Five Things
December 30th, 2019
The final “Five Things” Monday morning column of the decade is here on this dreary day. So let’s get this over with.
A predictable end.
It was an empty feeling for Joe, leaving the press box to go to the locker room yesterday at the two-minute warning. Joe got downstairs with time left and watched on the TV near the Bucs’ tunnel as the Dixie Chicks marched downfield to force overtime.
Moments later, Joe got a text from the good Dr. David Wenk, whose likeness you see in the left margin on this here website.
Wenk texted Joe as overtime began, in so many words, asking Joe how wild it would be if Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, would throw his signature pass in overtime: A pick-six.
No sooner did Joe read that while sitting on a network TV crate just outside the Bucs’ tunnel, and Joe heard a roar from the crowd. Joe didn’t hear any cannons so initially thought the Bucs made a huge play.
Instead, it was the Dixie Chicks’ crowd that was freaking out, and Jameis had indeed tossed a pick-six. Unreal!
Yes, the game was lost on Jameis’ proud pitch. His very first Bucs pass was a pick-six and maybe his final pass was a pick-six. You can’t make this stuff up.
Joe didn’t even bother to go to Jameis’ presser. What was the point? He was going to be asked the same questions and he would have the same answers he’s been saying for five years. “I’ve got to get better… I’ve got to protect the ball.” But he never does outside of two- or three-game spurts.
(To Jameis’ credit, he has cut down on the fumbles, which drove Joe wild!)
Yesterday Joe noticed a different mood at the podium, perhaps because frustration has set in for everyone. Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians was harsh on Jameis like he has never been before and said many times all options are on the table for the starting quarterback position next year.
Jameis, maybe finally realizing his picks may have ended his Bucs days despite being one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks in yards passed, touchdowns and first downs, showed just a hint of insolence in saying he knows he will be the best in the NFL if he can cut down his picks. It was a different side of Jameis than Joe has seen before (on video).
The Bucs are in a pickle. Do they go by history and keep Jameis? Do the Bucs, realizing this team is notorious for giving up too quick on gifted quarterbacks only to see them blow up for other teams and keep Jameis? Do the Bucs look at the history of quarterbacks in the second year under Arians and bring Jameis back?
Or do the Bucs tempt fate and dump Jameis? It’s not like they have someone remotely ready to take over on the roster.
Replacing production.
Whine and cry and stomp your feet all you wish about the picks, but Jameis also produces. Big time. So if you get rid of him, the Bucs are going to have to replace a whole lot of production.
And just because you find someone to throw less picks doesn’t mean an offense will move the ball as well or better.
If the Bucs do get rid of Jameis, it is unlikely they will find a quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards and 33 touchdowns. So you know what the Bucs must absolutely do if Jameis is done? It’s time to quit farting around with the run game and go get a stud.
Honestly, this has been overdue for years. But if you get a lesser quarterback (hey, Drew Brees is a free agent — one can dream) you think this rotten running game is going to save the Bucs next season? Ha! It will be like Raheem Morris’ first year with no quarterback and no running game and the Bucs were getting blown out of games.
The Bucs have to draft Travis Etienne or someone like him or trade for a damn good running back (or both), or this team will totally implode offensively without a quarterback comparable to Jameis.
Maybe getting rid of Jameis will force the Bucs to get a good running back? But isn’t that like chopping off your foot to repair an ingrown toenail?
Don’t forget the real problem.
It seems the folks who want to seal club Jameis are enraged that Joe points out yesterday’s pick-six never would have happened if a friggin’ kicker makes just one blankety-blank field goal out of the three he missed; the ballgame never goes to overtime. The Bucs win and the freakout over Jameis never happens.
Some call this an excuse. WHAT? So a guy who totally choked on three field goals is an excuse? So missing three field goals was a mirage and they never happened? Good grief! People really are blinded by rage.
Even Arians said flat out rookie kicker Matt Gay cost the Bucs a game yesterday. Thanks to his inconsistent foot, the Bucs have a losing record this year.
And that’s not an excuse. It happened. Joe saw it with his own eyes.
But, Joe is guessing it is not cool to call out a rookie kicker for shatting in his pants three times and instead, throw rocks at the guy who threw for 5,000 yards because that’s the cool thing to do around town these days. Just because.
Happy man.
Man, Shaq Barrett beasted yesterday. Joe cannot recall a happier man.
Joe caught up with Barrett in the bowels of the stadium as Joe was headed back to the press box. Barrett could not stop smiling but the best thing he told Joe was how humbled he was that Bucs icon and Hall of Famer Warren Sapp was really rooting for Barrett to break his record.
Barrett entered the game yesterday with 16.5 sacks, tied with Sapp for the Bucs’ franchise record. Barrett had three sacks, finished with 19.5 and won the crown of the NFL’s top sack artist for 2019.
Sapp was on the sidelines and he was fully involved in the game when the defense was on the field. Sapp stood close to Arians and when Atlanta found itself in a passing situation, Sapp began waving his arms for the crowd to get loud. On running plays, Sapp was hollering to guys on the field and clapping encouragement.
