gave him back the ball because of defense . But he gets called a gun slinger witch is another pass he gets. Jamies will probably play good the rest of the season and we will still lose. Ain’t no such thing that a quarterback can carry his team to win games without out help from a good defense and running game. Aaron Rodgers miss the playoffs 2 years in a row so why he couldn’t carry his team to the playoffs if a quarterback can carry a team to win games by himself??? You it’s a false narrative because can’t no quarterback win a championship by himself it takes a hold team !!!!!!