That B-Word
March 2nd, 2015
For many Bucs fans, the ghost of Bo Jackson lives.
While the story is a lot more complicated, the Bucs chose Bo Jackson first overall in the 1986 draft and he stiffed the Bucs, choosing instead to play baseball for the Kansas City Royals organization.
When Joe asked possible Bucs No. 1 pick Jameis Winston at the NFL Scouting Combine in frozen Indianapolis if his baseball career was over, Winston didn’t say, “No.”
In subsequent interviews, Winston seemed to tap dance around the question while proclaiming his love for football.
This has Gary Shelton uncomfortable. The veteran sports columnist put fingers to keyboard and suggested on his site, GarySheltonSports.com, unless Winston recants his passion for playing baseball, he shouldn’t be purchasing real estate in the Tampa Bay area anytime soon.
Look. Winston is a charming kid with great charisma. He’s going to have to answer for his bursts of immaturity, some of was silly stuff, some of which was shaded by ambiguity and conflicting reports and lack of legal procedure.
What fans will not be able to live with are divided loyalties. Pro sports are with-us or against-us kind of world. What? If the quarterback supposed to miss a big game if his baseball team is in the playoffs? Is the team supposed to live with a sore arm suffered on another field?
If I’m Licht, this waffling would be enough to make me reconsider Mariota as the safe pick again. There have been smaller issues that have been deal-breakers before. Look, the Bucs are a two-win team. They need all that Winston can muster to have a chance. Either Winston assures the Bucs he’s all in, or I start to measure Mariota for a pewter helmet.
Joe can understand why this would get folks irked. In Joe’s mind, Winston is using baseball as a golden parachute. If, God forbid, he loses a spleen or something dire happens to him with the Bucs, or he flat can’t play, baseball would be a fantastic backup plan for him.
Look, the simple thing here is if/when the Bucs select Winston, Bucs general manager Jason Licht inserts a clause in the contract that prevents Winston from playing baseball. Simple as that. Problem solved.
March 2nd, 2015 at 8:24 am
Bo never had weight fluctuation issues…one of Jameis many red flags
March 2nd, 2015 at 8:25 am
I have some concerns about Winston that haven’t been answered….this is not really one of them.
Didn’t Licht say he wanted a player that “eats and breathes fooball” or something to that effect?
March 2nd, 2015 at 8:26 am
Well we do have a rich spleen losing culture here.
March 2nd, 2015 at 8:28 am
Joe would take his own lower lip and pull it over his head if it guaranteed the Bucs would take Winston.
March 2nd, 2015 at 8:32 am
Joe, this (baseball) is just the next bullet in the winston haters gun. They’ve fired the “hes fat” bullet, then they actually find out he weighs less now than when he played. They fired the “wait till he gets interviewed at the combine” he nailed that. Now they say “hes going to play baseball” yet hes said or done nothing to support that theory.
March 2nd, 2015 at 8:39 am
Russel Wilson plays baseball (attends training camp) every offseason.. wheres the flack for that? Just another hater out there trying to add more BS to the Jameis files.. NEXT
March 2nd, 2015 at 8:39 am
http://chopchat.com/2015/02/27/winston-hearing-transcript-newlin-testimony/
If anybody wants to actually take the time to read the transcripts you might actually understand what us winston fans have been saying
March 2nd, 2015 at 8:42 am
Look, the simple thing here is if/when the Bucs select Winston, Bucs general manager Jason Licht inserts a clause in the contract that prevents Winston from playing baseball. Simple as that. Problem solved.
… and Winston can either sign that NFL contract with the “no baseball” clause or just play baseball.
March 2nd, 2015 at 8:45 am
With year-round pitching & football –Tommy John a real concern
One-third of current MLB pitchers have had Tommy John surgery. Of the about 360 who started the season, 124 share the all-too-familiar triangular scar.
Why is the number so high? Among the top doctors in sports today, there are theories.
Per: Dr. Frank Jobe
(The creator of Tommy John surgery)
“Overuse,” he said plainly.
