Jameis Watch: Booger’s Passionate Plea
January 22nd, 2015
Crab-legs-stealing, BB-gun-shooting, obscenity-hollering, Heisman-Trophy-winning, former national champion Jameis Winston, the pride of Florida State University, continues to look like a much better quarterback prospect than Mike Glennon and Josh McCown.
It’s Joe’s daily nugget on the Jameis Watch, celebrating the best quarterback to wear No. 5 ever in the state of Florida.
The Bucs have quite a decision to make in 97 days, the opening bell of the 2015 NFL Draft.
It seems everyone has a strong opinion, and former Buccaneers are no exception.
A popular voice on the SEC Network and SiriusXM NFL Radio, former Bucs and Colts defensive tackle Booger McFarland, a two-time Super Bowl winner, waved a giant flag for Jameis Winston yesterday. Booger joined Derrick Brooks and Marcus Mariota supporter Steve Duemig, the dean of Tampa Bay sports radio, on WDAE-AM 620..
“If you just watch the film, Jameis Winston is a better player than Marcus Mariota,” Booger said. “Then I said, ‘OK, then why wouldn’t you take the better player? Well, I’m concerned about his off-the-field issues. Ok.’ So then I started thinking back over the years. And I thought about a quarterback out of Pittsburgh who had off-the-field issues. He had character issues.
“They said he smoked marijuana and he didn’t get along with anybody. You know who that guy is? The guy’s name is Dan Marino. He turned out to be pretty good.
“So my point being is this, Jameis Winston is the best player in college football. Let’s not overthink this.
“He’s the best player. He’s been in the locker room with 18, 19-year-old kids. So he’s acted that way. You put him in the locker room, like I did when I got to Tampa. They put be next to Hardy Nickerson. I looked across the room and it was Sapp, Brooks and Lynch. You get in the locker room with grown men, you start to act like a grown man. I think Jameis Winston will be that way.
“So Mr. Duemig, I’m gonna tell you, you can take Mariota; I’ll take Jameis Winston, and we’ll see who has the best team.”
Joe especially liked Booger’s line: “Let’s not overthink this.”
Joe gets the sentiment, but Joe wants Bucs fans to overthink it. Think about the QB-starved Bucs passing on the best and most ready QB in the draft. That would be worse than Josh McCown returning to the field after leading his team to an 0-3 record and national humiliation in Atlanta.
January 22nd, 2015 at 6:41 am
When we observe last years early mock drafts it was Bridgewater all the way especially considering his “body of work”. Then the powers that be saw his “not so hot” combine and he began to plummet down the draft board. Turns out he might be considered the best QB drafted last year. Not sure yet which QB is best one to pick ( I’m beginning to lean to Winston-barring some new “personal” information here) but I agree with the premise be careful and lets not overthink this.
January 22nd, 2015 at 7:03 am
What a reach comparing Winston to Marino!!! Ask Cleveland if putting their immature quarterback in a locker room with MEN has helped!!! A rotten apple will always spoil the whole barrel. This kid is not going to change just because he is in the NFL!!! Get him a babysitter, compare him to other quarterbacks, put him with other teammates to keep him in line. WHY??? Because everyone knows he will be a problem!!! Pick ANYONE else just not Winston!!!!
January 22nd, 2015 at 7:07 am
Lol so Jameis is just going to mature because he’s in the NFL? Riiiiiiiiiight. Give an immature kid millions, see what happens.
January 22nd, 2015 at 7:07 am
There’s not a whole lot to think about. Winston is the better player, no doubt about it. If he comes across okay in interviews and his background is gone over with a fine-toothed comb and he comes out okay, he’s the pick, plain and simple. You don’t pass on the closest thing to a franchise QN that’s come out of college since Andrew Luck, you just don’t.
Sure, you could take Mariota and then HOPE that he somehow assimilates himself into an NFL offense…. but who stands the better chance? Winston of maturing? Or Mariota does of grasping an NFL offense? Keep in mind, Mariota hasn’t taken a snap from under center or even huddled up since high school…if he even did it then.
Then you look at the other QBs… Petty (who’s been stinking it up at the Senior Bowl with his scatter shot throws even though he’s the best QB prospect there), Hundley (and his propensity to hold onto the ball way too long, stare receivers down, and the majority of his snaps also come from the spread), and the others are light years away from Winston.
January 22nd, 2015 at 7:12 am
For those that think Winston isn’t growing up,find the pics that have been coming out all week about him training with a QB guru(How about a story on this joe?)in California.Dude is perfecting his game,has his hair cut short and tight is starting to look the part.Dedicated,coachable.Bucs would be foolish not to take clearly the best QB in a draft since Luck.