After Barrett got the franchise-record sack and later came to the sideline, Sapp was the first guy who met him and Sapp gave Barrett a big bear hug and patted him on the helmet.
Barrett told Joe he was so excited he didn’t remember what Sapp told him other than to say “Congratulations.”
Barrett was big time impressed that Sapp genuinely wanted him to break the record.
“He’s a cool dude,” Barrett said of Sapp.
It’s been quite a year for Barrett and the new decade will only get better when he becomes a very wealthy young man.
Joe hopes someone locks Barrett in a padded room for the next three months as not to risk any weird injury that may cost him a fortune.
Lot of new faces could be coming.
That Bucs team you wanted to embrace this year the way they got better and better as the season went on? It could be a whole different team next year and who knows if it will be as good. Yeah, it could be better, too.
The Bucs have a boatload of free agents. Ndamukong Suh, Breshad Perriman, Jason Pierre-Paul, Demar Dotson, Carl Nassib, Peyton Barber, Barrett and Jameis are just some.
If/when these guys get to the open market, all bets are off. All it would take is for one team to cut a check. It sure smells like oily Drew Rosenhaus is licking his chops to get his client, Barrett, to test the open market waters.
Yeah, the Bucs are expected to have a bunch of money to play with but how many if not all of these guys should return?
So this team could look a whole lot different than this year. And that may not be a good thing. Should be a busy if not fun February and March.
Thanks for reading this fall.
So this column gets put in mothballs for the next eight months. That’s how long it will be until the Bucs take the field again (not counting preseason schlock).
Joe wants to thank you for reading each Monday. Keep the faith. This should be a newsy offseason for the Bucs for a lot of reasons.
Joe always appreciates your support, even from Joe’s haters (there are many). Without all of you, this site never exists and Joe is likely a janitor somewhere. So thank all of you, as always.
Happy New Year!
December 30th, 2019 at 8:05 am
Thanks Joe(s). Only in Tampa can you be in such a quandary. Do you pay 27-30 Million dollars for a QB that puts up yards and td’s, but also turns the ball over at an historic rate and doesn’t put up wins? Barrett needs to come back, you ( just like many of us) have been BEGGING for a pass rush, now you have a guy, in his prime, you DO NOT let him walk.
December 30th, 2019 at 8:08 am
I’m 100% at the point I want Jameis to go and that is for his success. If he wins here it is some other reason if he loses here it is always his fault. Please just let him go play a win some other place like he has done his entire life before coming here. Then I guess we can all get back watching an overall garbage team instead of just garbage defense, garbage running game and of course our signature garbage kicking game.
December 30th, 2019 at 8:12 am
“KOBE FAKER ANNUAL STATE OF THE BUCS Address
End of this week”
Kobe Faker
December 30th, 2019 at 8:13 am
Really only one thing: [Why do you lie?] ate a W served up by America’s Turnover Machine.
December 30th, 2019 at 8:17 am
“Whine and cry and stomp your feet all you wish about the picks, but Jameis also produces.”
________________________
Joe, one simple question…will we ever win a Super Bowl with those turnovers?
Yes or no?
December 30th, 2019 at 8:19 am
JoeTheWinstonApologist continues his minimizing.
December 30th, 2019 at 8:25 am
All we talk about is Jameis… how would you feel if you were JPP or Barrett? Or any other of the players who bust their butts only to have someone “balling with careless abandon”!!! Billick won a SB with Trent Dillfer, nuff said…. it’s about winning the turnover battle, not seeing how many worthless yds you put up.
December 30th, 2019 at 8:27 am
thanks Joe(s) and Ira for another great year of reporting Bucs events. Maybe next year we have better news to report. But at least we had some improvement this year!
December 30th, 2019 at 8:28 am
I liked the symmetry of Jameis five years. It’s possible house first pass and his last pass on Tampa may end exactly the same way.
Matt Gay had a couple bad games this season, but to throw him under the bus is ridiculous. Good bag game isn’t cover for Jameis, but the rookie had been the best bucs kicker in years and had fewer meltdowns than our 5th year quarterback.
December 30th, 2019 at 8:29 am
Winston wouldn’t need to throw for 5,000 yds and 33 TDs if he didn’t give the ball away 30+ times this year. We’ll win when he’s closer to 4,000 yds and likely 24 TDs/12 INTs. That will require a running game….its that simple. They now need a top tier RB to go along with the two top tier WRs….Two very capable TEs….along with the two highest paid linemen at their positions. Oh….and keep the defense together because without that, all we’ll hear is how the defense cost Jameis. Its impossible to hold all that together just to make things work for a guy that obviously doesn’t get it. I’ve said this since his days in college, Winston lacks a sense of awareness to reality. He’s so drunk on his own kool aid, he thinks he’s the exception to everything rationale.
