Buccaneers Praised For Draft Gamesmanship
April 16th, 2015
Those loveable Bucs couldn’t win a home game last year, but dammit, they pulled off one heck of a draft misdirection.
Are they doing it again?
Joe sure hopes not. Jameis Winston should be slinging balls around Bucs rookie minicamp in a few weeks.
But we’re in the time of year when hyper-bananas fans and media go all X-Files about teams visiting with players and/or working them out, as if it really means a lot.
Robert Klemko, of TheMMQB.com, astutely noted that outside of the three QBs drafted in the first round last year, most of the remaining first-round picks did not spend special private time with their eventual teams. That included Bucs stud rookie Mike Evans.
“…Only 16 of the remaining 29 first-rounders had pre-draft visits with the clubs that chose them. Among those who weren’t invited to the top 30 party of their chosen teams: Fifth-overall choice Khalil Mack (Raiders) and the seventh pick, Evans (no doubt an effort by the Buccaneers to convince the world they’d pick a QB). Eventual Chargers first-round pick Jason Verrett spent the offseason working out in San Diego, several miles from Chargers park, and didn’t communicate with the team between the combine and the day they drafted him 25th overall. And yet, reporters continue to break news of leaked visit plans as if it means something. I got in on the shameful practice the other day and I still feel dirty about it.”
Klemko talks about how the Bucs’ gamesmanship entertaining quarterbacks like Johnny Football and Derek Carr at One Buc Palace last year, guys they never planned to draft, earned them respect in NFL circles.
Joe couldn’t read that without marching to Walgreen’s for anti-diarrhea medication.
The thought of the Bucs not drafting a quarterback — again — is too much to bear, though a move like that by Lovie Smith would not be shocking. Even Father Dungy said so.
April 16th, 2015 at 5:19 am
Don’t Worry Joe. You will get your wish. They will probably make you wait until 8:09 on 4/30 to find out out that you are happy – but there’s no good reason to be so deceptive with the 1st pick like they did last year.
No team in their right mind in the Bucs position wouldn’t take Winston. I bet even Chip Kelly would have to think long and hard about passing on him. If another team dangled 3 #1s and 3 #2s to trade up to the 1st pick – then the Bucs would have to at least consider – but I think the RG3 deal killed that kind of madness for at least a few more years anyway.
Winston is the pick. It’s a done deal. Bucs would not be acting like they have been towards Winston – getting the fans all excited – bringing him in and treating him like “family” at the Alstott event – only to not pick him.
Hell – even Big Dog likes him now.
Winston has won over everyone in the bldg at OBP from all reports I’ve heard. They love his tape and they LOVE his strong leadership. How could they not? Dude is as legit a franchise QB prospect as they come.
April 16th, 2015 at 5:28 am
@ Joe … “Even Father Dungy said so.”
For some reason Joe, in past articles you seem to be really hung up on how much influence you perceive that Tony Dungy wields with Lovie Smith and today’s Bucs.
Perhaps a tad bit of jealousy that Lovie may put more stock into what his mentor (and a very accomplished, SuperBowl-winning coach himself) thinks than how much he cares about what JBF thinks?
In the end, Lovie will do what Lovie feels is best for the Bucs IMHO. And my gut says that it’ll be influenced more by what the Glazers think than by what Tony or JBF thinks. Just a hunch …
April 16th, 2015 at 6:00 am
Not so sure that the Bucs did not want Carr. With Williams gone Evans was pretty much Bucs 7th overall pick. I believe they tried to get Carr (heavily influenced by Tedford) but Licht could not successfully move up to get him.
April 16th, 2015 at 7:09 am
Yes Dick I’m sure the Joes cry themselves to sleep every night that Lovie doesn’t consult them before every move.
April 16th, 2015 at 7:11 am
Pickgrin: “Dude is as legit a franchise QB prospect as they come.” –
What more can we ask for?
April 16th, 2015 at 7:11 am
Oh Joe. Things will get better soon. 14 and a 1/2 more days to go.