January 22nd, 2015 at 7:17 am
They are making every excuse for Mariota but when it comes down to it you have to take Winston.
“It’s as simple as that.”
– Lovie Smith
January 22nd, 2015 at 7:20 am
I would have loved to read today’s nugget on Mr. Winston, unfortunately, the pop-up ads that have appeared this week wouldn’t allow it.
That’s odd. It’s impossible to comment and not be able to read the posted content. –Joe
January 22nd, 2015 at 7:50 am
I don’t understand why the Bucs haven’t sign him yet. As soon as we get him to sign the contract we can get him a playbook that he can start studying. We don’t have to wait until draft day. Do it now.
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:16 am
so he gets a a haircut and all of a sudden he turned his life around? no more problems?? RIGHT !!!!!
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:17 am
Draft him!!!!!!
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:21 am
Another Josh Freeman attitude at 1 Buc Place, just like the endorsements for Johnny Football last year.
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:26 am
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/01/jameis_winston_to_train_for_nf.html
Here is the article Northend speaks of.
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:37 am
Draft Winston!
The biggest concern with all this draft talk is not Winston’s character but the fact LOVIE can’t draft or pick free agents. That is the biggest off-season concern the bucs have. Booger is right don’t over-think this decision its the easiest one – Winston. Again the biggest concern is hoping Lovie does not screw this off-season up the way he destroyed last off-season.
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:43 am
Yes Joe, same here. I got the comments but not the article.
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:44 am
“If you just watch the film, Jameis Winston is a better player than Marcus Mariota – Jameis Winston is the best player in college football. I’ll take Jameis Winston.”
Simple as that.
“Let’s not overthink this”. Well said Boog.
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:52 am
Mariota’s a project, Winston can’t be trusted…Draft Leonard Williams and build a shutdown defense, or trade down for more bodies…Simple as that 🙂
January 22nd, 2015 at 8:56 am
Amen Booger! Raymond Jameis ALL DAY! This guber town makes me sick, the best QB prospect we’ve had the chance to draft in forever & you guys want to screw it up! Do the right thing Glazers, & you’ll instantly have my credit card number for the next 10 years! And you know this, so without a doubt they will draft #5 & you Winston haters will be there once the kid does what he only knows how to do & that’s WIN BABY!!!!
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:04 am
LJS4th Says:
What a reach comparing Winston to Marino!!!
__________________________________________________
College, not the pros.
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:08 am
“Let’s not overthink this” says it all about the degradation of our society.
1950s
He stayed up past bedtime.
“Let’s not overthink this”
1980s
He stole a pack of gum.
“Let’s not overthink this”
2000s
He’s been to jail a couple times, but not like he KILLED anybody
“Let’s not overthink this”
2015
He is a rapist (or this is all just some big coincidence right and all these transgressions are just big misunderstandings) and a theif but YAY HE’S MY FAVORITE COLLEGE TEAM QB SO I DONT CARE!
“Let’s not overthink this”
2030?
He is a murderer. How does he throw a football? Can we make money or some kind of perceived personal gain from him? 0.01 percent chance???
“Let’s not overthink this”
Blind leading the blind. There is a BIG difference between what you think is right and what IS right. The latter doesn’t change.
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:29 am
College kid does some harmless pranks and its the degradation of society.
Like nobody ever matures from college days.
Im pretty sure the current POTUS admits to illegal drug use in college. And the one before that alcohol abuse. Both in their youth.
The level of judgmental indignation around here is staggering.
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:31 am
So if he are looking for a qb that is sucessfull and had off the field issue, we can find one out of the past 50 years. Of course, dan was rummored to smoke pot, never proved, never a run in with the law, never showed stupidity and never was suspended for a game. He also, had once in a generation talent. Really grasping to compare those two together.
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:32 am
If Winston is so “Pro-Ready” and the obvious #1 pick…..then there must be teams dying to trade up to get him…..anyone hear any rumors,,,,,JOE???
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:57 am
Unless Winston has a major injury before the draft I can not imagine he is not the first overall selection. He’s the best QB prospect since Andrew Luck. He would be the first pick in every draft over the last five years with the one exception being the Andrew Luck draft.
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:58 am
At the Senior bowl they keep calling Mariota to come in and play, but he isn’t going to. The other QBs there suck. Mariota and Winston are the only QBs in this draft. I prefer Mariota due to his skill set.
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:03 am
Hahaha Freeman worked with trainers, cut his hair, and “looked the part” too! Looks don’t mean a damn thing, the kid has shown that he’s not very sharp off the field, he’s a liability. Sure, talent-wise he’s a superior prospect, but what’s that going to matter if he’s suspended, jailed, etc?
