Tag: winston buccaneers

Peter King ‘really wants’ Jameis Winston to sign with the Steelers

Find out why Peter King thinks Jameis Winston and the Pittsburgh Steelers would be a good fit in free agency.

You read that headline right, folks. (Man, isn’t the NFL offseason great?)

While Jameis Winston certainly had a tumultuous 2019 season, the idea of him signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, as NBC Sports’ Peter King wants, seems a little far fetched.

Despite throwing for 5,109 yards, 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions last season, Winston’s future with the Buccaneers is cloudier now than when the season started. The team likely wants to see what’s available in free agency before making a commitment to Winston one way or the other. So, if Winston does end up leaving the bay, could Pittsburgh really be in the cards?

It definitely sounds like a crazy idea, but the more you hear King talk about it in his “Football Morning In America” column, the more sense it seems to make for both the Steelers and Winston.

Per King:

“I think I really want the Steelers to sign Jameis Winston. Sit for a year, get him ready to conditionally succeed Ben Roethlisberger, and if the interceptions continue in 2021, he’s gone after one season. Risky, but the upside could be pretty great. Now, the contract would have to be one Winston would want to do; he’d likely have a chance to play sooner elsewhere if he leaves Tampa. I’m just talking about a coach-player relationship (Mike Tomlin-Winston) dynamic I’d like to see. Plus, I’d rather have Winston on the rebound than Mason Rudolph or Devlin Hodges or a draft pick that could be used in a wiser way.”

Would Winston really be willing to sit for a year just to have a shot at the Steelers job? That seems highly unlikely, but if the contract is sweet enough it could entice him to at least consider it.

Still, I’d say smart money is on Winston returning to Tampa Bay, at least for one more year.

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Jameis is ready for ‘The Winstons’ to take over

See what Bucs QB Jameis Winston had to say on Instagram to his fiancee on Valentine’s Day.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston probably isn’t having the relaxing offseason he envisioned when the 2019 season started.

If things had gone Winston’s way last season, he’d have led the Buccaneers back to the postseason for the first since 2007 and earned himself a hefty new contract from the Bucs in the process.

Instead, Winston’s roller-coaster year, which saw him throw for 5,109 yards, 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions, has left him in a state of limbo as the Bucs continue to debate whether or not to bring him back.

Whatever the future holds for Winston in Tampa Bay, he can take comfort in the fact that he’s got a bright future ahead of him regardless as he and his fiancee, Breion Allen, with whom he shares a son, are getting married soon.

Winston took to Instagram the other day to wish his fiancee a happy Valentine’s Day. Take a look.

Winston noted last offseason how his fiancee and the birth of his son have given him new perspective after his off-the-field issues.

“I recently got engaged. Had my first son. And it kind of overshadows…once I had my son, it kind of gave me a new perspective on life because his birth, really overshadowed all the good and the bad. No matter about the accomplishments that I had in college, the accomplishments that I had in high school, or the adversity that I faced in college or the adversity that I faced in high school, his birth really just showed me a glimpse of what it meant for God to love us.”

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Michael Wilbon defends Jameis Winston after QB undergoes LASIK surgery

See what Michael Wilbon had to say about the timing of quarterback Jameis Winston’s LASIK surgery.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston had quite the NFL season, throwing for 5,109 yards, 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. In a contract year, you couldn’t put up more mind-boggling numbers.

The Bucs are now deciding whether Winston’s performance in 2019 warrants another year playing in Bruce Arians’ system. Several former players think Winston is poised for a big Year 2, noting how it takes time to learn Arians’ offense.

Winston seems to be doing all he can to stay in the Bucs’ good graces, even undergoing LASIK surgery recently to correct his nearsightedness. Many people have already made the joke that Winston has 30/30 vision, and some media pundits like Tony Kornheiser of ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” have wondered why it’s taken Winston so long to get the surgery, since he’s had a vision issue since at least his Florida State days.