As for blaming the kicker…..yeah he missed kicks yet how many times did we hear that Jameis drove the team down the field, gave the team a lead yet the defense gave the game away? Or the kicker missed the kick against the Giants….game over. So now in overtime, we have the ball, Winston throws a pick 6 to literally lose the game for us and we deflect blame. The best thing that could happen to Winston is Tom Coughlin…..someone that will ride his a$$ up and down. That’s the only thing that seemed to work with Jimbo. I would say that was my biggest disappointment with Arians, I thought he would bring that bravado to Winston….instead it seems everyone is scared to damage Winston’s fragile mindset. Weird.
December 30th, 2019 at 8:32 am
Joe, you’re cherry-picking FACTS yet again, but it’s understandable. Jameis is MR ENTERTAINMENT to you; everyone else’s sole function here is to support MR ENTERTAINMENT in your eyes. I get it.
To you, if Gay hadn’t missed 3 FGs in yesterday’s game THEN Jameis wouldn’t have thrown that Pick-6 in OT & the Bucs would’ve won 25-22. To some others (yes, I’m guilty), the Bucs’ offense going 1-for-8 on 3rd down conversions played a BIG factor in our loss. The Bucs’ offense giving the ball away TWICE in regulation also played a big part in the loss. The 1st fumble (by RoJo) at 10:27 of the 1st quarter gave the Falcons the ball at the Bucs’ 29-yardline. Our defense subsequently held them to a FG. Those 3 points count just as much in the 22-22 score at the end of regulation as any of Gay’s 3 missed FGs would have.
December 30th, 2019 at 8:33 am
@T REX
With the turnovers? No.
With Jameis? Maybe.
He improved in several areas this year. He had more picks, yes, but he was also sacked more than ever before (twice as many times as last year).
He needs to improve, but proved this year he is capable.
December 30th, 2019 at 8:35 am
We cannot let Jameis go. He has to come back for at least one more year and get the chance to play with a solid defense and year 2 in Arians system. Unless another big arm QB comes available which I don’t see happening. Don’t screw this up Bucs! It would be a bigger mistake in letting him go. Go Bucs!
December 30th, 2019 at 8:36 am
Defense Rules, would we have won if Gay made just one field goal? Yes.
Winston should be called out for the picks, especially the picks, but Matt Gay DID cost us the game.
I still think Matt Gay is worth keeping though.
Emotions are always high after a loss, so I get it.
December 30th, 2019 at 8:37 am
If Gay hits one field goal JW doesn’t throw a pick 6? If there wasn’t so much lacquer on the alter Focker doesn’t burn it down? If my aunt had testicles she’d be my uncle? How many pick 6 has JW thrown when our kicker is 100% for the day? Someone please check. BTW Gay was in top 10 of league for kickers entering yesterday with an 85% success rate. What’s JW’s win/success rate this season? Below 500. And for his career? In the 300s. But hey if Gay hits just one field goal JW this increases his overall winning percentage by a tenth of a percent. C’mon Joe he blows when it comes to winning and that’s all that matters. Stats be damned. Just win baby.
December 30th, 2019 at 8:41 am
Here are some FACTS for you:
Our defense finished 30th in yards given up in the air, 30th!!!! The Winston haters will say look at the TOs that’s why our defense sucks, well what does a TO have to do with yards given up in the air? Is that fixed?
We finished 24th as a team in offensive rushing, is that fixed?
We had the most penalities in the league, is that fixed?
We were 26th in NFL in FG made %, is that fixed?
Yet we were number 1 in the NFL in passing yards and that is what people want to replace.
That’s like saying I can’t walk cause my knee is killing me so I go get surgery on my arm.
Idiots
December 30th, 2019 at 8:48 am
JW has been doing this his whole career he will never change but the bigger problem is that next season defenses now know his game and will pick him even more. JW can put up all the stats he wants but the only stat that really counts wins, playoff and Superbowl. Love my Bucs hate JW
December 30th, 2019 at 8:49 am
Thanks for the column Joes. Excited for my first bucs games in 7 years when I see em in Denver and Vegas!!
December 30th, 2019 at 8:50 am
Jameis and his record setting season should not be viewed as a negative, its getting the national media to marvel over the Buccaneers and the never before seen stuff Winston is doing.
We should all be excited for Winston’s accomplishments, you don’t see many players who work so hard to set records like this very often.
Ring of Honor material.
A parade seems appropriate…
December 30th, 2019 at 8:53 am
I don’t know why Joe assumes losing Winston means losing all of his production. Yeah, sometimes rookie QBs struggle, but these days, many more of them succeed early and big time. That’s why I hate having Winston as a QB. While he’s throwing backbreaking picks, first and second year QBs are setting records and, most importantly, winning.
It would not surprise me one bit of a rookie QB came here and passed for 20-25 TDs, 12-15 picks, and (Joe’s favorite stat) 3,000 yards. And I’d be perfectly okay with that as long as it came with wins.
I say we sign Winston, and then trade him, Howard, and our 1st round pick to Cincinnati for their first pick. Draft Burrow. Win Super Bowls. (A guy can dream right?)