March 2nd, 2015 at 8:49 am
Golden parachute joe? He doesn’t get that luxury in the world of rookie salary caps. There is no fingerling the money, you get what you get. He is a young guy who wants to do too many things and thinks he can.
Can’t fault him for it other than its stupid to be a qb and a pitcher in baseball as the arm never gets a rest. I can however strongly not want him on my team as he is about to screw us over if we pick him.
March 2nd, 2015 at 8:53 am
The Bucs need to be clear with Winston during the interview process that they would put the no baseball provision in his contract and make sure he accepts that. If he doesn’t than they should move on, assuming the Bucs are not ok with him doing both. I have to admit towards the end of last season, after watching Winston run, I thought he looked slower and a bit chubbier than the year before. I couldn’t decide if it was lingering effects of his ankle injury or if it was weight gain. This kid is still really young, if he has a propensity for big weight gain, that would have to be a a negative factor to consider as that will get worse as he gets older.
March 2nd, 2015 at 8:53 am
Is there justifiable concern ?
The answer is YES!!!!
Especially with the number of procedures at the youth level rising at an alarming rate.
Per: James Andrews
(The famed orthopedic surgeon)
“Its an epidemic.”
March 2nd, 2015 at 8:54 am
@Joe
Joe I love the site and the Winston love. I really hope that, after the Bucs do their due diligence, he checks out.
However, your site is very slow to load now and almost impossible to read on iphones cause of ads that take you to the app store. I know you’re trying to squeeze out some ad revenue, but its becoming quite annoying on the user side when I have to try to trick the site not to jump to the store…
March 2nd, 2015 at 8:54 am
Let
Me put this to bed now. The kid knew x and o’s on EVERYTHING when he was like 13. Espn e 60 look it up. There’s no chance
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:01 am
I don’t take him #1 unless he’s giving up baseball entirely.
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:14 am
I can’t see any organization drafting a quarterback at 1. Then letting them pitch in MLB. When Winston said that this was the first time he wasn’t playing baseball this time of year. That had to worry potential suitors. Young kids are having shoulder/elbow issues at an alarming rate because of the year round season.
Russell Wilson doesn’t pitch so it probably less of a concern for Seattle and Wilson is probably leveraging it for his upcoming payday.
Winston questions seem to be mounting daily.
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:18 am
Teflon DON Says
“Russel Wilson plays baseball (attends training camp) every offseason.”
I don’t think it’s a big deal personally, but there are two things I have to say to this.
1 Does Wilson play pitcher in baseball? (I really do not know)
2 The Ravens choose to allow it. That’s their decision. The Bucs are a different team, and considering there is already some concern on his arm, it’s a valid issue.
The truth is, even if they put a clause in his contract, he can always choose to walk away from football and play baseball. The Bucs and the NFL would not be able to stop him.
So yeah, it should be considered carefully when deciding to draft him or not. However, I don’t think it is a deal breaker at this point. He said he wants to be the best QB, and that much I believe.
I still want Mariota, but because I believe Mariota will be the better QB in the long term.
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:19 am
MTM answered my first question. 🙂
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:21 am
This Winston baseball crap is a nonstory. There is nothing wrong with a back up plan. If Barry had a backup plan he wouldn’t be stealing cars and Clean Eric wouldn’t be peddling PEDs. Nothing wrong with planning ones future and having a contingency plan. Not mention baseball would be a good escape clause from dinosaur Lovie
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:26 am
It’s scary how many people in this community are willing to sell their souls for Winston. Lack of character and “fans” like this are EXACTLY why this team has nothing to show for the past. Dungy’s team had character and TONS of depth. Fans are their own worst enemy, always looking for a quick fix like Winston instead of getting a quality PERSON. This team represents the culture in Tampa, quick, easy and transient.
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:27 am
What Causes Overuse Injuries?
• Lack of appropriate muscle strength or endurance
• Poor core stability
• Muscle imbalance (strong tight muscles versus weak stretched muscles)
etc……………
By far the most common cause of overuse injury is training errors. Moreover, the most common error is “too much, too soon”. Jameis Winston has been playing baseball & tackle football since he was 4 yrs old.
