Jameis Winston = Aaron Rodgers?
August 11th, 2015
A certain NFL center compared “America’s Quarterback” to Packers superstar Aaron Rodgers.
It’s no secret how terribly irked Joe was by the tough-guy front Bucs center Evan Smith was giving “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston.
The longer time went on, the more hints emerged that there was rancor between the two, even from offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter.
Joe thought it was a sophomoric stunt by Smith, who probably took it a little too far. It would be one thing for Gerald McCoy or Logan Mankins or Vincent Jackson to pull rookie hazing stunts, but Smith? Please.
However, Joe did like how Smith recently came around and was complimentary of Jameis… finally.
But now word comes from Eric Adelson of Yahoo! Sports that Smith was waxing over the top about Jameis. Smith dared invoke the name of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in discussing Jameis.
“I’ve only been around two other quarterbacks,” Smith told Yahoo! Sports. “I played with one who was really good. He reminds me of a very young version of him.”
Aaron Rodgers is the league MVP and Smith made sure to hedge by saying, “Jameis hasn’t taken a snap yet in this league.” But the hint of a parallel is there in Smith’s mind: “When I first got to Green Bay, you could see the talent there, you could see Aaron was starting to take off as a superstar. You can tell Jameis has that potential.
“You see it with the brains,” Smith said. “You definitely see the arm talent. That’s one thing that will jump off the film at you. He obviously has a baseball background, and he knows how to throw it. But the anticipation on his throws is something that really wows you. Sometimes we watch film and say, ‘Wow that was a really good throw.'”
This is exactly what former Bucs Booger McFarland and Shaun King were trying to tell people before the draft, the exact same thing, and so many folks either refused to believe them or flat out ignored them.
Now, the lone guy on the Bucs roster who seemed down on Jameis early on, is singing the same song.
First, Joe applauds Smith for stopping the Harry High School routine. He apparently has seen the light: Jameis’ talents and tape. The eye in the sky doesn’t lie.
Jameis and Rodgers? If Jameis is just in the same area code as Rodgers with talent, Bucs fans will be in for a years-long thrill ride like this town has never seen before.
Joe is geeked.
August 11th, 2015 at 7:12 am
The football guys knew it, that’s why they were willing to overlook (although thoroughly investigate) the off-field nonsense.
The idea behind that article is the reason that I’ve firmly been in Winston’s camp. The potential is there for top-level NFL quarterbacking, and for a long time.
Can’t wait to him play.
August 11th, 2015 at 7:42 am
The talent was undeniable.
In the very begining, i was conerned about about the off field stuff( see Talibum, Smokey Jackson, etc)
But , after watching him
A) the talent was tremendous. Better(by far) than anyone since Andrew Luck
B) the off field stuff was greatly overblown- or a flat out lie.
Well done Coach Smith and Mr.Licht.
Getting this kid could well provevto be the Best move in Franchise history!!
Well done indeed- with thanks to Josh McCown, Gilbert Gilkey, and all other “contributors”
August 11th, 2015 at 7:45 am
Let’s stop comparing him to Rodger’s because he’ll end up not living up to expectations whatsoever. Let’s go back to the Jamarcus Russell comparison.
August 11th, 2015 at 7:51 am
Now this is funny
Joe hasn’t even seen him play a game and now he is another Aaron Rodgers. Too funny.
Joe will have tp close the doors if winston flops
August 11th, 2015 at 7:56 am
Get more excited everyday!!! And this is from someone who wanted Mariotta at first.. What was I thinking? At least I was never in the Glennon mob..
August 11th, 2015 at 7:56 am
Yes Joe he made one comment and you harped on it for months. Personally I knew it was nothing but some of your readers seemed to go along with you. Love this site but you have a tendency to over blow the smallest things.
August 11th, 2015 at 7:57 am
Intelligence and intangible leadership ability are his biggest attributes. The fact that he has the ability to throw as well is icing on the cake. If you can’t get behind this kid now then you must have a deep resentment based on the off field accusations.
Go Bucs!
August 11th, 2015 at 7:57 am
On a side note Mayock from NFL network will be at practice today and they will showing interviews on the show later..
August 11th, 2015 at 8:02 am
Winston will not flop. He’s wired for success. Fla State fans new this two years ago. The rest will know soon enough.
August 11th, 2015 at 8:13 am
Sweet Jamies! Lol, leave Joe alone… he’s/they’re geeked. I am too.
YO JOE!
GO BUCS!!!
August 11th, 2015 at 8:18 am
I don’t see the big deal about Smith being a hard ass with a rook.
All he wanted is for Golden Boy to prove it on the field, you know, show him something, earn it.