Kornheiser’s co-host, Michael Wilbon, who has had LASIK surgery himself, defended Winston and the timing of the procedure on Thursday’s show. Here’s what Wilbon had to say when Kornheiser asked why it took Winston so long to correct his vision.

Per Wilbon:

“[He] might have had to wait. I had the problem since seventh grade. I got LASIK in 2003 or 2004… So seventh grade to 2003 or 2004 is a long time. You wait because it’s not available to people with certain ailments like an astigmatism, that LASIK could not address 15 years ago, but it can be addressed now.”

When Kornheiser asked Wilbon if the surgery changed everything for him, Wilbon replied, “Everything in your life.”

It’s definitely worth listening to the segment, which can be found around the 10:30 mark of the podcast.

There’s no telling for sure just how much this will improve Winston’s game, but I feel like him getting the surgery is a sign of his impending return to the Bucs.

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Jameis Winston’s latest Instagram story might offer a glimpse into his current state

This latest Instagram story from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston may offer a look into his current state of mind.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston was hoping the 2019 season would be the defining moment of his career, when he’d finally prove to everyone that he was worthy of being the first overall pick in 2015.

But Winston’s season was filled with extremes both high and low, as he threw for over 5,000 yards and 33 touchdowns, but also had a league-leading 30 interceptions. Now, he’ll have to wait and see what the Bucs decide to do with him since he was playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract.

The uncertainty is probably causing Winston some stress, since millions of dollars are on the line here. And, this latest post on Winston’s Instagram story might give us a glimpse into his current state of mind, which is to say, trying to maintain positivity through uncertainty.

Take a look.

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Add Trent Dilfer to the list of former quarterbacks campaigning for Jameis Winston’s return to Bucs

Add Trent Dilfer to the growing list of former NFL quarterback’s advocating for Jameis Winston’s return to the Buccaneers.

Super Bowl LIV is less than a week away as the San Francisco 49ers prepare to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Miami. Once the big game ends, teams around the league will start to look towards the offseason and free agency, hoping they’ll find that missing piece to their own Super Bowl puzzle.

For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who hold the 14th overall pick in April’s draft, there are a number of different ways they could go. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com may have had the most surprising selection in his first mock draft, with Oregon QB Justin Herbert going to Tampa Bay.

But, that scenario assumes that Herbert will not only be available at the spot, but that the Bucs would have definitively decided to move on from Jameis Winston, who despite throwing for over 5,000 yards this past season also became the first quarterback with at least 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in a season.

Winston was playing on the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, and the Bucs still haven’t decided — at least not publicly — whether or not they’ll bring him back in 2020. Former NFL quarterbacks like Carson Palmer and Steve Young have advocated for Winston’s return, with Palmer saying it takes time to learn Bruce Arians’ system.

And now, you can add former Bucs QB Trent Dilfer to the growing list of former quarterbacks advocating for Winston’s return to the bay.

Per Dilfer (via the Tampa Bay Times):

“I think you have to bring him back for Year 2 under Bruce Arians. You’re not going to get anybody better for next year. Who are you going to get? Marcus Mariota? [Winston]’s just a high-ceiling, low-floor guy. If he was a mid-ceiling like I was and low floor, it makes sense (to get rid of him). His good is like what’s really good for other players around the league (better upside). And everybody understands Bruce needs to own some of this.”

Was that a little dig at Arians there at the end?

Either way, Dilfer is saying what most people are thinking: even if Tampa Bay got lucky enough to get a guy like Herbert, it’d just be a step back for the Bucs since they’d have to go through the growing pains of another quarterback learning Arians’ offense.

If Year 2 proves to be a bust for Winston, then the Bucs can part ways. Right now, it seems like the most logical landing spot in free agency for Winston is right back in Tampa Bay.