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:30 am
I’m waffling again, drifting back to Mariota…Glad I’m not making this decision.
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:31 am
@Cannon Fire
You don’t win Super Bowls with a good personality. Ask douches like Brees and Brady.
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:33 am
No big deal.
As holder of the first pick, they can negotiate and he can sign a contract before the draft. They simply insert language re: not playing baseball into it. If he balks (baseball pun), then they don’t waste the pick.
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:35 am
now once again making an issue out of a none issue like gary Shelton does, is this guy going to play meaningful games? how is that possible. no quarterback is going to try to play two sports as a damn rookie especially one trying to start day one damn people get a grip and stop biting the bate on every stupid post you see here. important games in baseball are played during nfl season, training camp is going on right this very moment so don’t you think he’s actually getting ready for a football season? his sophomore season he’ll be trying to make the jump to the next level and he wouldn’t try to play baseball unless he could say look we been to playoffs or a superbowl I’ve done this or that so can I train baseball in the offseason lol something that would give our rays more publicity and help keep them in tampa…..damn why so serious, I bet the ones complaining have no athletic bone in their bodies
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:38 am
Lovie and Licht will be rolling the dice if they want to draft Winston. I can’t see the Glazers taking the risk with so much at stake. Its easy for fans to say pull the trigger and draft Winston. Wealthy people stay wealthy by making good financial decisions with their money. The Glazers are no different at the end of the day.
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:39 am
@Love and Warrick Dunn
What language can they insert if decides to retire and play baseball –after one or two seasons in the league?
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:40 am
Wilson was a third rounder. There is no way – NONE – that I let my new #1 picked QB play baseball.
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:42 am
What language can they insert if decides to retire and play baseball –after one or two seasons in the league?
————————————————
The only way I see that happen is if they keep the dinosaur Loive at the helm. Can’t blame a man for wanting an escape clause in his contract when the team is currently coached and run by incompetent fools.
SAVE Tampa Bay, Draft Winston! Fire Lovie!
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:42 am
Bo Jackson was drafted as the No. 1 overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1986 NFL draft, but he turned them down and decided to pursue a career in professional baseball. It was always believed that Jackson, who told the Bucs not to draft him, did not want to go to Tampa Bay because of all the negative things he had heard about the organization. But, as I learned on Saturday, Jackson also says that he did not want to play there because he believed they were a corrupt group that intentionally sabotaged his college baseball career.
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:44 am
Jackson elaborated on how and why he believes the Buccaneers sabotaged him.
“I expected to play football at the professional level, and I had taken a few trips to visit some teams during baseball season of my senior year,” Jackson recalled.
“I thought I had the OK to get on a plane that Buccaneers owner Hugh Culverhouse set up. So I got on the jet and went to Tampa Bay for a visit. About four or five days later, I’m back at Auburn getting ready for my baseball game. My senior year, I am tearing the cover off the ball. I’m batting over .400*. I don’t know how many home runs I was sitting on then, but I was as hot as a bottle rocket in July,” Jackson said.
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:45 am
Jackson says he walked out onto the field and his baseball coach, Hal Baird, asked to speak with him. The coach asked if he had taken a trip to Tampa on Culverhouse’s plane. Bo told his coach that the Bucs told him they had checked and the NCAA had said it was OK to take the trip. The coach responded and said someone with the Buccaneers did not check with the NCAA, and that Jackson was being declared ineligible from college sports.
“I sat down there on the ground and I cried like a baby,” a disappointed Jackson recalled.
Baird described Jackson’s actions as innocent, and he said during the program that they felt the violation cost Bo first-round MLB draft status.
Jackson then explained that he felt the Buccaneers set up the trip to intentionally ruin his baseball career with the hope that it would sway him to play football
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:49 am
“I was (already) thinking about not going to Tampa Bay,” Jackson said. “This — because the officials at Tampa Bay told me personally, ‘yes, we checked it, [the NCAA] said that it was OK,’ — I think it was all a plot to get me ineligible from baseball because they saw the season that I was having, and they thought that they were going lose me to baseball. (They thought) ‘If we get him declared ineligible, then we got him.’
