Philip Rivers Is…
February 11th, 2020
National columnist weighs in.
So if the Bucs do decide to switch quarterbacks and sign veteran Philip Rivers rather than bring back free agent-to-be Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, what would the Bucs be getting?
A national columnist believes a guy that is likely ready for the glue factory.
Asked if the Colts would be a landing spot for Rivers, good guy Mike Tanier of Bleacher Report was blunt about what he thought of Rivers as a starter after a 16-year stint with the Chargers.
Philip Rivers has had an exceptional career. But he is essentially toast and the #Colts need a QB of the future, not a rental.
That is all.
— Mike Tanier (@MikeTanier) February 10, 2020
Not much more to add.
Really, is Rivers better than Jameis? He seems to be an old, immobile version of Jameis. The only obvious “upgrade” (ahem) is it seems from various defensive players that Rivers is still an All-Pro trash talker.
February 11th, 2020 at 5:04 am
Winston isn’t selling tickets, even though the rest of the team is on the upswing, save for RB position. Rivers isn’t a long term solution. While he did throw his share of INTs last year, it was no where close to what Winston did. Two of Winstons INTs alone meant the difference between 9-7 and 7-9. SF, TEN, CAR2, NO2. That is six games total where his MULTIPLE INTs DID directly affect the final score. Games agains IND and ARI would have been losses had it not been for a suddenly surprising D. Old guy Rivers who is resilient throwing 10 less picks would mean more wins directly. Both are bridges…at this point, only a fool thinks Winston has any future as the Bucs franchise QB, and really, being a starter making big money anywhere. Rivers will intrique enough fans to come back or stay. Keeping Winston under center for a sixth year only to do what all know he will do, will mean even smaller crowds. Losing is of course not all Winston’s fault, but he’s a big part of it, and this fan base…what’s left…is likely sick and tired of seeing the roadster built around a engine that constantly backfires. This is not about who is the “better” QB in the future…it is about who has performed and won and led, and who can better mentor a new draftee, than it is about fixing Winston. Send the thieving, crotch grabbing BS artist back to Bama.
February 11th, 2020 at 5:19 am
We need an experienced, successful veteran QB that can mentor a rookie draftee and will work for a reasonably low price. That’s not Winston…
February 11th, 2020 at 5:35 am
If Jameis would sign for what Rivers would sign for then I don’t see where the argument is, but if JW is looking to break the bank then I don’t see how the Bucs could even make that much commitment into a QB who is sloppy protecting the ball and who lacks the leadership to audible out of bad play calls. At least with Phillips, you know he has a long history of knowledge to share and can better mentor a rookie QB.
February 11th, 2020 at 5:43 am
I’d rather see what Winston can do in 2020. It’s been said many times that it takes a year (or more) to learn Coach Arian’s offense. So we get 1 year of Old Man Rivers who is learning the offense, and HAVE to use a 1st Round pick on a QB, maybe have to REACH for a QB? No thanks.
I know the fans with hatred for Winston in their hearts don’t want to hear this, but there’s a chance Jameis improves in 2020. All my humble opinion, of course. I’ll be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer fan no matter what direction we go in.
February 11th, 2020 at 5:46 am
Another guy with another random opinion. He may be right, he may be wrong.
Some of his other random opinions include:
Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jameis Winston the same guy.
Lamar Jackson another Tim Tebow trotting onto the field.
Feel free to ignore the Titans they aren’t going anywhere.
Le’Veon Bell holdout the most disastrous in history.
KC draft grade of Pat Mahomes a C..
Bucs draft grade of OJ Howard same year B+
New Orleans grade of Ryan Ramczyk same year C.
He has been around awhile and his draft analysis of other NFL drafts have been even more off.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:01 am
While Im not sold on Rivers, I keep asking myself does the good out weight the bad with Jameis ,the most pro ready qb coming out that year?
Is he going to become known as a coach killer, who cant change and also cant handle competition?
If he cant handle competition,why would he mentor someone behind him and what would he teach?
Interceptions have no consequences?