We can make it right? It’s tough, but we’ll make it.
Thanks for keeping us busy during this long wait, we’ll get there.
April 16th, 2015 at 7:13 am
The Bucs are masters of gamesmanship. They will pick a QB, indeed…. And to everyone’s surprise, it will be Mariota.
April 16th, 2015 at 7:13 am
I’d much rather the Bucs be praised for their draft picks…..the last few years has been a utter & complete disaster.
April 16th, 2015 at 7:17 am
“And to everyone’s surprise, it will be Mariota.”
That would be one of the biggest draft day surprises in NFL history!
April 16th, 2015 at 7:27 am
Something to get excited about :
by Kurt Streeter –
ESPN The Magazine – 04/14/15
“For weeks, Jameis Winston has been training in Solana Beach with George Whitfield, a former Division II QB who has helped a succession of first-round passers sharpen their skills ahead of the NFL draft. Winston lives with one of Whitfield’s assistants in a four-bedroom house with an ocean view.”
“His day began not long after sunrise, on the beach, with throwing and running drills orchestrated by Whitfield in cool ocean water that lapped at his waist. Here at the football field at Santa Fe Christian high school, there was more passing, the focus on technique and touch, including a dozen throws launched 25 yards over the head of an intern, who held a metal tennis racket as high as he could. Each spiral left Winston’s crooked-fingered right hand, arced gently over the top of the racket and descended into the arms of a receiver. Winston did it blindfolded.”
April 16th, 2015 at 7:32 am
#5
April 16th, 2015 at 7:47 am
get ready. the big trade down is coming! MG8 baby!
April 16th, 2015 at 8:01 am
@87,
I am on my way the fill the gas can. Bring a lighter and I will meet you at OBP in 14 days, just in case…
April 16th, 2015 at 8:03 am
Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge, we might see the fortunes of these two quarterbacks reversed — the ESPN analysts didn’t have many nice things to say about Winston today, and seemed to think Mariota was a better fit for the Bucs organization.
Hoge trashed Winston, calling him “slow, lumbering” multiple times and comparing him to Byron Leftwich, who was replaced by the quicker David Garrard in Jacksonville a few years back. He even had a Freudian slip at one point, calling Winston “fat” by accident (OR WAS IT?).
Also, Hoge says NFL defenses will eat Winston up do to his lumbering.
#DP #HGH #PEDs #BrainDeadRetard
April 16th, 2015 at 8:11 am
If the entire country was being led to believe that Mariota is going to be our pick, then I’d be much more inclined to believe that Winston will be the pick. I understand that it might not seem logical to hide your intentions so greatly when we have the #1 pick, but that’s just how our front office operates right now….. Think about it, can anyone name 1 personnel move that L & L have made where they’ve allowed their true intentions to be known beforehand? I sure can’t.
April 16th, 2015 at 8:14 am
Barry,
That brain dead retard you speak about was accepted academically to Stanford.
April 16th, 2015 at 8:17 am
@joe… You said during silly season not to believe anything we hear. I guess that includes some of your posts. I like your sight to get thee real skinny, I hope it’s not all about clicks.
April 16th, 2015 at 8:19 am
This is from last year, pre-draft…. seem familiar???
“Lovie Smith and Jason Licht love Johnny Manziel…love love love,” Zierlein said during his weekly podcast. “Lovie was there at his pro day, and he was there for Mike Evans as well, but I know that Lovie Smith loves Johnny Manziel.”
Zierlein, along with the other hosts on the podcast all said that they were surprised by this news, but Zierlein said he believed his source fully.
“I’ve been told that if Manziel makes it to seven, he won’t get past the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” Zierlein continued. “They think that highly of him.”
April 16th, 2015 at 8:24 am
The only reason they have not signed Winston yet is because they don’t have to. Why do it it serves no purpose.
