Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans are celebrating the signing of quarterback Tom Brady, as the six-time Super Bowl champion will now call Raymond James Stadium his home.
But with the signing of Brady comes the definitive end to the Jameis Winston era. The 2015 number one overall pick failed to develop into the franchise quarterback the Buccaneers had hoped for when they handed over the keys to the franchise to the former Heisman Trophy winner. Inconsistent play on the field, coupled with trouble off of it, led to just one winning season out of five with zero playoff appearances. Winston now hits the open market for the first time in his career.
And, if you wondered at all why Bucs players weren’t celebrating on social media after the Brady news broke, you can thank their love and respect for Winston for that. According to Jenna Laine of ESPN, several players were “refraining from reacting to the Brady signing out of respect for Winston, who was a valued presence in their locker room.”
Per center Ryan Jensen:
“Battling with Jameis the last two years has been some of the most fun I’ve had playing football. Not only did we become teammates but also good friends over the last two years. This business is always tough and just that — a business. I’m excited to see where Jameis lands. With that, I’m excited to go to battle with Tom and excited to see what he will bring to the organization.”
Remember, too, that Winston was a part of a group of Bucs players who went to former Bucs DT Gerald McCoy’s son’s Senior Night back in the fall when McCoy was in Carolina with the Panthers. Teammates loved Winston, and even though he may not be a part of the Bucs locker room anymore, he’ll still be a part of their lives.
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