Tag: Jameis Winston contract

It’s not an NFL Sunday without Jameis Winston throwing an interception

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston had an interception on the team’s first drive, but had a monster first quarter.

It started off as a joke, but it really does seem to be true: You can’t have an NFL Sunday without a Jameis Winston interception.

After starting off last week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts with an interception on his first pass attempt, Winston waited a few plays on the opening drive before throwing his first pick of the game.

That interception gave Winston 24 on the year, which tied him with Doug Williams (1979) for the second-most interceptions by a Bucs quarterback in a season. Winston, thankfully, isn’t approaching the 35 interceptions Vinny Testaverde threw in 1988..

But, as bad as that interception looked, Winston had a monster first quarter, throwing for over 200 yards with two touchdown passes.

See how Twitter tried to make sense of Winston’s big quarter.

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Good news for Jameis Winston entering Week 15’s matchup with the Lions

Find out why Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston could be poised for another big game in Week 15.

After throwing for a career-high 456 yards in last Sunday’s win over the Indianapolis Colts, Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston is now on pace to become just the eighth quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 5,000 yards in a season.

The downside to Winston’s pass-happy style is that he’s also thrown a league-high 23 interceptions, which has only fueled the debate about whether or not the team will bring him back next season.

Working in Winston’s favor, though, is the fact the Bucs are 4-1 over their last five games and are riding a three-game winning-streak entering Sunday’s game in Detroit against the Lions. If he can finish strong over the final three weeks, it’d go a long way in convincing the Bucs to offer him a new deal.

And, the good news for the interception-prone Winston is that the Lions defense is tied for last in interceptions with just five. Perhaps knowing that will give Winston even more confidence to fire the ball.

Still, don’t forget about what happened back in Week 1, when Winston got intercepted three times by a Niners defense that had three interceptions all of last season. Anything can happen on any given Sunday.

But. based on how well this Bucs team has been playing of late, I think Winston will have another monster game.

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One NFL expert predicts Jameis Winston plays for another Florida team in 2020

Find out where one NFL expert believes Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston will land in 2020.

The 2019 season has had the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their fans on Winston Watch.

The former number one overall pick, who is playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, has put up big passing numbers this season and is on pace to surpass 5,000 yards. But, he’s also thrown a league-leading 23 interceptions, further adding to the argument that Winston can’t protect the football.

While some fans may want the team to start over at the position and let Bruce Arians pick a new quarterback to groom, many experts are beginning to feel that a return to Tampa Bay is the most likely scenario for Winston. However, there’s one NFL expert who believes that while Winston will play in Florida next year, it won’t be for the Bucs.

Per Kevin Seifert of ESPN: Where will Jameis Winston be playing in 2020?

“Miami, to compete for the starting job. I understand the investment the Buccaneers have made in Winston and the benefits of his aggressive downfield nature. But I don’t believe that Bruce Arians, or any coach who wants to win, can tolerate a player who is leading the NFL in turnovers (28) in his fifth season. It’s an ongoing issue that is only getting worse. The Dolphins are the kind of team that might choose him for the short term rather than start a rookie.”

That’s a hard scenario to envision, but stranger things have happened in the NFL. Who could’ve predicted at this time last year that Odell Beckham Jr. would be a Cleveland Brown?

Still, the safe money seems to be on Winston under center for Tampa Bay in 2020, for better or worse.

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Field Yates says the Bucs are the best fit for Jameis Winston in 2020

See why ESPN’s Field Yates believes the Buccaneers will ultimately bring quarterback Jameis Winston back for at least one more year.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are riding a three-game winning-streak after Sunday’s comeback win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Tampa Bay has averaged 33.7 points per game in those wins, but, as usual, things aren’t always as they appear. Despite the big win over the Colts, the Bucs had to play catch-up most of the game thanks to early interceptions by Jameis Winston, who had his first pass attempt of the game picked off and then another taken back 80 yards for a pick-six before halftime.

Winston finished the game with four passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and three interceptions, bringing his league-leading total to 23. Fans have been wondering all season long whether the Bucs would bring the former number one pick back after this season. Some will say enough is enough and it’s time to move on, while others feel Winston is still the best option for a Bucs team looking to win now.

And, according to ESPN’s Field Yates, when it comes to the best team fits for 2020 free agents, Tampa Bay still remains the best place for Winston.