MARIOTA or WILLIAMS
Let some other team take the unnecessary risk
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:06 am
Wausa Says:
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:57 am
Unless Winston has a major injury before the draft I can not imagine he is not the first overall selection. He’s the best QB prospect since Andrew Luck. He would be the first pick in every draft over the last five years with the one exception being the Andrew Luck draft.
**************
Cam, Tebow, and Bradford probably would have went before Jameis as well.
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:07 am
It’s great that Winston is working with a QB coach. Fix some of those mechanics and I might take him #1, however, I still think Mariota has the better skill set for the long haul.
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:30 am
skyline come on man Tebow. Please. I’ll give you Tebow was a great college football player but he never was a quarterback. Winston has tons of more upside than tebow ever had at the qb position. Now when it comes to dating daughters saint tebow wins hands down but it’s football. No way tebow gets picked before winston comparing them. no way. Bradford had a great college career and with winston character concerns I’d give you bradforrd. Cam is a toss up in my opinion. He had lots of baggage to overcome that would have been an interesting head to head.
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:42 am
Tebow.
LOL.
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:52 am
I’m starting to think Winston is the guy to go with. Lots of bad examples but Booger is right. Put him around the right people and he will straighten up. Funny that some people compare him to a murderer or reference that. Think about all the Marinos, Roethlisbergers, Kobes, Dez’s (who I’d love to have), Mannings, Sapps, etc..that have cleaned themselves up. I turned out pretty respectable but was a mess as a teenager. Responsibility and example was the key to my change. I’m sure he can do it too with the right help.
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:58 am
@BucRock
Who do the Bucs have in their locker room that is going to straighten out anybody? We’ve already had our own problems with guys like Mike Williams, so what has changed that makes you think that all of a sudden our locker room is going to change a persons mentality? If anything, being drafted by the box could be the worst possible scenario for Jameis, The Bucs don’t command the type of respect that a team like the Packers or patriots would.
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:59 am
*Bucs not “box”
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:13 am
I just read the Patriots scouting of Manziel and have come to the conclusion that Winston is nothing like Manziel. Manziel was arrest a few times, had a bad work ethic, and people didn’t like him. Makes me feel better about Winston a little bit. So please no more comparisons to Manziel.
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:16 am
tmaxcon Says:
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:30 am
skyline come on man Tebow. Please. I’ll give you Tebow was a great college football player but he never was a quarterback.
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The statement from Wausa was that Winston is the best QB PROSPECT in 5 years. A lot of coaches like Tebow. He was clean off the field and all he did was win. I think if Winston would have come out at the same time as Tebow that Tebow would have gone before Winston. In hind sight we know how Tebow turned out, but Wausa didn’t say better QB he said PROSPECT. As a prospect Tebow would have probably been viewed better.
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:19 am
Those from last year that were all over Manziel’s nuts why do you all the sudden hate Mariota? He is way better than Manziel was coming out of college. Also, mock drafts had Manziel going #1 majority of the time even though they knew he was a terrible pocket passer and had zero pocket presence. However, he was acclaimed to be a “ready to play QB”. How quick people forget.
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:26 am
“As a prospect Tebow would have probably been viewed better.”
You can’t be serious.
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:39 am
This is a non story, there not drafting Winston. I read a quote lastnight on pewter report lastnight that Lovie Smith said, he said were going to run an offense that’s never been seen in Tampa before. Hmmm sounds a lot like spread to me, the reason we went out and got Keoter is simple. He’s in first name speaking terms with Mariotas ex college coach Helfrich. Helfrich will help Keoter design an offense that will help the learning curve for Mariota. Booger is a fool to think Lovie and Licht will put there careers in the hands of Winston, not a snowballs chance in hell that happens.
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:49 am
I just told you why he would. It isn’t that hard to fathom that some teams would view Tebow better than Winston. Same as teams view Mariota better than Winston. There were coaches that were in love with Tebow.
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:49 am
Supersam
Man,those are very creative assumptions. I wish I knew how to get in other peoples heads to understand their thoughts and intentions. You KNOW NOTHING sir! Hate winston all you want he has given plenty of reasons to do so but please stop the delusional speculation. You are consistent I’ll give you credit but in reality you have no clue just like the rest of us. Even if the bucs were to run a spread offense do you think for a minute secretive (aka Lying Lovie) would hint or even suggest an offense schemes or intentions. come on. nice reach there pal… Anyhow the phsycic hotline is probably hiring since you have these extraordinary abilities. thank you for sharing your wisdom and expertise.
