Jameis Not The “Face” (Yet)
July 21st, 2015
Not yet.
Joe knows that before the draft, the thin-skinned, scared midwives who curled up in fetal positions and sucked their thumbs at the thought of the Bucs drafting a quarterback, much less “America’s Quarterback,” signal-caller Jameis Winston, howled in protest.
Why — gasp! — Jameis might be the face of the franchise!
Of course he could be, if Jameis thrives like many think he can. How many garbage quarterbacks are the face of the franchise, short of bratty Jay Cutler and Robert Griffin III?
One man yet to knight Jameis as the face of the Bucs is the man who vocally proclaimed he wouldn’t have touched him with a 10-foot pole. And that would be former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik.
Yesterday on BSPN, Dominik was asked to name the face of each franchise in the NFC South. He was pretty consistent. Dominik stuck with quarterbacks. He selected Matt Ryan with the Dixie Chicks, Drew Brees with the Saints and Cam Newton with the Stinking Panthers.
But when it came time to select the Bucs’ face, Dominik couldn’t quite pull the trigger on Jameis. Instead, Dominik chose a man he drafted himself. That would be defensive tackle Gerald McCoy.
“It’s a little early for Jameis Winston but he will somewhat be the face of the franchise,” Dominik said. “But I’m going different here. I’m going with a guy who back in 2010, first round pick Gerald McCoy. Because he has really been the face of the franchise over the last couple of seasons. Gerald does everything right. In fact, he is the originator of the hug of the commissioner. And that means something, right? But with Gerald, he’s a consistent guy and if you know this about Gerald McCoy his first two years he had bicep tears on both his right and his left arm so he has had to fight through a lot to become what I feel is the face of the franchise currently.”
It’s hard to argue with what Dominik said. GMC was selected to the last three Pro Bowls. He is widely regarded as one of the best 43 defensive tackles, if not the best. GMC has a warm, bubbling personality and a seemingly permanent infectious smile.
In short, he is a fan favorite.
So Joe can see how Dominik went with GMC over Jameis. If Jameis ever plays just above average football, he could easily surpass GMC as the face of the franchise.
It’s what quarterbacks do.
July 21st, 2015 at 8:21 am
No surprises here!!! The Pop-star sticks up for his draft pick, and Joe parrots the “rockstar” !!!
With everything being equal it might just be ” Mike Evans ” as the face of the franchise. You know, that guy that can beat double teams!!!!!
July 21st, 2015 at 8:26 am
The Countdown: 20 Worst Buccaneers Personnel Moves Of The Past 10 Years — No. 1…….The hiring of Mark Dominick….
July 21st, 2015 at 8:27 am
Thought here is JW will have his work cut out to simply meet the expectations and preseason raves of the posters on this site.
July 21st, 2015 at 8:45 am
At least Jameis is someone new to look forward to, a new beginning at a vital position. Bumps and bruises can be expected, but right now his addition to the Bucs have the majority of fans pumped up.
July 21st, 2015 at 8:53 am
Dominik never said he wouldn’t touch Winston. However, he loudly and was the first to say that he would take Mariota. Don’t know where your 10-foot pole can from? Heck, the Dom at BSPN was the first I heard back in January saying that QBs would go 1-2 in the draft and was scofted for it. Stirring that big ole pot again Joe?
July 21st, 2015 at 8:53 am
Wake me up when September comes.
July 21st, 2015 at 8:54 am
“Scoffed”
July 21st, 2015 at 9:10 am
I always a bit shocked at how many fans don’t consider him a great player or fan favorite. Sure the people that called him a bust the 1st couple of years and said he’d never amount to anything slinked away and chanced their screen names. I still hear talk about how he never make big plays esp late in games and laugh at others how dare to point out that he tired from being on the field all game is often double/triple teamed.
July 21st, 2015 at 9:59 am
Just a matter of time. The euphoria that will ensue after the opening week win against the titans will be off the charts. We love GMC but in that league big time QB play inevitably gets you crowned the face. One win opening week and that title won’t be contested.
July 21st, 2015 at 10:26 am
One friggin win? Too F’n funny!!!! That is the funniest thing I have read on here and sad part is, it wasn’t meant to be funny. Serious man love will make men say funny and strange things.
July 21st, 2015 at 10:52 am
The Buc Realist Says
“With everything being equal it might just be ” Mike Evans ” as the face of the franchise. You know, that guy that can beat double teams!!!!!”
NO FREAKING WAY.
Evans still has to prove he isn’t a one year wonder. After living thru so many such players, I’m surprised you have not learned that lesson.
July 21st, 2015 at 10:55 am
Buc-A-New says, “wake me up in September”. Dis here guy here says , wake me up the second week in November and let me see for myself how cutsie any face of the Bucs looks then.
July 21st, 2015 at 11:15 am
Because he has really been the face of the franchise over the last couple of seasons.
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Hmmm is that a good thing?