Here’s what Yates had to say:

“My own evaluation of Winston is that he is not a starting quarterback whom I’d feel comfortable relying upon for a full 16-game season because of his carelessness with the football. But after evaluating the Buccaneers’ ability to acquire a new signal-caller, seeing their recent comments on Winston and understanding their overall commitment to him over the past five seasons, I’d expect he will be back — with the franchise tag in play.”

It’s no secret that the Bucs brought in head coach and quarterback whisperer Bruce Arians to try and save Winston’s career. It’s certainly been an up-and-down season for the Winston as he adjusts to Arians’ offense. But, as former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer proved, things get better after Year 1 under Arians.

Tampa Bay is hoping the same will be true for Winston, should he return.

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This Aaron Rodgers stat puts Jameis Winston’s interceptions into perspective

A look at the career interceptions of both Aaron Rodgers and Jameis Winston will make your head spin.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers came back to win at home yesterday against the struggling Indianapolis Colts, 38-35, courtesy of a career day by quarterback Jameis Winston, who finished with a career-high 456 yards to go along with four touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown.

But, as has been the case with Winston throughout his career, with the good comes the bad. The Bucs quarterback also threw three interceptions, which ultimately resulted in 14 points off turnovers for the Colts. It seems that more often than not, the Bucs are playing catch-up or trying to atone for Winston’s mistakes. He currently leads the NFL with 23 interceptions (career-high), and while some people will say he deserves to come back to the team next season, others will point out the staggering number of turnovers he’s had since coming into the league as reason not to.

And, to give you an idea of just how big Winston’s interception problem is, you need look no further than Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers, who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2005 and sat for three seasons behind Brett Favre, has played in 178 games during his NFL career, starting 171. In that time, he’s thrown a mind-boggling 361 touchdowns to just 82 interceptions. Winston, meanwhile, has played in 69 career games, starting 67, and thrown 114 touchdowns to 81 interceptions, meaning he is just one interception away from tying Rodgers in career picks. Keep in mind, too, Winston was drafted 10 years after Rodgers in the 2015 NFL Draft and has played in 100 fewer games.

Winston could very well end up back in Tampa Bay next season if the Bucs decide to roll the dice once more on their former top pick. But, when you look at his interceptions, especially compared to other high-level quarterbacks out there, it definitely gives you cause for concern.

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Jameis Winston throws another pick-six and fans are losing it

Fans went wild on Twitter after Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston threw another pick-six.

This is getting old. Jameis Winston, who was intercepted by Colts linebacker Darius Leonard on his first pass attempt of the game today, was picked off again by Leonard in the second quarter, only this time, Leonard decided to do the scoring himself, taking it 80 yards for the touchdown.

That’s 14 points off Winston picks the Colts have gotten today, and, not surprisingly, Indy went up 24-14 over Tampa Bay before Winston connected with tight end Cameron Brate for a three-yard score right before halftime. Indy would get a field goal in the closing seconds to take a 27-21 lead into the half.

The interception was Winston’s 22nd of the season, and his miscues are getting out of control.

Fans let him know about it on social media. Take a look.

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Twitter destroys Jameis Winston after he throws an interception on the second play of game

See how Twitter reacted to Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston throwing an interception on the second play of the game.

Jameis Winston is using these last four games to make his case to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that he deserves a new contract, at least a one-year deal.

But, given that he entered Sunday with a league-leading 20 interceptions, it might be hard for the team to justify paying him to return, especially when you consider the Bucs have failed to make the playoffs in any of his five seasons.

And, given how the game started today against the Indianapolis Colts, Winston’s case for returning might be slipping away. On just the second play from scrimmage, Winston threw an interception while trying to get it to Mike Evans. The Colts took over and three plays later Indy quarterback Jacoby Brissett threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marcus Johnson.

See how Twitter reacted to Winston’s costly mistake (again).

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Bruce Arians dodges question about Jameis Winston’s future

See what Bruce Arians had to say when asked whether or not he thinks Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston should return next year.

The uncertain status of Jameis Winston has been the elephant in the room all season long for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Actually, it’s been more like an elephant sitting on your lap and refusing to get up.

Ever since the Bucs hired Bruce Arians to take over for Dirk Koetter, the biggest question has been whether or not Arians — the alleged quarterback guru who’s worked with players like Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Andrew Luck over the course of his NFL coaching career — could save the career of the former number one overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner, who is playing on the fifth and final year of his rookie contract.