Trading up may not happen, so get a good veteran QB in free agency as a bridge player. Then draft the best available QB.
Anything but Winston.
December 30th, 2019 at 8:53 am
Here are my five things: #1 – Winston Sucks. #2 – Matt Gay sucks. #3 – Winston throws too many pick 6s. #4 – Winston throws too many interceptions. #5 – Did I mention Winston sucks?
December 30th, 2019 at 8:56 am
Janitor? Don’t sell yourself short, Joe. Maybe you could’ve been a beer truck delivery guy or an insurance adjuster 😂😂
December 30th, 2019 at 8:56 am
What a dilemma Jameis poses for Arians……If I’m the Glazers, I ask “Can you fix Jameis?” If he says no…..Jameis is gone….if he says yes, the Glazers should ask….”Then, why didn’t you?”
I can see BA moving on and trying to develop a rookie with a vet like Manning as a bridge. If he sticks with Jameis, it could be the same old song.
The problem for Jameis is that there really has been no consequence for his failures….therefore, he continues to fail.
December 30th, 2019 at 8:57 am
Lol so let me get this right, it’s Matt Gay’s fault for putting winston in a position of having to throw a pass to his teammate instead of the other team? If he hadn’t missed the field goal winston would never have had ti throw the ball is that what your saying?
You dont need a quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards to win. Winston proved his great throws mean nothing because he cant protect the football.
Winston had everything a quarterback could want in this one game. He had a run game, he had protection and he had a good defense. He lost that game all by himself because on the last play of the game, he called the play, he dropped back to pass, stared down his favorite target, released the ball and it went right to a defender who ran it in for a touchdown. Matt gay is responsible for the giants game not this one, yes he missed three field goals but the game was tied and you cant go looking back into the third and fourth quarter looking for someone to blame in a game lost in overtime
December 30th, 2019 at 8:58 am
So much entertainment reading the posts from the WDS simpletons. How many games before the season started did you think this team was going to win? I know many of you posted 3,4 or 5 wins. I had them at 8-8. Not a playoff team but an improvement from two 5 wins seasons in a row. Make a couple of PAT length FG’s and it’s a 9-7 team.
Right now this is an average team. Which is better than they were in 2017 & 2018.
December 30th, 2019 at 8:59 am
As far as Matt Gay, yes….he lost the game…..and yes, we should keep him.
FYI….the Falcons kicker (who replaced Matt Bryant) went 5-5……our defense held them to 5 FGs & one TD…..
December 30th, 2019 at 8:59 am
What would you do, Ndog? Franchise tag and draft a QB? Long term contract?
December 30th, 2019 at 8:59 am
Here’s an analogy for you. For four years, on Sundays in the Fall, you go to a party. At this party is this guy who is always the first to get there, helps set up everything, and everyone likes him. Not only that but he brings you ice cream a couple times a game. Unfortunately he also comes up and punches you in the arm a couple times a game. It’s really annoying, but you like the ice cream he brings you. After 4 years though, it’s really starting to bug you, a lot! Year 5 comes and a new guy starts throwing the party. He says that he’s talked to the arm puncher and says he’s not gonna do that anymore AND he’ll bring more ice cream! Yay! He does bring more ice cream, which is cool…but he also punches you in the arm 23 times AND as a added bonus, he kicks you in the jewels 7 times. That part really hurts and afterwards you don’t feel like going to that party again. It sucks, because the people that throw it have been you friends for decades. I asked people that go to other parties if this happens at theirs and they said it only happens a little bit and “jewel kicking” is really rare. They ask me why we keep letting that guy come to the party. Is the ice cream really worth it?! At the last party, I was feeling pretty good about it, but when i went to leave, the guy whacked me in the jewels. The sad part was that I wasn’t even surprised. What does that say about me? How bout everyone else? Do YOU want that guy at your party?
December 30th, 2019 at 9:01 am
So as I stated above everyone is just fine in us sucking in every other way possible and it’s all the QB. WOW JUST WOW.
December 30th, 2019 at 9:04 am
That’s like saying I can’t walk cause my knee is killing me so I go get surgery on my arm.
_________________
Let me address this LOSER, are you trying to say his turnovers didn’t affect our record?
You are dumb as a freaking rock and you wanting Winston to go elsewhere and be successful just shows how much of POS you are…PUNK!
You’re a worthless troll.
December 30th, 2019 at 9:04 am
NDOG is the prime example of the loser mentality in Tampa.
No statistic is more predictive of winning than turnover differential.
None.
But NDOG is too dumb to process this simple fact.
This is why in stats Winston is a below-average QB. There is no argument about this. His QBR is below average.
But NDOG is convinced he knows more than everyone else.
December 30th, 2019 at 9:06 am
I firmly believe Winston’s camp is going to follow the playbook from Kirk Cousins at Washington. Force the tag until you can make it to free agency….that’s where middle tier QBs can get paid MAX contracts.