“I told Hugh Culverhouse, ‘You draft me if you want, you’re going to waste a draft pick.’ I said, ‘I promise you that.’”
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:50 am
@Bonzai,
I think the reason a lot of people let Wilson slide is because he isn’t a possible 1st overall pick. That makes no difference to me. He’s still the face of the Seahawks and their starting qb.
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:53 am
“seminolebuccaneer Says:
March 2nd, 2015 at 8:39 am
http://chopchat.com/2015/02/27/winston-hearing-transcript-newlin-testimony/
If anybody wants to actually take the time to read the transcripts you might actually understand what us winston fans have been saying”
WOW. That’s some fire.
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:56 am
JAMEIS WINSTON IS NOT COMING TO TAMPA. MARIOTA IS THE OBVIOUS CHOICE.
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:57 am
Would he be the #1 pick in baseball?
Just do what you are best at. Throw the football.
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:58 am
Wilson is a very smart guy with a good head on his shoulders, he knows when to take it easy, when to shut it down and when to walk away. Winston is reckless and emotional, pride will get him hurt permanently
March 2nd, 2015 at 9:59 am
Cannon Fire
Dungy is a great man but average coach. I am tired of the choir boy BS… If you want choir boys go to church league softball. Tough, talented football players win games not citizen of the week nominees. The world is not perfect therefore your team will not have all perfect people on it. Isn’t the coach / mentor’s responsibility to help a young man reach his potential and grow both professional and personally. Loser Lovie and his staff should be embracing all the talent they can however like Cannon Fire here they are living in the past with the Dungy this and Dungy that crap… Dungy should have had at least 2 more superbowls between tampa and indy… Let’s talk about how HORRIBLE dungy offenses were his entire career minus Peyton of course. Dungy is a great man but stop bringing him into every single Bucs discussion unless you are prepared to acknowledge or defend Dungy’s failures too. Dungy was what was needed at the time. Teams / organization mature and move forward Dungy and Lovie are still in the past… NO THANKS!
Save Tampa Bay, Draft Winston and Fire Lovie!
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:01 am
NO QUARTERBACK HAS EVER PLACED BASEBALL AS A ROOKIE and I think Russell Wilson was the only qb to even work out in the offseason, people once again are exaggerating and overanalyzing his combine interview because theres nothing to really talk about. I cant believe people are sitting at home thinking a franchise that’s never had a franchise quarterback or a guy to make it to the second contract will actually let a rookie play baseball instead of focus on football as if the bucs would be in a position of weakness in contract negotiations with him hahaha you guys are nuts
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:02 am
@CannonFire show me where a fan went into the draft room and chose any player on the Bucs roster. So blaming the fans for the problems with the Bucs is like not blaming Wahington politics for the mess this country is in..
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:05 am
@tmaxcon
I’m a big proponent of trading down this year–just too many holes on this roster for me to think otherwise buddy. Respect everything you said about the choir boy mentality though.
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:08 am
Still wished Charlie Ward would’ve played football. C’mon he was better than Jeff Blake..lol
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:10 am
Jamie’s could probably make a hell of a lot more money, and have a much longer career as a baseball player. If he loves baseball that much, he should just go play it.
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:11 am
Cannon fire:
You are exactly right. Its all the “fans” faults. We have so much input and pull over at One Buc that we completely undermine all of the real smart peeps (probably the ones just like you) and force them to sign a bunch of half hearted turds instead of well balanced individuals that play at a high level (you know, the ones like you). Its obvious now, I cant believe I never put it all together before. We should all quit being fans so the Bucs can get back to running the team properly. Thanks bro.
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:14 am
LUVMYBUCS
charlie ward did all right with the Knicks. Didn’t he play 10 or so years for New York. Some success. Ward made a good choice for his family but I would have loved to see him play in the NFL. Not sure how he would translate but it would have been entertaining.
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:15 am
Way to many red flags, it’s time to announce that Mariota will be the pick so we can move on already, Winston made it interesting, but in my mind the pick has always been Mariota just by our coaching hires.