February 11th, 2020 at 6:09 am
The best thing for this franchise is going 0-16 in 2020 and drafting Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields, Licht finally gets fired, and the Bucs become contenders in a couple of years, but remain contenders for 15 years
February 11th, 2020 at 6:16 am
Who has a better chance of taking the Bucs to the Super Bowl? (Because, truly THAT is all that matters). Rivers. By far.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:17 am
For some context, in the last 5 years:
Rivers has thrown 2,910 passes vs Winston’s 2,548.
Rivers has a 5.0%TD/2.6%INT ratio (career 5.2%TD/2.6%INT) vs Winston’s 4.7%TD/3.5%INT ratio
Rivers has thrown 58 passes for 40+yds & 288 passes for 20+yds vs Winston’s 37 for 40+yds and 237 for 20+yds.
Rivers has thrown 145 TD’s and 76 Int’s vs Winston’s 122 TD’s and 88 Int’s.
Rivers has thrown for 22,616 yds vs Winston’s 19,737 yds.
Rivers’ completion rate is 64.7 (same as his career avg) vs Winston’s 61.3%.
Rivers QB rating avg is 94.3 (58.7 QBR) vs Winston’s 86.9 (57.7 QBR).
Rivers YPA is 7.8 vs Winston’s 7.7.
Rivers has 11 fewer fumbles and taken 9 less sacks despite being 12 years older and a lot less mobile, even with 362 more pass attempts.
Winston leads in rushing yds/TD’s by a large margin.
Rivers has never missed a start since 2006 despite being strictly a pocket passer.
Rivers has been to the playoffs 6 times in his career (as recently as 2018) and has a 5-6 record. By comparison, Bucs have been to ONE playoff game as a franchise during that entire period.
To reiterate, Rivers has outproduced JW in practically every significant category in the last 5 years AND he’s 12 years older. Could go on, but just some data to show that Rivers is far from an old, washed up QB. No question last year wasn’t his best, but he’s definitely still a viable bridge QB if the Bucs were thinking of grooming a rookie QB for the next year or two. Personally like the fire he plays with and think that rubs off on his team as well, and he doesn’t have to eat any W’s to do it either.
Unless he wants to admit that a 38 year-old QB (39 this season) is a bigger baller than him, believe JW is the one that needs to check his sheet.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:17 am
Joe will keep posting things to reconfirm his positive bias for keeping Jameis
You know what an upgrade is? Signing a qb that’s not gonna throw the game away and not give your team a chance to win
February 11th, 2020 at 6:26 am
Joe in Michigan Says:
February 11th, 2020 at 5:43 am
I’d rather see what Winston can do in 2020. It’s been said many times that it takes a year (or more) to learn Coach Arian’s offense. So we get 1 year of Old Man Rivers who is learning the offense..
If the Buc’s keep Jameis, I hope it is just a matter of him needing a 2nd year in B.A.’s offense but that it takes two years to play well in B.A.’s offense gets over sold on this site.
B.A. became Ben Roethlisberger’s OC in 2007 and Ben had 32 TD’s and 11 Interceptions in his 1st year with B.A.
The year before B.A. became Ben’s OC, Ben’s stats were 18 TD’s and 23 Ints.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:40 am
It’s not Mr. 5,000 job to sell tickets, his job is to grab hold of the steering wheel of this hoopty and try navigate a path to the SUPER BOWL! There are allegations in his past again I say his past but not one arrest! Keeping Mr. 5,000 for a second season under this new regime would only mean Mr. 5,000 would be primed for another big numbers season with less turn overs…he’s working at it as I speak!!! I’m just proud of the fact that he found his path out of BAMA without a police record or some other tragic matter in his life …tho I’m sure he has heard the stories I’ve heard!! Any QB in this league with a lighter skin color that threw for 5000 yards in the 2019 season would have been under contract before the 2020 SUPER BOWL!!
February 11th, 2020 at 6:42 am
If you are moving on from Winston then Rivers may be a good choice but you’ve got to draft a QB either way.