Also folks…..don’t discount how good Evans and Godwin make Winston look, along with Leftwich’s playcalling. Those three are masking a lot….and that’s with 30 INTs. Evans made Manziel look like a Heisman QB and a 1st rd pick. Don’t kid yourselves that Winston will excel elsewhere. Send him to Washington, Cincy, Miami, etc….watch him completely implode when WRs are making back breaking plays. People don’t see much in Dalton but Dalton made it to the playoffs 3 straight yrs….in Cincy. That place is home to the cheapest owner in the NFL. Dalton will be more then serviceable with Arians and our WRs. Like I said…I believe Winston is going to play the franchise tag game, so my belief is he’s a bridge to our next QB either way. I’d rather go cheaper with a guy that’s actually won then a guy who’s shown no ability to do anything more then dig holes…to then play catch up…but ultimately fall short.
Lastly….some of the Glazers were never fans of Winstons. The Uber incident didn’t do him any favors….Now we have 30 INTs, his worst year ever with the highest paid staff in Buc history. I get the impression by the recent leaks on Winston’s demands that the owners are nearing a point of take it or leave it with Winston. This franchise has bent over backwards trying to accommodate him and nothing works…AND on top of all that he wants to be the highest paid QB in the league? I wont be shocked if the Glazers have seen enough.
December 30th, 2019 at 9:08 am
As stated earlier, folks are just too hung up on stats.
When you are giving the ball away like you are playing a game of Hot Potato, and handing the other team victories, yardage means absolutely nothing.
December 30th, 2019 at 9:11 am
Here’s the question Joe doesn’t want to answer – do you need 5000 passing yards from your QB to make the playoffs? Obviously, the answer is no. We don’t need to replace Winston’s production because you don’t need to produce that much if you don’t turn the ball over. This is complete nonsense. And a false premise. Give me a QB who throws for 3500 yards and only throws 10 picks and I’ll lay money that Bucs team is either in the playoffs or closer to the playoffs than this team with Winston ever has been
December 30th, 2019 at 9:13 am
At the end of the day we don’t need a QB to throw 33 touchdowns, not if that package includes 30 interceptions. We just need something bigger than a plus 3 margin here.
The run game should get better. Cappa turned into a beast of a run blocker. He almost singlehandedly broke RoJo free yesterday.
Add a Delpit to the defense and they would even be able to slow the Saints. A new QB that can put some heart in this team could work wonders. Jameis will always be tied to some crazy stuff happening and will never be good enough here. Give him a chance to start over elsewhere.
Still wish we had more than a Griffin sighting, something substantial so we had some idea of his ability other than preseason
December 30th, 2019 at 9:16 am
perriman bailed jameis out of 3 other ints yesterday the same as evans has been doing for 5 years. Let jameis go qb for the chargers or bears and see how it works
December 30th, 2019 at 9:17 am
So RJ what exactly did our new coaching staff fix? And BTW you complete utter idiot, more penalities and no running game make you more predictable which leads to TOs, and when you can’t stop the other team you have to take more chances which leads to TOs, when you can’t rely on your kicker you take more chances which leads to TOs. This is not that hard to get but apparently to the moronic like yourself it is.
December 30th, 2019 at 9:23 am
#TNB 2020
THE NEW BUCS 2020
December 30th, 2019 at 9:26 am
Feeling free knowing Jameis is not a Buc for the time being
December 30th, 2019 at 9:30 am
BRADINATOR FOR PREZ!!! But the ice cream was soooo good!
December 30th, 2019 at 9:31 am
JAMEIS WINSTON… A COUPLE OF FUMBLES LOST AWAY FROM A PERFECT 40/40 SEASON!
121 POINTS GIFTED TO THE OTHER TEAM!
December 30th, 2019 at 9:33 am
Holy cow Joe, Jameis has 5 years of nonsense. That’s more worth yelling at than the rookie kicker.
December 30th, 2019 at 9:35 am
Seems pretty obvious to me that you franchise the guy. He won’t like it but he must know Both parties are responsible for this mess and therefore, it’s a one year price it deal.
No doubt he did some great things this year but he must understand that he is also a big part of the reason they are 7-9. If he throws half the amount of INT’s, which is still a decent amount, we likely win 2-3 more games and could be in the playoffs. Then everyone would be on board paying the man his money.
December 30th, 2019 at 9:35 am
I will say for as much criticism that I give our mistake prone GM. I think he has deserved another year only in terms of this:
– I do not trust the Glazers to pick another GM
– Licht has shown improvement this year with Shaq Barrett and Jamal Dean.
– And he seems to be a better GM with the assistants of Todd Bowels and BA.
That being said the last half decade of brutal Jason Licht swings and misses in free agency and the draft and the inability to build a defense will not be forgotten.
He needs to be on a very tight lease next year and this team that is in a close to win now position absolutely CANNOT afford another bad draft or 2016. Absolutely can’t do it or it will set this team back years.
2020 will be Jason Lichts most pressure draft yet.