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:18 am
Not that I believe a damn thing that comes from L & L, but aren’t they the ones that said “we don’t expect our fans to be patient”?
If they draft Mariota and tell us the same damn thing as last year…then I have no hope anymore for this ball club.
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:21 am
87ForJameisNOMariota
good point….if that is the mindset and they want to compete right now why would they draft a guy who isn’t used to feeling pressure up at the line of scrimmage. what people don’t think about is when you take snaps under center you could very easily drop back and pressure already be in your face, rollouts you turn your back and the pressure could be right there…..theres no time for a qb to be coached up on that if your 1st overall on a 2-14 team. the pick is Winston and if the draft was this week the pick would be ready
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:23 am
Mariota will be out of the league before he is good enough to make a difference…. He will get killed with his style of play. He is fragile. just look at him. A walking injury waiting to happen. However, you mariota supporters are spending so much time making up crap about Jameis you neglected to notice all the deficiencies that Mariota has.
Winston is the safest and only choice Lovie has. Lovie needs Winston far more than Winston needs Lovie.
Go Jaboo!
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:23 am
@tmaxcon
Now Jeff Blake was no chump (just a comparable).
I can recall Jeff had a few good seasons in Cinny.
But every time I watched Charlie come off the bench for the knicks–I would yell WHYYYYY..lol. That little dude was raw on the field bruh.
IMO he would’ve been a better pro than Jeff Blake. Its all water under the bridge now though.
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:31 am
1993: #2 Notre Dame vs. #1 Florida State (Still Burns)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYpMLpmemaQ
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:32 am
LUV…Uncle Charlie (my pet name for Ward) was better than Vick.
I think Winston’s better than Ward.
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:43 am
@87ForJameisNOMariota
Helll nahhh…lol
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:46 am
Better overall athlete bruh
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:47 am
Charlie was a beast
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:56 am
tmoron strikes again…. IF any team actually drafted Winston over Mariota, said team deserves to lose for the next 5+ years. Wiston has wayyyy too much baggage & too many red flags for a #1 overall pick. Mariota is far and away the better prospect overall. And he is absolutely not going to take more time to be successful in the NFL than Winston will.
March 2nd, 2015 at 10:58 am
Just read Chris Landry’s detailed account of the combine interviews and it is obvious that Mariota is the better choice. (to anyone with an actual brain)
March 2nd, 2015 at 11:04 am
Did he say lack of legal procedure?
March 2nd, 2015 at 12:04 pm
I’m the biggest winston fan there is. These non football reasons is the only reason why people are debating if he should be the number 1 overall pick.
March 2nd, 2015 at 12:16 pm
On the field, I like Mariota’s skill set much better than Winston’s…. Mariota can do everything Winston can do plus more. Winston has a slightly stronger arm. That’s it. Mariota is far and away the better prospect overall.
March 2nd, 2015 at 12:20 pm
I just come here to read all the made up stories/excuses by the haters for why we shouldn’t draft Winston.
Welcome to Tampa, Jameis!
March 2nd, 2015 at 12:20 pm
I don’t see this as an issue really. Sure if he decides to play baseball while playing football I wouldn’t like that. However, if he goes the Russell Wilson, Kaepernick approach and just go to the teams spring training that is different. They can do it, why shouldn’t Winston be able to do that with the Jets?
March 2nd, 2015 at 12:26 pm
Then again LUV…I’m not a very big fan of running QB’s. Ward was delightful to watch though. That was around the time we had season tickets to FSU, so I saw a lot of uncle Charlie.
March 2nd, 2015 at 1:06 pm
I hadn’t heard the baseball angle regarding Jameis Winston until right now. That’s one more non-football risk to add to the pile of risk that is Winston.
Don’t get me wrong. I like the kid and think he has all the tools to be a great quarterback if: (1) he actually pans out (how many NFL draft picks are just a bust), (2) he plays football (that clause in the contract thing won’t work because by the time you get to making that legal and binding, you’ve used the pick), (3) he stays healthy for the reasons about baseball pitchers mentioned above (Bo Jackson wasn’t a pitcher) and (4) he minds his p’s and q’s and becomes a law abiding grown up.