I think they believe he is going to stay clean or they wont draft him, that is the only reason they wont IMO. But if he does screw up they can save face and say the so and so was their pick the whole time…
April 16th, 2015 at 8:28 am
To me, the writing on the wall virtually guarantees that we will be drafting Mariota. I know u Winston guys think I’m crazy, but I believe I’ll be vindicated in 2 weeks. U gotta admit, they would be right in line with their past behavior if they do Mariota.
April 16th, 2015 at 8:28 am
Bingo!!!
April 16th, 2015 at 8:29 am
Typo *draft Mariota
April 16th, 2015 at 8:30 am
YOU GO BARRY !! Every one hated dungy because he doesn’t like Winston in the draft, BUT !!If it was the other way around Dungy liking Winston they would be kissing his feet.And Jaworski I think just let it slip that the Buc’s are taking Mariota and had to retrack what he said to cover it up !! Winston will not go to the Buc’s.. Sorry Winston lovers and FSU !!!!!!!
April 16th, 2015 at 8:30 am
@clintro… Bingo, not Erik
April 16th, 2015 at 8:38 am
They’re doing it again Jameis.
Clinging to anybody they can find to make them think Mariota is the pick….
14 more days Jameis and you’ll be a Buc and all this nonsense will come to a screeching halt.
April 16th, 2015 at 8:45 am
I have it from reliable sources that the Browns get our number one and we get their 2 first round choices. In additions we get McCown.
April 16th, 2015 at 8:46 am
87,
You are blind if u can’t see what I’m saying….
It’s basically a lock that we’re drafting Mariota at this point.
I’ll take the current style white jersey size large. I want the white of the heat factor. Thank u kindly, sir.
April 16th, 2015 at 8:47 am
*Bcuz of the heat factor
April 16th, 2015 at 8:55 am
“Erik the WiseMMan Says:
April 16th, 2015 at 8:46 am
It’s basically a lock that we’re drafting Mariota at this point.”
It’s one thing to choose the longshot. It’s another to call it a lock. Your confidence is there, but, it will be interesting to see how you handle accepting being completely wrong.
April 16th, 2015 at 9:02 am
You Mariota hopefuls are so silly, granted I would not be too upset if we chose him, as i think both QBs will be great in the NFL. Nonetheless if posting that mariota is a “lock” , which is a downright crazy assumption, makes you feel better, than by all means keep at it
April 16th, 2015 at 9:04 am
You talking jerseys,put up that cash.
April 16th, 2015 at 9:07 am
L & WD,
Did u read any of my previous posts explaining my logic?
If the entire country thought Mariota was going to be the pick, I would saying that Winston is virtually a lock.
History is normally a good predictor of future behavior and L & L have consistently done basically the opposite of whatever they have led people to believe they were going to do(personnel-wise). That’s just how they operate.
Hence, #Mariotaisvirtuallyalock
April 16th, 2015 at 9:08 am
I got one. How bout we all meet up at “Petes and Shortys” draft party. I would love to see some of y’all faces come draft night.
April 16th, 2015 at 9:17 am
“Erik the WiseMMan Says:
April 16th, 2015 at 9:07 am
L & WD,
History is normally a good predictor of future behavior and L & L have consistently done basically the opposite of whatever they have led people to believe they were going to do(personnel-wise). That’s just how they operate.”
If they did the OPPOSITE of what is expected, they would pick another WR, like the guy from WV, that has not even visited OBP. What you are doing is skewing logic with personal opinion.
But, hey, it will make for an entertaining April 30th.
April 16th, 2015 at 9:18 am
pete and shorty’s sounds cool. should we wear name tags?
my white hood will probably be a dead give away.
April 16th, 2015 at 9:19 am
Who knows what the Bucs are going to do, but haven’t they already told you who they’re drafting?
Joe wasn’t it reported when Licht/Smith were hired that they wanted to be the Seahawks South?
Well that would be a dominating defense, dominating run game, and a mobile QB (Wilson). Now which QB is R.Wilson? Winston or Mariota ?
Mike Glennon can blow the wheels off Winston in the 40, so i’m thinking it’s Mariota or trade out.