Most agree that even if Winston stays it will only be on a 1 year contract…..that speaks volumes….it means uncertainty….and it means you must draft a QB for the future.
February 11th, 2020 at 6:51 am
@geno711
In Ben’s 2nd year with BA he went 17 TD’s and 15 Int’s, and even had an extra game to do it in…
February 11th, 2020 at 7:16 am
Ah the CLUELESS are out in full force this morning I see. Like a moth to a flame.
February 11th, 2020 at 7:32 am
Loyalty
totally agree
Not sure cause father time may have gotten to rivers . Obviously bucs would draft young qb to take over so bridge gap
And He did not have a good last year
But in the 6 NFL seasons before that he averaged around 4500 yards 30 tds and 14 ints. I would take that all day / everyday from my qb
And joes …Pretty sure most analysts thought carson Palmer was toast /washed up before arians got his hands on him. Especially after some bad injuries
February 11th, 2020 at 7:33 am
geno711’s comment is one of the best I’ve read in a long while. kudos
February 11th, 2020 at 7:35 am
And what a true american Ndog is
I mean isnt he great . Just comes in here with facts and wins “debates”
He has a right to call everyone “clueless” besides himself of course
Pretty much every buc player and buc coach and analyst has commented on jameis struggles to this point . However , They are all wrong. Ndog , the true arm chair qb knows more then they do. God bless him
So amazing
February 11th, 2020 at 7:45 am
0-16 TANK FOR TREVOR
February 11th, 2020 at 7:45 am
geno711: Yes, Winston would have to improve to keep his job in his 2nd year.
February 11th, 2020 at 7:46 am
Brady to Raiders
Carr to Bucs
Jamies to XFL
February 11th, 2020 at 7:54 am
@ flyboy. I thought stats does not matter. Here is a stat. Rivers has not won his division since 2009 and he has had a better all around team than winston in a weaker division. And now he is older. Smdh
February 11th, 2020 at 7:56 am
Do we really want a guy in today’s NFL that can not scramble out of the pocket AT ALL?? That would really scare me.
February 11th, 2020 at 8:06 am
One other difference between the two. Rivers IS and has been an WINNING NFL QB !!! WINLESS WINSTON is and always will be a fraud !!!!
February 11th, 2020 at 8:19 am
Guzzie Says:
“0-16 TANK FOR TREVOR”
~~~~~~
No frikking thank you.
That is garbage.
February 11th, 2020 at 8:20 am
big hog .. STOP with the race card on and be a Winston fan if you like. Keep those rose colored glasses on but i say ..MOVE ON ! (my father was dark skinned)
February 11th, 2020 at 8:30 am
Cmon Joe. You claim to be an insider but have no clue on what is happening with the QB position. The retard is gonzo.
February 11th, 2020 at 8:35 am
Tampa bay demon
You think brady is mobile. You know the GOAT
Savy qbs move around in pocket
Also , they make quick / right decisions and get the ball out quickly
February 11th, 2020 at 8:52 am
BigHog Says:
February 11th, 2020 at 6:40 am
Any QB in this league with a lighter skin color that threw for 5000 yards in the 2019 season would have been under contract before the 2020 SUPER BOWL!!
The only thing worst than an actual racist is a racist conspiracy theorist. Someone who believes everything positive or negative that happens to themselves or someone they know/like/care about is all because the color of their skin. Seriously dude….just stop.
I’ll agree that in today’s America, racists seem to feel empowered because of who is in the White House, but if anyone high up in the organization was racist, why would they have drafted Jameis in the first place?
His 5000 yards are overshadowed by his horrendous number of turnovers, not his skin color. If he threw half as many picks, I guarantee they would have locked him up already. Just stop with all your unproven conspiracies, it’s becoming increasingly pathetic.
February 11th, 2020 at 8:53 am
Yes, Rivers might be finished..just like Michigan and Michigan State football are finished… But Arians will know about Rivers.
February 11th, 2020 at 9:13 am
Philip Rivers is….not the answer. We get that.