Start adding up the risk factors between Winston and Marcus Mariota both on and off the field and the pendulum begins to swing toward Mariota rather quickly.
March 2nd, 2015 at 1:15 pm
Oh and one other thing. If Winston is the real deal as a baseball player and by all accounts he is, then why on earth would he play in the NFL for anyone.
First, there are no rookie salary caps or salary caps period in MLB. If he’s got the goods to get to The Show, he can make much more money in MLB than the NFL. Moreover, one doesn’t generally leave MLB ready for a physical rehab center. I know if I had the goods to play in the NFL or MLB what my choice would be, MLB.
And, you know what. If Winston has the goods for MLB, he can pull that plug anytime he wants to.
Think about going into year two of the Winston Era and instead of reporting for OTAs, Winston ups and joins the Yankees, Dodgers or whomever signed him and kicks the Bucs to the curb? Then, we’re back to square one waiting for a chance to pick a franchise quarterback.
Again, Winston is a good kid, but just too risky to invest the very precious and costly (it takes a losing season to get it) Number 1 pick in the NFL Draft.
Allegations of rape, lack of maturity, questions about playing baseball – the hits just keep on coming.
March 2nd, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Rangers signed Wilson. He plays 2nd base. Goes to Spring Training and plays.
Rangers selected Winston. He pitches. Hasn’t done anything yet.
Cubs selected Kaepernick. He pitches. Doesn’t go to Spring Training.
March 2nd, 2015 at 2:51 pm
Sometime within the upcoming visits to OBP – after private workouts and extended Xs and Os conversations with Lovie, Koetter and Bajakian – Licht is going to sit down with Winston and the short, yet most important of all conversations is going to go something like this.
Licht – “We are going to draft you Jameis and your rookie contract will be $28 Million for 5 years with $18M of that amount guaranteed. In that contract will be 2 specific clauses. No baseball and no felony arrests. The entire contract will be instantly null and void at our discretion in the event of either. If all goes well and you perform as well as we hope you will – after the 4th year you will be offered a new contract for well over $100 Million. You good with all that?”
Winston – “Yes sir. I’m your man and I’m ready to lead this team to multiple Super Bowls. Get me that contract and get me a playbook – I’m ready to get started right now – today.”
Licht – with a big smile hugs Jameis and says – “that is exactly the answer I was looking for and we believe in you 100% Jameis. prove us right”
Winston – “You can absolutely count on me. You make sure we have a decent offensive line and I will lead this team to a winning record this year.”
Licht – “We’re working on that right now”.
Winston – “Getting my boy Cam Erving down here would be a great start”.
Licht – “We’ll have to see how the draft falls but believe me – if that is a realistic option we will absolutely be doing that.”
aaaaand Scene.
March 2nd, 2015 at 3:32 pm
LOL…someone has been day dreaming way too much.
March 2nd, 2015 at 4:03 pm
Update on Current Mocks for who the Bucs will choose :
Final tally: Winston 11, Mariota 2
March 2nd, 2015 at 4:06 pm
Rick Says:
March 2nd, 2015 at 1:06 pm
“I hadn’t heard the baseball angle regarding Jameis Winston until right now. That’s one more non-football risk to add to the pile of risk that is Winston.”
That’s been known for awhile now…and MOST of us already know he won;t be playing baseball at all… if you do a little off site research.
March 2nd, 2015 at 4:39 pm
Wintson’s baseball career isn’t over by a long shot. He will play 3-4 years in Double A after he flames out in the NFL.
March 2nd, 2015 at 6:32 pm
there are only 2 meaningful news-creating events on the #1 overall front between now and when the bucs almost certainly pick JW 1st overall at the end of april, those are his pro day and his visit to One Buc Palace. And yet, news articles need to be written daily. this is one of many things that will be rehashed a hundred times more than it needs to so sports media outlets can manufacture drama and retain readers over the next 6 weeks