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Steve Young says Jameis Winston was ‘spectacularly reckless’, advocates keeping him

Former Buccaneers quarterback and Hall of Famer Steve Young thinks the Buccaneers should stick with Jameis Winston for the long-term.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have to make a decision soon on the future of quarterback Jameis Winston.

The former number one overall pick had a season for the ages in 2019, both good and bad. While becoming just the eighth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards in a season, Winston also became the first quarterback ever to throw for 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in a season. Suffice it to say, the Bucs — and namely head coach Bruce Arians — won’t tolerate interceptions like that again.

So, while the team evaluates their quarterback and his future, they may want to heed the advice of one former Bucs quarterback, Steve Young. The Hall of Famer said Winston was “spectacularly reckless” in 2019, but believes Tampa Bay should stick with him, not just for next season, but long-term.

(via the Tampa Bay Times):

“I think they’d be nuts to turn the corner from Jameis. I think Jameis is their future. Let’s re-sign him and get him coached up, get rid of the recklessness. Let’s go all in.’’

Here’s the full video of Young advocating for Winston’s long-term future. It’s definitely worth a watch.

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Where do Shaq Barrett and Jameis Winston land on the list of top 50 free agents?

Find out where Shaq Barrett, Jameis Winston and Breshad Perriman find themselves on ESPN’s list of the top 50 free agents.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers found a diamond in the rough in linebacker Shaq Barrett when they signed the former Denver Bronco to a one-year deal last offseason.

Barrett had a season for the ages, leading the NFL with 19.5 sacks and shattering the Bucs’ single-season franchise record. Both the Pro Bowl linebacker and Bucs seem interested in working out a long-term contract, with head coach Bruce Arians recently saying Barrett “ain’t going nowhere.”

But, Barrett isn’t the only high-profile free agent the Bucs will have to consider keeping around this offseason. Quarterback Jameis Winston, who threw for 5,109 yards 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions this season, is also slated to become a free agent after playing the 2019 season on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract.

So, where do these two big-name stars land on ESPN’s list of the top 50 free agents who could hit the market? As you might’ve guessed, Barrett finds himself high on the list, landing at No. 8.

Here’s ESPN’s reasoning:

“Rarely has a player raised his value more in a contract year than Barrett did. After signing a one-year contract with the Buccaneers worth $4 million, Barrett led the NFL with 19.5 sacks. Although not all sacks are equal, it would be difficult to record that many without displaying some exceptional pass-rush skills and playmaking along the way.”

Winston, however, found himself further down the list, landing right in the middle of the pack at No. 25.

“All you need to know about Winston is that in 2019 he became the first player in NFL history to throw 30 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions in the same season. His downfield explosiveness is undeniable, but his turnover rate is totally out of sync with today’s passing-friendly league. It had been 31 years since a quarterback threw as many as 30 interceptions in one season. The Buccaneers, who have the No. 14 overall pick in the draft, might have no choice but to re-sign or franchise him.”

It always sounds like the Bucs are thrilled at the idea of bringing back Barrett and resigned to the fact that Winston will likely have to be brought back. While Winston was No. 25, the quarterback picked right behind him in the 2015 NFL Draft, Marcus Mariota, came in at 50.

For what it’s worth, wide receiver Breshad Perriman also found himself on the list at No. 40.

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Jeremy Fowler of ESPN warns Bucs not to give Jameis Winston long-term money

See why ESPN writer Jeremy Fowler thinks the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be unwise to offer quarterback Jameis Winston a long-term deal.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Week 17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons ended in the only way it could have: a Jameis Winston pick-six.

The former No. 1 overall pick, who played this past season on the fifth and final year of his rookie contract in a “prove it” year, became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in the same season. Not only that, but he also became just the eighth quarterback ever to throw for 5,000 yards in a season.

But a 7-9 finish meant the Buccaneers missed the playoffs for the 12th-straight season, and with Winston as their quarterback, they’ve had just one winning year, 2016 when they were a surprising 9-7.