December 30th, 2019 at 9:38 am
Did Jameis get better or did the team and coaching around him get better. Oh, his passing yardage put him in a special club and he did have a good number of Td’s but we still end our season at 7-9. Many QB’s with lesser stats are moving on to the playoffs. Our defense improved and our WR’s were excellent. Many things went well and made it possible for Jameis to secure many records, problem is we ended 7-9. No doubt we will improve under BA in the offseason, but no-one can predict that this time next year we won’t be 7-9. We would be in the playoffs this year except for Winston Turnovers and missed FG. Instead we are 7-9 and breaking camp. Einstein declared Insanity is repeating the same thing over and over and getting the same wrong results. (paraphrase)
December 30th, 2019 at 9:39 am
Joe does not get it ! When the chips are down JW is not able to produce . Outstanding D performance the last two weeks and JW let this team down again . The team does not believe in JW ! Joe is mad that he has to keep defending this loser QB since he has raged on about production so much ! Just win baby ! You ever heard that one Joe ( Lee ) ! That is the bottom line ! JW cost this team at least three games this year with his bone headed play . And he’ll yes the kicker cost us a couple too but he is a rookie , not a five year vet wanting 30 million a year ! Joe better smell the coffee ! Turn over are momentum plays that change the reflection of a game dramatically ! Pic sixes especially ! Get it Joe ? Fumbles blah blah 111 turnovers in five years !! Please …. move on from this loser ! Nauseating hearing your cries to retain JW . Thank goodness Ira is on staff !
December 30th, 2019 at 9:41 am
It will be good for the Bucs to go into an offseason with FULL continuity and no change.
Those who want Winston gone next year don’t factor in his production and fail to see the importance of an off season without speculation of major changes within an organization.
Like I said with Jason Licht, who are you gonna find that’s better than JW within a 1 year span. This team is not in rebuild mode.
You have to give the squad of BA, Jason Licht, Jameis Winston, Todd Bowels and Friends at least another year to see if they can get this thing right.
December 30th, 2019 at 9:43 am
You don’t need a QB to throw for 5000 yards and 33 TDs to win games. The Bucs had as good as running game as the Kansas City Chiefs (i.e. not very good) and a better defense than the Chiefs yet the Chiefs went 12-4.
Why?
Mahomes didn’t turn the ball over.
Simple as that.
December 30th, 2019 at 9:45 am
P.S. What would Belecheat do?
December 30th, 2019 at 9:45 am
Well, Gay will undoubtably get competition from a veteran kicker next training camp.
Bucs can’t pay 2 veteran qb’s $20 million plus, so they will probably draft a qb and sign Jameis for 1 more year or sign another veteran while the draft pick develops.
I would rather see Bucs sign another veteran while drafting a qb because Jameis is not going to change – lots of yards , td’s, turnovers and LOSING.
What would devastate this team would be losing half the DLine to free agency-
I’d prioritize all of DLine over Jameis.
December 30th, 2019 at 9:48 am
WOW, what a way to end this (his) season (or career in Tampa) throwing the same thing as his 1st pass, a pick 6. Ian Rapport (at 8:50am on 620) has reported Jameis will be back & most likely on a multiple year deal. If he can control his Int’s as he did his fumbles this year, lookout NFL. Also if he does turn the corner we’ll have him on a slightly cheaper contract that may help in keeping a Suh or Perriman. Those 2 are going to be REALLY HARD to keep. I believe they’ll draft a young QB somewhere between the 1st & 3rd rounds. I hope Jason figures out how to pay both JPP & Shaq bc those 2 fed off each other after JPP got in. Our run def was awesome a little bc our DBs were so young, but once the DBs started to figure out the NFL game this def looked really good. As a life long fan of the Bucs this looks like the makings of a really good team. Now, if our DAMN kicker can make those kicks that “win games” instead of blowing it. I still think he’ll be ok bc he still was a rookie.
December 30th, 2019 at 9:48 am
This article required me to look up the word “insolence” and now I feel more educated. Well done Joe.
December 30th, 2019 at 9:51 am
D Rome
How are you gonna sit up there and say the Bucs had a better defense than the Kansas City Cheifs to fit your agenda?
Tampa Bay Bucs defense- 28.1 points let up per game
Kansas City Cheifs- 19.2 points a game.
Really dude??
December 30th, 2019 at 9:54 am
Some people just flat out spread misinformation on here.
Points allowed per game
Bucs defense-4th worst
KC Defense- 7th best
December 30th, 2019 at 10:05 am
Clueless Joe
Bucs might not find a qb to throw for 5000 and 30 TDs but the potential replacement might not need to if the opponent isn’t get free points and great field position based on one player’s mistakes…
Here’s a breakdown of the 30 Interceptions
7 pick sixes resulting in 48 points
6 resulted in TD’s for the opponents 42 points
4 resulted in FG’s for the opponents
13 times Defense prevented any points from being scored
30 INTS equal 102 points for the opponents
Nearly 23% of the Points Allowed are from the mistakes of one player
15 of the 22 INTs (Subtracting the Pick 6’s) resulted in the opponent starting their drive in Bucs territory
So almost 68% of his non pick 6 INTs have the opponent in great field position
December 30th, 2019 at 10:07 am
@tbbucs3
23% of points allowed are on turnovers alone…
Everyone gets excited about Jameis leading a high scoring offense but the d scored 7 TDs this year.