August 11th, 2015 at 8:18 am
This season, we will go 10-6! Mark my words, write it down, take a picture of it. I don’t give a … Tampa Bay all day!
YO JOE!
GO BUCS!!!
August 11th, 2015 at 8:19 am
I love the Jameis pick! I believe in the talent he has, his work ethic and positive attitude. He’s getting in his reps so he can fulfill his highest ceiling. EDS however….his new found absolute love for Jameis I sense is somewhat suspect. Such a quick transformation seems almost too amazing. Could management have sat him down and pointed out that his attitude needed to be adjusted?…that it was beginning to become a real negative to the team? Perhaps he has come to believe that there is really no choice if it came down to it and best not push management to choose between himself and Jameis.
August 11th, 2015 at 8:31 am
Even though I am optimistic and buy into the good things said about him but still he has to do it in live action. If he throws at least 1 td in every pre season game he plays we know we are on our way. None of starting qbs ever did much in pre season. The biggest difference between MarioTa and Winston is one threw to open receivers and the other threw receivers open. Ine ran because he had no patience to wait for someone to get open and the other scrambled to give them that chance then ran as a last option. One had no shoulders to carry his team on and the other was like tractor trailer and would carry the team to victory. There’s some things that can’t be taught at the pro level. Either you got IT or you don’t. Given time eventually one will turn out like RG3 and one closer to Aaron Rogers.
Oh by the way from what I got from Smith was saying was like a young Aaron Rogers. He wasn’t comparing him so don’t trip man you guys are redunculous!
August 11th, 2015 at 9:06 am
Words well spoken David and good morning bro. The key word I got from Smith was what I was stating over the weekend about what makes this young different what makes him special, extraordinary that computergraphic mind. Smith said his”Brain”is what has everyone scratching their heads. I told you all I will not let any of you over look what set this young man apart from all others. His brain to hell with physical attributes it’s his super brain that makes him special. The young comparison to a young Rodgers should only act as woah statement to the rest of this league. Sadly many of you are blinded to the fact of what we are on the brink of….”GREATNESS”.
August 11th, 2015 at 9:24 am
Before we start comparing Winston with (in my opinion) the best QB currently in the NFL, maybe we should wait and let him, you know…actually throw a meaningful pass or two and play in an actual NFL game!
August 11th, 2015 at 9:26 am
Joseph Mamma Says
“Let’s stop comparing him to Rodger’s because he’ll end up not living up to expectations whatsoever. Let’s go back to the Jamarcus Russell comparison.”
LOL. It’s funny but I think you’re right.
I wanted one of 2 quarterbacks in the draft. Mariota or Winston. I preferred Mariota (and it’s looking so far like it may have worked out either way), but now that we have Winston, I am behind him completely.
But I have a huge problem with giving him props before he earns it. I also have a huge problem with saying any player is “the next (insert name)”.
To me, a player should make a name for himself. Gerald McCoy is not the next Warren Sapp. He’s the current Gerald McCoy.
Winston has plenty of weaknesses (as does Mariota). That’s the straight up, honest truth.
But here is some more truth…so far, he’s doing all of the right things to address them. I realize, for example, that he has thrown some picks in camp…but unlike the alarmists, I feel that’s a good thing. He has always had a habit of staring down WRs. This might break him of that habit, because Dirk certain knows the habit is there and even Winston admitted it before the draft.
I give Winston props for being among the first players in and the last out. He is doing as great a job as is possible so far.
Come Saturday, we’ll only get a peek at him (one series probably), unless Dirk decides he needs the experience. I would prefer NOT keeping him in longer because the other team will be putting in backups after that and backups trying to make the team are going to hit hard enough to cause injuries (illegally most of the time).
Going to be hard for Winston to stand on the sidelines in the preseason, but it’ll be a chance for Glennon to shine against backups (if he is capable) and maybe we’ll get trade offers (doubtful).
My hope is that Glennon will win every preseason game and look like a superstar doing it. Because that will drive up his value.
August 11th, 2015 at 9:28 am
@DavidbigBucsFan
Mariota actually threw more on the run than he actually ran. So HE scrambled to get WRs open more than Winston did.
Just an FYI.
August 11th, 2015 at 9:31 am
As to Smith…ease up on him, Joe.
Honestly, I want Smith yanked out of the center position as starter, switched with Marpet, but I think you are carrying this a bit far.
You know what Smith treated Winston like? A ROOKIE!
I was watching Hard Knocks and a coach gave all the rookies nicknames…and told them they get their real names back when they earn them.
That’s essentially what Smith has done to Winston.