The Bucs have indicated they are leaning towards bringing Winston back for at least one more year. But, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN says, giving Winston long-term money would be a bad idea.

“The Bucs have the best free-agent class seven wins can buy in Winston, Jason Pierre-Paul, Ndamukong Suh and Shaq Barrett. Tampa Bay has smartly maintained one of the league’s youngest rosters while carving out healthy cap space, but keeping that defensive front seven together is prudent business. Since teams are allowed to double up with the use of franchise and transition tags in 2020 via the CBA transition, maybe use them on Winston and Barrett, while going all-in on a run for the playoffs next season. But don’t give Winston long-term money; you’d be competing against yourselves in that particular market.”

I doubt anyone is expecting the Bucs to actually give Winston a long-term deal. As impressive as it is that he threw for over 5,000 yards, he really has done nothing to warrant a long-term contract. No playoff appearances. An off-the-field incident that led to a suspension. One winning season.

Tampa Bay is likely hoping Winston will have a big Year 2 under Bruce Arians like Carson Palmer did. If they use either tag on him and he under-performs, it ultimately won’t hurt them in the long run financially.

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A friendly reminder that Bruce Arians came out of retirement to work with Jameis Winston

A reminder that Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach cited working with Jameis Winston as one of the reasons he came out of retirement.

Tomorrow marks the end of the 2019 regular season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and it’s been a roller coaster ride to say the least.

The team started off 3-7, including a 1-4 record on their brutal five-game stretch away from Raymond James Stadium, which saw them travel to Los Angeles, New Orleans, London, Tennessee and Seattle.

But, over the past month, Tampa Bay has looked more and more like the team we expected to see under first-year coach Bruce Arians. The young defense, which was atrocious at times in the beginning of the year, is finally starting to come together, while the offense ranks third in the league in scoring.

At 7-8, the Bucs have a chance to finish at .500 with a win tomorrow at home over the Atlanta Falcons. That’s a far cry from the 5-11 record the Bucs have finished with the last two seasons. While the team may not be going to the playoffs this year, there’s a lot to look forward to.

And, while some will argue that the Bucs should try and find another option at quarterback due to Jameis Winston’s 28 interceptions (most in the league), he’s shown enough progress this year that the Bucs are likely bringing him back for one more go.

Plus, Winston was one of the big reasons Arians came out of retirement in the first place, as Sports Illustrated pointed out today.

“When Arians came out of retirement to take the Bucs job, he made it clear that working with Winston was a big part of that decision. At this point in his career, it would be understandable if Arians didn’t want to start over with a new quarterback after just one season with Winston.”

Winston needs just 92 more passing yards to reach 5,000 on the season. He’ll be without his top two receivers, but that shouldn’t be a problem for the pass-happy Bucs QB.

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Jameis Winston could be in for a big Week 16 performance

See why Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston could be primed for a big day in Week 16 against the Houston Texans.

With just two games left in the regular season, the 7-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a shot at finishing the season above .500 for the first time since 2016.

The Bucs are riding a four-game winning-streak heading into Saturday’s Week 16 matchup with the Houston Texans, who can clinch the AFC South with a win over Tampa Bay.

While the Bucs have played their best football of the season over the past month, they’ll be shorthanded on offense Saturday with both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin sidelined with hamstring injuries. That means if quarterback Jameis Winston is going to continue his march towards 5,000 yards, he’ll need the help of some reserves.

The good news, though, for Winston is that he’s played in well in Week 16 games over the course of his career. In his four prior Week 16 games, Winston has averaged 318.8 yards per game, while throwing for a combined six touchdowns and three interceptions. Winston needs just 427 passing yards over the final two games to get to 5,000, so if he can hit his Week 16 average against a susceptible Texans secondary, that’d bring him that much closer to history.

The bad news for Winston? The Bucs are 0-4 in Week 16 with him under center. So, while it could be a big statistical day for the former Heisman Trophy winner, it could also be the end of the Bucs’ winning-streak.

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