Winston has put up big passing numbers this year, and could make a run at 5,000 yards. But, as has been the case since he came into the league in 2015, turnovers have been the biggest issue for the Bucs quarterback. So far this season, Winston’s thrown a league-high 20 interceptions, and since coming into the league he’s turned it over an NFL-high 101 times.

Today, Arians was asked point blank if he’d endorse Winston returning beyond this year if Bucs management asked for an evaluation this week.

Take a look at what he had to say.

(Per Jenna Laine of ESPN.)

“I’m gonna pass on that one… I’m gonna wait until the end of December.”

I doubt any of us expected Arians to come right out and give a definitive answer one way or the other, but it’s clear that these last four games will be the most important of Winston’s career. Even if Tampa Bay chooses to go in a different direction and let Winston leave, a strong finish to the season would be a great way to convince other quarterback-needy teams to take a chance on him, even if only on a one-year deal.

The Bucs welcome the Colts to town in Week 14 and then face off against the Lions, Texans and Falcons to finish the season. Those last three opponents rank near the bottom of the league in pass defense, so Winston will certainly get the chance to put up big numbers.

The question is, can he do so without turning it over?

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Why Jameis Winston could pass for 5,000 yards

Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston has a chance to reach the 5,000-yard passing mark given the opponents he’ll face over the final three weeks.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are just 5-7, but they’re 3-1 over their past four games and have been playing some of their best football of late.

With three of their final four games at home, the Buccaneers have a chance to eclipse the five-win mark for the first time since the 2016 season, when they went 9-7 (they’ve gone 5-11 the past two years).

While Tampa Bay was hoping that by this point in the season they’d have some clarity as to what to do with quarterback Jameis Winston, who is playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, it still seems as a big a question mark now as it did heading into Week 1.

Winston has put up big passing numbers this year, but leads the league in interceptions with 20. Still, a strong finish would go a long way in convincing the franchise to bring him back for at least another year under Arians.

One way Winston could do that is by hitting the coveted 5,000-yard passing mark. Right now, Winston ranks second in the NFL in passing with 3,659 yards. He’s on pace to finish with 4,879 yards, but could easily put up more when you consider his opponents over the final three weeks.

Week 14 will present the biggest challenge for the Tampa Bay quarterback, as the visiting Indianapolis Colts have the league’s 12th-best pass defense, allowing just 226.9 yards per game.

But the three opponents Tampa Bay will face over the final weeks of the season rank near the bottom of the league in pass defense: the Detroit Lions (30th), Houston Texans (28th) and Atlanta Falcons (26th). Remember, Winston already hung 313 yards on the Falcons in Week 12’s win.

Even if he comes up short of 5,000, Winston is on pace to obliterate his previous high for a season. But, will big passing numbers be enough to justify giving him another contract, especially when you factor in the turnovers?

That’s the question the Buccaneers are inevitably going to have to answer.

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Jameis Winston is on pace to obliterate his season high in passing yards

Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is on pace to throw for close to 5,000 yards this season. But, is that enough to save his job?

When Bruce Arians was hired in the offseason to replace Dirk Koetter, who had been the only offensive coach Jameis Winston had ever played for in the NFL, everyone assumed that the former number one overall pick would put up big passing numbers, but what he’s been doing this season deserves some notice.

Winston currently ranks second in the NFL in passing yards, behind only Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, whose numbers already account for Thursday’s Thanksgiving loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Winston is projected to put up 4,932 passing yards this season, which would obliterate his previous season high of 4,090 yards (2016). It’s not a stretch to say he has a legitimate shot at throwing for 5,000.

Winston already has eight games this year with 300-plus passing yards, by far the most in his career. To put it another way, he’s only had three games this season where he hasn’t eclipsed the 300-yard mark.

Even more impressive? He’s had four games over 350 yards.

The issue, of course, has been the interceptions, of which Winston has 20, most in the NFL. In the four games where he threw for over 350 yards he had nine touchdowns and nine interceptions, so as great as the passing numbers are on paper, they haven’t translated into big wins.

But that right there might be why some would argue Winston deserves at least one more season in Tampa Bay. It’s his first time playing in a non-Koetter system, so there are sure to be bumps along the way. He can put up big passing numbers as well as any quarterback in the league. But, his turnovers have him looking like Jay Cutler 2.0 to some.

Ultimately, the franchise will likely rely on Arians to make the call about whether or not Winston can correct his mistakes and truly flourish in this offense.

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