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:51 am
It is the same way that Manziel was viewed as a better prospect and then on draft day he fell like a rock.
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:53 am
Skyline Crew for Mariota or Winston
those coaches that liked tebow also liked job security and that is why tebow is on tv and not playing football. tebow was far more than a risk at qb than winston is. reasonable / open minded people will come to realize this in time. we have very short attention spans in this country if winston wins all these fine debates are a distant memory. it’s just the way it works. sure there are always a few that will hang on and hate but most will come around.
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:56 am
@Tmaxcon haha well thank you for the consistency comment:) at least I’m not wishy washy back and forth like some of the posters on here, I don’t hide the fact I like Mariota better than Winston. It’s nothing against Winston as a player, I would just be really really hesitant to take him first overall with the off the feild stuff.
January 22nd, 2015 at 12:01 pm
Supersam
I like your thinking. Only problem we have with running a spread offense like Denver, GB, or the Patriots is that we don’t have a burner in the slot. GB has Nelson, Denver has Sanders, and Patriots have Edelman. We need a 4.4-4.45 receiver for the spread to really work.
January 22nd, 2015 at 12:02 pm
“he said were going to run an offense that’s never been seen in Tampa before”
He just meant a successful one.
January 22nd, 2015 at 12:03 pm
tmaxcon Says:
January 22nd, 2015 at 11:53 am
Skyline Crew for Mariota or Winston
those coaches that liked tebow also liked job security and that is why tebow is on tv and not playing football.
*************
Not disagreeing with you. Just stating that some would have probably viewed Tebow a better prospect. Not saying he should be, but some would have because they really liked Tebow and were set on him.
January 22nd, 2015 at 12:03 pm
Love and Warrick Dunn Says:
January 22nd, 2015 at 12:02 pm
“he said were going to run an offense that’s never been seen in Tampa before”
He just meant a successful one.
******
Good one
January 22nd, 2015 at 12:05 pm
@love and Warrixk Dunn, hahahaha that was a good one!:)
January 22nd, 2015 at 12:09 pm
@skyline crew for mariota or Winston, yea your absolutely right, were lacking a speedy deep threat. I think lovies hope was that Robert Herron could be that guy, I know it’s early on him but I’m having my doubts.
January 22nd, 2015 at 1:06 pm
If you are Lovie or Licht, would you risk your job and livelyhood on a guy that may cause your franchise a lot of future embarrassment or totally flame out? NOPE
January 22nd, 2015 at 1:13 pm
I don’t understand the “look at the film” argument. When I saw Jameis play this season, he was a guy who turned it over a lot, came out slow and looked heavy. He had a supremely talented team and they typically rallied the troops but they let teams hang around, many times because Winston was sloppy with the ball. You try that in the NFL, and you are in trouble. He actually reminds me very much of Vinny Testerverde — a QB on the most talented team in the land, tall and athletic, but sloppy and dumb as a stump in the pocket, easily fooled by defensive coordinators who game plan him. That just doesn’t happen in your bowl game or rivalry game when you are in the NFL — that happens every week.
Mariotta looks prepared, fit and a master of the system he has been asked to run (which means to me he should be able to master whatever an NFL team askes him to run). His speed will hopefully help him avoid some hits as he masters his craft.
And let’s not overthink this: when the two played in the biggest game of the year for each of them, Winston was a mess and Mariotta played pretty flawless.
I think Booger and others are letting racial sympathies get in the way here — they portray Winston as the innocent black kid whose talents are being overshadowed because the media and the man are keeping him down. Putting all that aisde, I just don’t get the “look at the film” argument. I see a little bit sloppy, little bit heavy kid who was fooled quite a bit by defenses in his last year — Louisville, Florida and Oregon all got to him. How don’t other people see that?
January 22nd, 2015 at 1:37 pm
Stop making stuff up!!! Tebow? Tebow was not viewed very highly coming out of college. Many were stunned when the broncos took him. He had a messed up release, was not accurate and could not read the field. He was not thought of highly coming out of college. You have got to be kidding me!!!
January 22nd, 2015 at 1:42 pm
@ Gus
I don’t normally call names but Gus is a racist. Why is it that every time a black man comes out in support of Jameis’ game its because he is black. Tell me what is the reasoning for all the white people who supports Winston as the pick? Is it because these white people want to be black? Stop putting your racist bias in the conversation. Again, a black man can have an opinion without race being the factor. This is football. BTW the rest of your post was stupid as well.
January 22nd, 2015 at 2:18 pm
The trade down talks kill me. The offense only scored 15 pts per game! I guess some of you are cool with fielding a putrid offense again next year just for more picks! Winston (especially) and MM will make the offense better now!