But, JayMiss is….not the answer either.
Keep looking.
Peace, out.
February 11th, 2020 at 9:25 am
big hog
sorry, but you’re way off base….lol….
GO BUCS!!!!!
February 11th, 2020 at 9:33 am
FlBoy84 Says:
February 11th, 2020 at 6:17 am
Your point was that Rivers has outproduced JW in almost every category and is 12 years older.
And my point is that Rivers is 12 years older. I don’t know what Tino Martinez batted in little league but I’m guessing he was much better 12 years later.
Rivers is 38 and a very static QB, his quick release has saved him over the years but he is going to be 39 next season vs 26-year-old Jameis and by your comparison, JW was every bit as good a rookie QB as Rivers was as a seasoned vet thru the first five years. Quit trying to making a square fit into a circle.
February 11th, 2020 at 10:13 am
Ya know since the end of the season I have probably read a 1000 post about Jameis Winston the 30-30 man. There is probably a book in the making on the subject. Most of the post are Valid critiques of his interceptions and turnovers and it would not surprise me a bit if he finds himself sitting the bench as a backup on some other team or as some have implied playing in the XFL. Remember the days before he was a Buc when we won all those games and never missed a playoff? OH Wait, I am sorry we didn’t win then either or at least since 2002 or 2007 since a playoff. 12 year losers and it’s all Winstons fault. Just think if it wasn’t for Jameis we may have been a perennial winner. Thats what I like about football, you can blame 1 guy for everything. Eliminate the obvious and The Super Bowl is Ours. Can’t wait till next year.
February 11th, 2020 at 10:15 am
Jameis Winston is virtually on the same trajectory stat wise as Matt Stafford. Their first 5 years at the same age are pretty darn close. This is the closet comparison I can think of for Winston.
As Matt Stafford aged he became a much better QB. He also got better once Calvin Johnson retired. Maybe not force feeding the ball to a great wr helped him. Food for thought.
Now if Biscuit and Gravy can design some plays where the backs and tight ends are a little more involved we may get the same player as a Matt Stafford. I’m sure many Winston bashers would be ok with a Matt Stafford clone.
February 11th, 2020 at 10:40 am
IF JAMIS HAS HAD EYE SURGERY, SIGN HIM. KNOWS THE SYSTEM HE IS MOBIL AND THE BEST CHANCE FOR WINNING IT ALL. IF THEY ALL STAY HEALTHY
February 11th, 2020 at 10:44 am
At this time Mr. 5,000 is the only QB to take us anywhere near where we want to be….he’s ingrained as leader of this pack …to bring in another QB will only serve as a set back for the BUCS…this country’s history Matthew Fifer is what it is! There isn’t a need for a conspiracy theorist…just know your historical facts! HERE’s one they kicked another QB out the door over a paltry amount of mony and brung in the GREAT THROW’N SOMOAN….team goes down for year….are we learning anything or are we in that FLOAT ON mood! Sign Mr.5,000 and continue to build this team around your hand picked leader not someone else’s trash pile….sign Mr. 5,000 or give him his freedom now!!!
February 11th, 2020 at 11:08 am
Stafford? When will we stop comparing one QB’s development to another? There are so many factors that come into play. It is impossible. Please. Jameis is Jameis… keep him or let him go. But he isn’t on a Favre trajectory..or a Stafford trajectory…he is on his own path.
February 11th, 2020 at 11:13 am
I’m amazed at the amount of people that think this is a good move.
Back up, yeah No deep ball last year watch the tape.
He flat out has lost a step.
father time is undefeated
February 11th, 2020 at 11:54 am
fernando….bilicheat disagrees with you. I don’t know what Arians thinks, but imagine we will find out. But yeah..I’ll take the word of fernando…he is the football expert in town. Forget Rivers..his arm is shot.
February 11th, 2020 at 12:01 pm
Hog, I’m just done with you and your idiotic babble. The people in charge of the organization today are not racist. Maybe there have been some racially motivated moves in the past, but you know what? That’s the past.