If Bucs believe MG8 is the futrue then they most definitely will trade out.
#DP #HGH #PEDs #BrainDeadRetard
April 16th, 2015 at 9:24 am
Erik:
Analysts’ mock drafts mean virtually nothing year in and year out. HOWEVER; they usually get the first pick right. The last time there was a consensus #1 amongst analysts that was wrong was Bush in ’07. The more you assert your blind confidence in Mariota being the pick, the deeper the whole you’re digging for yourself when Jameis is called on 4/30.
April 16th, 2015 at 9:33 am
dirk koetter coached leftwich in jacksonville before switching to garrard. if there’s any leftwich in Jameis Winston, we’ve got the right coach to sniff it out.
April 16th, 2015 at 9:34 am
It will be so friggin funny, when the pick is Leonard Williams.
April 16th, 2015 at 9:35 am
Winston was NOT accepted to stanford. He was said to have been offfered an athletic scholarship. Those two things are not the same.
April 16th, 2015 at 9:56 am
Dan
You can’t use that on here…..you know, your brain.
April 16th, 2015 at 10:15 am
Dan
Stanford has uniform academic standards throughout. No different for student athletes. Whoops.
April 16th, 2015 at 10:32 am
Jim Harbaugh wanted the admissions standards lowered, but he only wanted them them lowered to what they were prior to a particular Stanford admissions dean who had unilaterally raised them and almost killed Stanford Football, hence the 1-11 record in 2006. The football program with a new admissions dean were able to work together and reach a consensus on more friendly admissions standards and processes. There is really no way to field a competitive BCS team when the minimum SAT for football recruit admission is 1100-1200 (two part) and 1800 (three part), which is basically what had happened at that time. Just imagine how many of the top 250 high school football seniors in the nation could meet those requirements (1-2 at best).
April 16th, 2015 at 10:42 am
Dan…Winston had a 4.0 GPA in high school and won a few academic awards for it to boot. So sthu with your nonsense.
What was your GPA in high school?
April 16th, 2015 at 11:04 am
That logic is slightly flawed. Remember, the whole country thought that Luck would be the pick of the Colts, not RG3.
You could NOT be any more wrong…
per uatrav.com (which, by the way was one of the MANY sties that i found, but had the most detail regarding this situation):
I’m sure you’re going to find some way to refute this, and when you do, please provide some actual source rather than just your opinion.
Thanks.
April 16th, 2015 at 11:14 am
@ Dan
You have no freaking clue of what you are talking about. ITs called google. You can get all the information you want. The below is from an article from ESpn back in 2012
Winston told ESPN on Sunday while in Austin, Texas, for the International Bowl, that he is still seriously considering signing with the Cardinal. On Saturday, Stanford coach David Shaw called Winston’s father to confirm Winston has been admitted into the school should he choose to sign there.
I love when know it all idiots make up stuff as if it is truth. LOL to the idiots
April 16th, 2015 at 11:15 am
Sorry, 87, but the fact that everyone in the country has been led to believe that Winston will be our pick pretty much dooms your fantasy. You would have a much greater chance if everyone was led to believe it was going to be Mariota. You have been duped.
#Mariotaisalock
April 16th, 2015 at 11:54 am
Hoping that Mariota is the pick. April 30th would really be a great night if that were to happen.
April 16th, 2015 at 12:00 pm
Erik the WiseMMan…you get even more funny by the day.
April 16th, 2015 at 12:00 pm
the Mike Evans pick was pretty much etched in stone before draft day but not as much as Winston… it will be a total shock if they don’t draft Winston & if so, who ever they draft over him better have a stellar career or at least as good or better than Winston or disgruntled fans will not be happy and the decline of the franchise may continue
April 16th, 2015 at 12:06 pm
Jacko…there is no hope.
April 16th, 2015 at 1:25 pm
Winston should be very happy that he chose FSU over Stanford because if he had done all of the off-field antics at Stanford that he did at FSU he would hasve been expelled
April 16th, 2015 at 1:32 pm
Inquiring minds would like to know… (did not google this yet), but when we drafted Freeman, how did that come about Joe? Did you have a Josh watch? Lol.