January 22nd, 2015 at 3:29 pm
“Mariotta looks prepared, fit and a master of the system he has been asked to run (which means to me he should be able to master whatever an NFL team askes him to run). His speed will hopefully help him avoid some hits as he masters his craft.” —- Gus
This is the thought process that doesn’t work for me. You’re essentially claiming that a master of one thing can master anything. Even in the narrow scope of playing QB we’ve seen this fail. Tebow had his college system mastered.
I think when people say “look at the tape”, they are not pointing at a body of work which is perfect. What the tape shows is the ability to see the game with anticipation. This skill is instinctive and very few players have it. You see a guy who makes the plays and throws an NFL QB needs to be able to make to help his team win. What I see is a player with the potential to be more than a game manager. Half the league has game managers and the guys who can be more than that are rare. This is what Winston is. He’s not a sure bet, nobody is, but he’s a pretty good shot at getting the hardest thing to find in football.
January 22nd, 2015 at 4:27 pm
Bill, you hit the nail on the head!
January 22nd, 2015 at 6:13 pm
Winston character is not my only concern… How about the 20 picks with the best line in conference? Secondly Mariota can’t take a snap and take a 5 step drop? I coach a 12 year old city league team that can master date.
January 22nd, 2015 at 6:15 pm
Winston character is not my only concern… How about the 20 picks with the best line in conference? Secondly Mariota can’t take a snap and take a 5 step drop? I coach a 12 year old city league team that can master that
January 22nd, 2015 at 7:12 pm
@tinytim: interceptions are colorblind (just like Vinny)!
January 22nd, 2015 at 7:44 pm
Someone famous once said “Let him without sin cast the first stone”…Or something to that effect…
With that said, Let’s keep it real, many posters on this site have done a lot worst than Winston in their college days; myself included…Imho If he can pass a background check and does well at the combine he deserves to be the #1 pick no if’s and’s or but’s about it…Hello! He’s only lost a couple football games in his life, has a national championship, and a heisman trophy…Again, “Lets not over think this”…
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:02 pm
I LOVE reading all the posters who assume that Jameis is a horrible, rotten apple and that Mariotta is a choir boy and preach from their pedestals that the Bucs MUST not draft this cancer from Florida State. Enough. Just stop. We had two choir boys at QB last year, how did that end up for us? I’ve been listening to this “Buccaneer Men” crap for the past 5 years… all this BS about drafting captains and seniors and good standing citizens. Blah, blah, blah. 30-70 over the past 100 games. Fan apathy. Empty seats. Lack of fan support. Den of Depression. THAT’S what choir-boys and “Buccaneer Men” have gotten us. Take the best player in the draft. His name is Jameis. And I promise you Buccaneer fans, you’ll realize quickly that he’s not a member of Isis or the anti-christ himself. He’s just an elite-level QB who thrives under pressure and knows how to anticipate and make the tough throws with a calmness that I’ve rarely seen before. When the wins start rolling in, we’ll let you on the bandwagon. Just leave your pedestals and soap boxes at the door.
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:37 pm
@ Tony
Please continue posting. You get it my friend.
@ Gus
Its funny you believe all the INTs were Winston’s fault. I am sure it had nothing to do with 3 freshmen receivers possibly running the wrong route. I am sure none of the INTs had anything to do with a very porous oline for most of the season which caused Winston to be hit while throwing the ball all while playing on a bum ankle. I am also sure none of the INTs had anything to do with a receiver letting a ball slip through his hands. Fisher is on record as saying only 7 or so of the INTs were winston’s fault and I believe him because i watched the games. See there is this thing called tape evaluation which these scouts take part in and thats why its overwhelmingly obvious Winston is the best qb on the field.
January 22nd, 2015 at 10:49 pm
LJS4th Says:
January 22nd, 2015 at 7:03 am
What a reach comparing Winston to Marino!!! Ask Cleveland if putting their immature quarterback in a locker room with MEN has helped!!! A rotten apple will always spoil the whole barrel. This kid is not going to change just because he is in the NFL!!! Get him a babysitter, compare him to other quarterbacks, put him with other teammates to keep him in line. WHY??? Because everyone knows he will be a problem!!! Pick ANYONE else just not Winston!!!!
A Pro just gave you an example (i.e. himself) of a situation where as an immature player changed his behavior as a result of his environment. The example provides a basis for solid reasoning. You said that because Johnny Manziel did not mature, Jameis Winston will not mature in the situation described by Booger McFarland. How does your point of view provided any basis for intellectual discussion?