You have zero proof or relevant references to racist personnel decisions made by THIS front office which only further speaks to how much of an imbecile you are. Trying to prove a point based on history that didn’t involve anyone in the organization currently is not only flawed, it’s incredibly biased and stupid.
Anyway I’m done reading/responding to your posts. Frankly your atrocious grammar & spelling is enough to nearly give me an aneurysm. Enjoy your life.
February 11th, 2020 at 12:11 pm
FlBoy84 Says:
February 11th, 2020 at 6:51 am
@geno711
In Ben’s 2nd year with BA he went 17 TD’s and 15 Int’s, and even had an extra game to do it in…
So do you agree with my point above? That on this site there has been an over emphasis that all quarterbacks do better in their 2nd year with B.A. compared to their 1st.
Ben does not fit that mold. Better 1st year (32 TD 11 INT) than 2nd year.
February 11th, 2020 at 12:59 pm
@ArmandoG – You may want to take off those rose-colored glasses and look at those stats again. LOL
@geno711 – Absolutely agree that “2nd year” deal is overstated. The example you used though was Ben’s year before BA arrived vs his first year after BA’s arrival. Not Ben’s 1st year vs his 2nd year under BA. Either way, believe that is definitely a misnomer.
@fernando Rivers had 12 passes of 40yds+ vs Winston’s 13 passes. Rivers’ arm isn’t what it used to be, but is still more than adequate. And if arm strength was the deciding factor in what makes a great QB, guys like Leaf, Boller, George, Young, Marinovich, Russell, and SO many others would’ve succeeded in the NFL.
February 11th, 2020 at 1:06 pm
Obviously Mark2001 you have no idea what kind of stats Matt Stafford put up in his first 5 seasons but I will share with you. They were virtually the same ones Winston put up in his first 5 seasons where both QB’s were the same age 21-25. If you think the Lions franchise was better or worse than the Bucs that’s your opinion but realistically they are on the same path. Matt Stafford with age and experience became a better QB. These are fact not opinion and his stats show this to be true. Whether Winston does is a different tune but it is not out of the realm of possible since a player and a franchise just like him and the Bucs have done it.
February 11th, 2020 at 1:17 pm
Matthew Fifer Says:
“The people in charge of the organization today are not racist. Maybe there have been some racially motivated moves in the past, but you know what? That’s the past.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You made some really good points above. By the way, is there any other team in the NFL that has had 3 African American Head Coaches? We have. — And by the way, the rest of the NFL is not doing very well in that area right now. We also have both coordinators as African Americans, and both of our 2 most recent high draft pick QB’s.
So making anything regarding Jameis out to be about race within the organization, is just lazy. I am sorry.
Hey I am a big Jameis fan and have been for a long time. But let’s all be honest here. He has EARNED the criticism. He KNOWS that it is something he has to do better at.
February 11th, 2020 at 2:13 pm
@Tampa Bay Demon
Thanks! Glad I’m not the only one who realizes how stupid he comes off with that crap. I can’t think of any other teams with the progressive hirings that we’ve had (especially in recent years). Weren’t we the first team to hire a female coach just last year? I could be wrong on that, but I’m pretty sure I’m not.
February 11th, 2020 at 3:41 pm
^^ No doubt, Matthew. Bruce Arians has been very progressive with his hiring practices, and the Glazers have been very much onboard. There is another female coach with SF that I saw a commercial about recently, so I am not positive of who was first. But yes we currently have 2 females on our coaching staff.
February 11th, 2020 at 4:25 pm
I will root for this team no matter who is under center and have since day one. That being said, ATrain……your post was hilarious!
February 11th, 2020 at 6:19 pm
Old Haynes never disappoints. Let’s all agree that if we can work out a trade for Laman Jackson, all of us will be on board with our dark skinned QB. THE W-L sheet and the scoreboard doesn’t really give a sht what color you are and neither do the fans.
Also, Fifer, way to work a reference to Trump in there. You made a dip out of yourself. Carry on.