I realize Winston is your golden boy, Joe, but come on. It’s part of the process of entering the NFL.
August 11th, 2015 at 9:32 am
And, btw…those rookies on Hard Knocks? They said things like “I just want to earn my name back!”
They worked harder.
August 11th, 2015 at 9:42 am
Smith was never down on Winston’s QB skills. He was simply reluctant to embrace Winston’s cult of personality.
And when you have people like the Joes fawning and gushing over Jameis before the kid has even taken his first regular-season NFL snap, can you blame him?
Dude was just trying to keep it real up in here.
August 11th, 2015 at 9:44 am
IMO Mongo is a future pro bowl guard. I hope he stay right there. And all the let’s see him throw a real pass first people well you’re entitled to wait for that. Some of us don’t need to wait before we feel comfortable about what we feel as individual is going to become. I’m not a big fan of his but people clearly knew Lebron James was going to be great when he was 12 or 13 years young. Famous no different. And btw how many reports are mentioning any rookies working harder than Jamies? 0 that’s how many.
August 11th, 2015 at 9:46 am
i have to wonder how much of smith’s commentary was motivated by the backlash he seems to have gotten from media and fans. outlets like bleacher report ran with Joe’s storyline and EDS (“he has to earn the right” for me to acknowledge his name change) has been getting skewered by lots of people for the percieved issues with Jameis.
August 11th, 2015 at 9:46 am
@BuccaneerBonzai
I thought I read an article that said Winston will play the first 2 quarters. I may be wrong.
August 11th, 2015 at 9:49 am
not judging fans or judging smith, just wondering how much is genuine gushing and how much is just that he wants to stop being asked “what’s your problem with Jameis?”
August 11th, 2015 at 9:54 am
Yo Nole wutup wutup! BuccaneerBonzai thanks for that. Don’t want to be like some who spout off their opinions likes we’re supposed to take as a truth. I sit corrected. Sneedy16 yes sir you are correct that’s what was said.
August 11th, 2015 at 10:00 am
I find it impossible to believe Jameis will ever have a losing season. Brady never has. Neither has Rodgers or Luck. That’s what great QB’s do, win. That’s why I can’t believe the (what did you do last season) media types peg us btw 4 and 6 wins. Heck, even Joe says a 6 win season would be good!? Blasphemy, you should have to clean Jameis’s condo for a month for that.
August 11th, 2015 at 10:01 am
Props to the commenters writing essays lol.
August 11th, 2015 at 10:03 am
Evan Smith is the minister of keepin’ it real.
Do you want all the veterans on your team to breathlessly drop to their knees and worship at the altar of Jameis?
I don’t.
Your respect is mine to lose. You don’t have to earn respect, but you absolutely have to earn praise.
August 11th, 2015 at 10:04 am
I think Jameis will be good, how good, I’m waiting to see to find out. Who was on his bandwagon first? I think Buc1987 the heaviest, then Joe tied with FSU fans, then the onrush of the Jameis gang. We also have the wait and see prove it crowd and the don’t like him, never will Mariota fans.
August 11th, 2015 at 10:34 am
Economists live in a world of incentives and disincentives.
Monotheistic clergymen live in a world of rewards and punishments.
Jameis Winston lives in a world of touchdowns and interceptions.
Go touchdowns.
August 11th, 2015 at 10:40 am
It’s about time we hear Evan Smith being supportive. He is an average lineman at best.
August 11th, 2015 at 10:52 am
@Brett
“Average” is an aspiration for our o-line.
August 11th, 2015 at 10:58 am
Fsuking too funny man too funny!
August 11th, 2015 at 11:12 am
Bonzai:
It would be one thing if GMC, VJax or Mankins was the guy playing hardarse. Evan Smith, really? What next, Garrett Gilkey? Mike Jenkins?
August 11th, 2015 at 11:27 am
The guys saying “before comparing him to Rogers, we should wait for him to throw a pass” need to remember who is making this comparison. His Center. The guy who watches Jameis throw passes either live or in the film room everyday.
August 11th, 2015 at 11:35 am
And if we’re keeping track of who was on the bandwagon first, I’ve been there since he threw his first pass in his first spring game his redshirt freshman year at FSU, which went for a 60 yd TD. The throw was against Lamarcus Joyner (a then AA DB) and went to a walk-on WR. I was a fan prior to. I was all-in after that.
August 11th, 2015 at 12:06 pm
Word up daldevs.
August 11th, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Lovie wants to play Winston into the second quarter on Saturday. He said he would really like to see him do a 2 minute drill, but doubts he will get a chance this game.
August 11th, 2015 at 2:48 pm
Jameis Winston > Arron Rodgers. <- fixed