Yesterday against a bad d he led an offense that scored 16 points
Prior week against another bad d he didn’t play well
December 30th, 2019 at 10:09 am
Wins and losses Joe. Only production that matters. Check out all the playoff teams and see how many had more yards and TDs than Jameis. Time to move on.
December 30th, 2019 at 10:09 am
Tbbucs3 they are going to say our defense is worse cause the TOs that are of course 100% the QBs fault. Just ignore that points given up to the Giants, Rams, Seahawks and first Saints game that had a combined 3 TOs those don’t count.
December 30th, 2019 at 10:16 am
Second game vs the saints. THIS IS FOR YOU NPUPPY!!!
A. Winston int at bucs 16. Leads to td
B. Winston int at saints 43 with 10 seconds left in 2nd quarter.
C. Winston pick 6 at his own 33 in 4th quarter. Bucs were down 27-17 before that pick 6.
D. Winston int at saints 1 yard line. Bucs were about to score. Time on clock was 2:49 left in game.
WINSTON TURNOVERS LEADS TO 14 POINTS AND KILLS A SCORING DRIVE.
BUCS LOSE 24-31
The pick 6 and int at the saints 1 yard line killed this game. But it isn’t winstons fault. The kicker was kicking the balls into the net and confused Winston!!!
December 30th, 2019 at 10:16 am
I’d rather resign all the D-lineman and Shaq, let Jameis walk, resign Fitzmagic for $8M, draft stud Wisconsin RB in round 1, future QB in round 2, RT in round 3.
December 30th, 2019 at 10:17 am
But NPUPPY won’t tell you that. He hasn’t done the homework 951 has done! 951 bringing that smoke!!!
December 30th, 2019 at 10:20 am
Tbbucs3,
Bucs gave up less yards per game, were the best run defense in the NFL, had more sacks than the Chiefs, had more pick 6’s, had more forced fumbles, and had more defensive TDs from turnovers.
Plus, the defense’s efficiency ratings (per Football Ousiders) show the Bucs are ranked 7th. Looking at just points is not a good way to look at it because, well, Jay-Miss had seven pick 6’s. That counts towards points given up.
December 30th, 2019 at 10:25 am
If the kicker has to win the game for you with 3 FG attempts then the offense did not do it’s job. A FG is a failed attempt at a touchdown.
December 30th, 2019 at 10:33 am
Loyaltotheend Section 312,
Excellent breakdown on the points “surrendered” by the defense which is directly attributed to Jay-Miss. The Bucs had a good defense by just about every statistical measure.
December 30th, 2019 at 10:35 am
ndog getting pummeled on here. Dude, stay down fool.
December 30th, 2019 at 10:36 am
Americas grouper I meant. LOL……. Perfect ending to his Bucs career. now we can move forward!
December 30th, 2019 at 10:38 am
Drome
1. If you have no pass defense, run defense barley matters in today’s NFL (Lovie Smith had a top 5 run Defense when he was here)
2. When Winston throws for yards they don’t matter but suddenly yards only matter for the defense.
3. (Not including special teams or Winston interceptions) The Bucs are still significantly higher than the Cheifs at 24 PPG to 18 PPG.
Bucs 24 8th Worst
Cheifs 18 7th Best
The Cheifs absolutely have not had a worse defense than the Bucs this season, not even close.
December 30th, 2019 at 10:40 am
Give props to the rest of the team and their progress joe, cover something other than jw, cause no one likes him, he’s garbage, he’s gone soon and the other players deserve more coverage.
perhaps you should come up with a better strategy and/or stories for clicks….but the crowd has spoken on crabby.
December 30th, 2019 at 10:43 am
Who here said Gay wasn’t responsible for the loss yesterday? But the bottom line is a real elite winning QB picks his team up and carries them to a win despite the rest of the team’s failings. He doesn’t throw a sadly predictable pick for a TD.
Lastly, just because he throws for a ton of yards and TD’s largely to make up for the hole he’s pit his team in by the way doesn’t mean another less error prone QB couldn’t be just as successful.
December 30th, 2019 at 10:52 am
And if you wanna talk about yards for a defense……
The Bucs pass defense is giving up the 3rd most yardage per game for in the NFL at 270. The Cheifs are top 10 in that category as well.
Opposing teams have been easily able to score on us in the pass game and therefore don’t need to run the ball as much on us.
But horray for run defense!!
December 30th, 2019 at 10:52 am
18th best QB according to total QBR. If you enjoy mediocrity and hate being in the playoffs, Winston is your man.
