The Rookie Is Magical
December 6th, 2015
Godsend!
Joe is sitting here at the Den of Depression press box staring out onto the empty bowl of the stadium — the grass hardly looks like a game was played just an hour ago — trying to put into words what Joe watched earlier in the afternoon.
Joe doesn’t want to get overly dramatic here, but damn, are we watching the birth of one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks before our very eyes?
America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, had a so-so day. That was, until the final offensive drive of the Bucs. Stalled at the Dixie Chicks-43 with a 3rd-and-19, the Bucs trailed by a field goal but were out of field goal range.
Jameis dropped back and was flushed up the middle. He ran to the 32 — well short of the first down. He appeared stopped by three Dixie Chick tacklers when Jameis squirted backwards, rolled right, turned upfield and somehow barreled past two defenders to fall forward for the first down, keeping the Bucs’ hopes alive. It resulted in a six-yard pass to Mike Evans for the win.
It was one of the most clutch plays Joe has seen by any player in a long while, and it came from a 21-year old rookie who so, so, so many called a JaMarcus Russell-like bust before he ever took an NFL snap.
Joe is starting to think not only is Jameis for real, but this guy really is the Magic Johnson of the NFL, a guy who is not just clutch but makes entertaining plays. He is beginning to turn out to be everything fans would ever want in a quarterback.
“God is good,” Jameis said of his 20-yard run for team playoff survival. “That’s what y’all come out to see.”
And for the slobs who screamed about his combine 40-time, just do everyone a favor and go play tag with trucks on I-75, will ya?’
Joe thinks it is safe to say the Bucs — for the first time since Doug Williams played in Tampa — have a franchise quarterback the team can rely on.
A new day in Tampa Bay is here, Bucs fans. Embrace it. So stand at attention and salute America’s Quarterback. He’s the Godsend who has the Bucs in a playoff chase.
December 6th, 2015 at 5:22 pm
Liked your article here Joe. But the picture Of Saint Jameis…I’ll skip about 50 comments I could make here.,,from positive to negative. Say dude..WE WON!!
BUCSNATION WON..that all I care about. Jameis played well. He loves winning. That’s good enough for me.
December 6th, 2015 at 5:23 pm
Team Jameis! Join the bandwagon!!! I’m in!!! We need all the support we can get, all fans are welcome!
December 6th, 2015 at 5:23 pm
Love when Jameis runs, reminds me of what Joe Cocker might look like if he took off down field, but hey, Jameis is a Keystone Kop but he gets it done, doesn’t he?
December 6th, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Delicious irony from the subtitle of beyonce singing the american national anthem
December 6th, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Years from now, we may be watching that play and commenting on how that’s when things turned around in Tampa!
December 6th, 2015 at 5:26 pm
The drama is needed to adequately describe Winston’s impact for the Bucs.
December 6th, 2015 at 5:28 pm
The rookie(s) are magical. Kwon was exceptional today as well. We could have the OROY and DROY in all seriousness
December 6th, 2015 at 5:35 pm
I also lov how Adam Humphries didn’t give up on the play. If you watch the play everyone except JW and Hump kinda relaxed. They were still fighting. Way to go. BUCS WIN!!!
December 6th, 2015 at 5:37 pm
I was reminded of that run by King/Dunn on MNF against the Rams.
December 6th, 2015 at 5:41 pm
Jameis is inching toward being a top 5 NFL QB in his FIRST YEAR. He was already top 10 coming into this game. The legend grows…
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9626566/florida-state-quarterback-jameis-winston-legend-making-first-seminoles-snap
December 6th, 2015 at 5:48 pm
you’re welcome for jameis christ.
December 6th, 2015 at 6:09 pm
I wonder where all the trolls who were comparing Winston to JaMarcus russell have crawled off to????? I guess the ones who were DC fans decided that Cousins are okay and the NY trolls are busy ripping on their own teams….
December 6th, 2015 at 6:11 pm
To you locals. Why all the empty seats? Seriously.
December 6th, 2015 at 6:21 pm
Someone ought to write a song about him, “Jamazing Grace!!”
Jamazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a team like TB….
They once were lost but now are found,
Were blind, but now, they see.
T’was Grace that taught…
Their heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear…
the hour they first believed.
Through many fumbles, flags and snares…
they have already come.
T’was Grace that brought they safe thus far…
and Grace will lead them home.
The draft was promised good to me…
His word their hope secures.
He will their shield and portion be…
as long as Lovie endures.
When we’ve been here ten thousand years…
bright shining as the sun.
We’ve no less days to sing Winston praise…
then when we’ve first begun.
Jamazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a team like TB….
They once were lost but now are found,
Was blind, but now, they see.
December 6th, 2015 at 8:24 pm
America’s Quarterback, Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston, had a so-so day.
May I respectfully disagree. I thought #3 had a so so game last week…he looked sharp all day to me. His int was totally on hands of stone…ASJ can’t hang onto a TD…our D comes up with a great stop and #3 had the team on the move again until Doug fumbled.
#3 was throwing it well today…alas with the Bucs that doesn’t always translate to success because of a WR with the drops and a horrible fumble and of course the usual fumbles.
December 6th, 2015 at 9:01 pm
@ Mike
I always do my part!
December 6th, 2015 at 10:35 pm
@St Pete,
I agree. I thought he was fantastic overall. You have to also understand that what makes our offense so effective also keeps Jameis from really going off. We run the ball so much (which is a great thing, don’t get me wrong) that it is very difficult for Jameis to really get into a rhythm. It seems like most of his throws are on obvious passing downs, and we almost never throw the ball more than a couple times in a row. In no way am I complaining, but if he were allowed to just sling it, he would put up crazy numbers. That being said, this offense is a joy to watch, and I hope we don’t change a thing. This is the first time I can remember when I literally expect at least a couple first downs on every single drive. I mean in my entire life as a Buccaneers fan (which is just a few years short of the entire history of the franchise). In the past, I was almost surprised if we scored. Now, I’m starting to expect a score on every drive. Hell, I barely know our punters name, where normally I feel like he’s our most prominent player.
December 7th, 2015 at 1:01 am
Amazing end to the game:) Get get em Jameis and Co.
December 7th, 2015 at 5:48 am
I love Jameis. Great game manager. 21 year old Rookie. A great attitude. He LOVES the game. He understands the emotional complexity of the game. I see him running onto field and i call him ” bobble head” . He just trots on with his head loosey goosey just swaying back and forth. I laugh every time. Go Bucs!