April 16th, 2015 at 3:13 pm
What if Lovie’s draft gamemanship possesses him to trade with the Chargers for Rivers and another draft pick (or two)? That would reunite Vincent Jackson and Rivers, plus give Rivers the most talented receiver duo he has ever worked with. Rivers has also worked with his fair share of bottom of the barrel O-Lines and has still been productive. Thoughts?
April 16th, 2015 at 3:25 pm
Pat…Joe was against the drafting of Freeman from the start….
April 16th, 2015 at 4:11 pm
Matt
Most rumors have any such trade involving Rivers happening with the Titans at no. 2 not Tampa at no. 1 but who knows I suppose you can’t rule out anything just yet but it’s certainly a long shot.
April 16th, 2015 at 4:24 pm
87,
The funniest aspect of this is that you and the other Winstonites think I’m wrong/crazy. – L.O.L.
#Mariotaisvirtuallyalock
April 16th, 2015 at 4:39 pm
Erik…just have the jersey ready on May 1st. That’s all I’m concerned about.
You can stay in Fantasyland all you want for the next 2 weeks…
Size XL creamsicle mens….will just fine pumpkin.
April 16th, 2015 at 4:53 pm
Tampa Bay Times – Matt Baker Times Staff Reporter
Monday, April 13, 2015 9:11am
Mock Draft Monday: “Jameis Winston pulling away from Marcus Mariota”
The final tally: Winston 17; The field 0
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/bucs/mock-draft-monday-jameis-winston-pullin
Erik…who’s right and who’s wrong? Those 17 “experts” or you?
April 16th, 2015 at 5:13 pm
Jameis Winston sued by sexual assault accuser.
And you think the Glazers want to deal with this crap?
April 16th, 2015 at 5:28 pm
Marcus Mariota is a rapist!
April 16th, 2015 at 5:44 pm
Bucs1987
Did he rape you? Then you should sue him too.
April 16th, 2015 at 5:47 pm
He’ll probably have some high powered lawyer anyways, paid for by the Jets.
April 16th, 2015 at 5:48 pm
Barry ….the Glazers have already spoken on that matter and are “very comfortable making Jameis Winston the face of our franchise”.
April 16th, 2015 at 5:58 pm
Bucs 1987
Why don’t we see the accusations that you created, “Mariota is a rapist” (way to keep it classy), in the real world like the ones we see written about Winston, the supposed “face of the Bucs franchise”? Mariotta will have NFL money too, right? Supposed “cleat chasers” have known that for awhile now.
April 16th, 2015 at 6:03 pm
WantstaStayaBuc…It doesn’t matter if he raped anyone. I’m saying it so it must be true. Just as Winston’s accuser. She says it so it must be true.
April 16th, 2015 at 6:09 pm
Buc1987
Oh, I see what you did there. Good one!
Again, I ask why someone hasn’t played the same trick on Mariota in the real world,as you are implying must have been played on Winston, the next “Face of the Bucs”?
April 16th, 2015 at 7:01 pm
Says, Willie Meggs, Florida State Attorney: “he was not exemplifying great character that night, no matter what the facts are.”
About the investigation he said, “Anybody, as my daddy would say, with one eye and half-sense knows there are some things that needed to be done that weren’t done,”
He continues (with WanstaStayaBuc replacing “FSU” with “Bucs” and “student” with “fan”):
“I don’t hold out a ton of hope that anything is going to be done with this federal investigation,” he said. “It is a decision the Bucs has to make about who they want playing football and who they want for their fans.”
Ladies and Gentlemen, with the first pick in the 2015 NFL draft the Bucs pick……
April 17th, 2015 at 10:24 am
just wanted to say i am from tampa lifelong fan,please don’t draft winston, mariota is no clean cut american kid.not some juvenile that brings worries of trouble rape accusation ,laws suits etc……….