You know, that guy that can beat double teams!!!!!”
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HA! It’s triple team realist get it right.
July 21st, 2015 at 11:28 am
@BuccanneerBonzai
The ” put up 2 solid years” is in my formula for who are great players on the Bucs. But the question is who is the “face of the franchise”. And to me I think of when the Bucs have their one national televised game, who are they going to talk about, who will the nation identify with and know? to me the choice then becomes . GMC, Jamies, VJ and Mike Evans. you can throw out VJ cause he is old.
July 21st, 2015 at 11:40 am
Agree that generally speaking a starting NFL QB is the face of that franchise, especially if the QB is successful.
Although I never considered Brad Johnson the face of the SB champs. And perhaps there is something to be learned. Who was the face of the SB team.
DB55? Johnson…Brad or Keyshawn…Alstott or Dunn?
Fameis will ABSOLUTELY be the face of this franchise if he wins. There is NO doubt. Fameis has a larger than life personality and a world class smile. He’s made to be the face of a franchise….if he can play as well as he did at FSU.
July 21st, 2015 at 11:53 am
@REALIST
“You know, that guy that can beat double teams!!!!!”
Just like WS99 said. It’s triple teams. Sometimes, even all 5 lineman collapse the middle and block Gerald all at one time too. Then they finish him off with the RB. LMFAO! Face of the franchise? $hiiiiiit!
July 21st, 2015 at 11:57 am
@StpeteBucsfan
That is easy! Face of the Bucs SB Champs? Coach Gruden!!!!
without Coach Gruden, no trophy!!! its as simple as that!!
July 21st, 2015 at 12:34 pm
You guys are so smart. All this time, I have been relying on my eyeballs to evaluate what’s happening on the field, and have been foolish enough to think that #93 looks to be a disruptive force for which offenses have to take account. It looks to my apparently-retarded eye like he is frequently penetrating into the backfield, forcing running backs to re-direct or pushing QBs out of the pocket. I actually even saw some sacks, TFLs, and a forced fumble or two. It’s amazing that I could have been so blind, since all of the brilliant posters on JBF here have made it abundantly clear that he is far-and-away the person most deserving of criticism on this team. He is clearly the worst player in the history of organized sports and deserves nothing but criticism and scorn. Never should he be praised and certainly not appreciated in any way whatsoever. He should not be respected and he should not be stealing valuable snaps from all of the vastly superior players that have been unfairly placed beneath on the depth chart. What a worthless piece of garbage Gerald McCoy is – clearly the one part of our team that needs replacing far more than any other. I am beginning to see the light!
July 21st, 2015 at 1:01 pm
Actually Joe, Heath Evans from nfl network said he wouldn’t touch Americas QB with a 10 ft pole lol
July 21st, 2015 at 1:26 pm
@Rich,
thank you sir.
July 21st, 2015 at 1:40 pm
LOL Rich…I think Sapp spoiled many Buc fans when it comes to the DT position.
There will never be another Sapp, but I think some fans use his success as a measuring stick when it comes to McCoy. It’s not fair, but some of us do.
July 21st, 2015 at 1:48 pm
Who cares who the face is, just win games.
July 21st, 2015 at 1:49 pm
@Realist
I guess I can accept Jon Gruden as the face of the franchise. IMHO there were multiple faces to that franchise which could very well happen again. I should say hopefully will happen again.
Last year’s Pats were one of the rare teams that is called great that has just one face of the franchise and Pete Carroll had to give Belicheat that game.
Now look at the Seahawks. Is Russell Wilson the face…nope just one of several.
The old Steelers…Bradshaw…or again a half dozen others. A documentary on that team revealed that the players all felt Mean Joe Greene was “the man” on that team.
I’d like to see us become soooo good that we have several faces…obviously Fameis…GMC…and if Realist want’s Evans that’s fine.
I’m hoping that we reach my ten wins and one and done in the playoffs. Next year we draft the studliest TWO DE’s out there in the hope that one will remain healthy and become great…yet another face of a SB contender.
July 21st, 2015 at 3:04 pm
Yes, GMC is the face of the franchise. Three consecutive Pro Bowls. He can dominate and sets the example with his work ethic. Jameis Winston can become the face of the franchise when he earns it. If he can lead this team to the playoffs he has a shot. The real face of the franchise is the fans. The people who constantly have to endure the onslaught of negative comments on how bad the OL was, and still is, with no depth. How bad our running game is, the Tampa2 is outdated and the defense has no DE or a safety. How Lovie can not coach and Licht can not draft. How this team is ranked 29th or worse by most sites who rank NFL teams. Yes, it has been a long time since this franchise was respected. We are due. Our time is now.
July 21st, 2015 at 10:16 pm
LOL I’m glad gmc could join us today Lol
July 22nd, 2015 at 9:29 am
it’s a short list. i think he and lavonte are the only current bucs who have been to a pro bowl as buccaneers