December 30th, 2019 at 11:09 am
So what happened to keep firing? Bruce could of stood at the podium and said the pick 6 was on himself because he wanted to keep firing. He is obviously aggravated by the interceptions. Not a coach backing up his QB. Maybe contract negotiations, but i doubt it. I myself am 100% ready for a new starting QB. For 5 years i put my heart and soul into the development of Jamies. I wanted it to work. It’s not. Burned out on Jameis. Go Bucs.
December 30th, 2019 at 11:16 am
Obviously LSU linebackers KNOW how to score TOUCHDOWNS!!! GEAUX TIGERS!!!!
December 30th, 2019 at 11:20 am
Happy New year Joe.
December 30th, 2019 at 11:21 am
Joe – do you think if people disagree with you they are “haters” or “hate you”. the picks are overblown but they are still bad for the team. the argument you made last week was that the game was tied at halftime. nobody is excusing gay but the bucs were up by 6 at halftime and last week if jameis doesnt throw the pick six to start the game, we win right? i think that logic is foolish as game flow matters too but yes gay cost us but so did jameis.
it isnt about this one game either. it is about countless times he makes bad decisions. yes he throws for yards and touchdowns but does that make him the second coming of tom brady? no because what matters is wins. jameis doesnt show up the most when it matters. see a lot of our second half collapses this year. due to playcalling and sometimes defense but the last two weeks he had a chance to win it for us and didnt. primetime he is brutal.
i dont know of another solution since this team is ready to win now but he does hold us back. 5 years and we continually find coaches and players to his needs but that does not help. we need a full roster and him asking for all this boatload of money. if you can – please answer this. do you really think he can win us a championship let alone an nfc south title? look at the quarterbacks in the playoffs. they may not be prolific passers but they protect the football and you said you like facts but are those not facts? you cant blame the defense anymore and even the excuse before he has to put up 40 points to win, doesnt that speak to how he is so messed up in his head right now that he cant listen to coaches.
turnovers hurt and you seem to really dislike or hate readers that bring up picks. winston causes way too much division like the president. i have his jersey, have supported him and will continue to support him but call a spade a spade. he has not gotten the job done yet you use these sarcastic comments to be little fans and your readers. arguments on both sides and VALID on both sides of him. but be fair to your readers and fans. interceptions do matter and allow a debate and dont just dismiss it.
you said that in journalism and especially tampa there are a lot of egos, sounds like you have one with jameis because of all the vitriol that he seems to always get a pass and does not deserve the criticism. whatever arians decides i am on board with either way.
all i am saying is dont confuse haters with criticism. that isnt fair and it causes more issues because god forbid somebody criticizes jameis or your opinion they are haters. that is not true. it isnt black and white.
i feel the media and national media has always disliked jameis which also fuels this and i thought it wasnt fair. same thing with cam newton and sadly i think race has something to do with it. but also people have always been distrustful of jameis after the allegations and dont forget he embarassed this franchise with the uber incident. not saying get rid of him for that but understand where fans are coming from. off the field stuff matters and when you turn the ball over and are losing – it hurts doubly.
somebody needs to slap jameis in the head. he has been coddled far too long by this organization.
December 30th, 2019 at 11:22 am
Biggest and easiest impact would be a change of QB. Too many turnovers to win
December 30th, 2019 at 11:32 am
Kicker screwed it up again but the play of the game was the intentional grounding…..
GO BUCS
December 30th, 2019 at 11:46 am
Kicker does stink, but so does the QB. I can give a kicker a second year on a rookie deal, but no way in hell should we be exposed to year six with Turnoverzilla!
December 30th, 2019 at 12:00 pm
Any QB allowed to keep his job throwing 30 INTs could put up Jameis numbers. He is not worthy of a new deal. He is a backup at best.
December 30th, 2019 at 2:07 pm
Just wanted to say Joe(s) that I thank you for being dedicated to my team. Thru these hellish years, reading articles here have made me laugh
December 30th, 2019 at 4:43 pm
Ira is a real journalist, he deals in facts. The Joes are running a website and they need hits and having Jameis around is about 80% of the posts on here. Its similar with our national politics. Do we really know what is happening in the world? Not really but we sure as hell know what the President tweeted.
Likewise on the Bucs, it all gravitates back to Jameis. I believe Jameis is sincere, I believe he is a hard worker, I see his confidence. The issue with him is he thinks his game is “ballin”. He digs his own stats and big plays. Classic bipolar person, gets so high on the big throws that he doesn’t notice the linebackers dropping in front of Cam Brate or out on the flat.
Winston is probably the best quarterback at making 20-25 yard throws downfield in the NFL. When he hooks up with Perriman like yesterday, those are All World connections.
Yet he can read a simple coverage where linebackers are in front of receivers or corners are reading his eyes and ready to jump in front of the receiver.
That part of his game is why he loses and throws so many INT’s. He isn’t cautious and with the level of defenses in the NFL you simply cannot ignore where everyone is on the field as you believe you can thread the ball into any coverage.
A slightly less spectacular QB that follows through on progressions, gets the ball out quicker and is tougher to sack is exactly what the Bucs need.