Brian Hoyer, Jameis Winston And The Bucs
February 16th, 2017
Will Bucs do everything for Jameis?
Team Glazer, Jason Licht and Dirk Koetter have philosophical decisions to make.
First, they must decide whether they will pursue every possible angle to enhance the football intelligence and development of America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston.
If so — and it should be a no-brainer — then the Bucs need a new backup quarterback. The guy would be a veteran QB who can challenge Jameis’ perspective and knowledge — and a guy who can still win a couple of football games if necessary.
Ryan Griffin, the QB collecting a paycheck as the Bucs’ No. 3 the last past two seasons, is not that guy. No chance.
Joe’s going to take a wild guess and say Jameis already has learned as much as he’s ever going to from Griffin, who spent chunks of two seasons behind Drew Brees with the Saints.
Mike Glennon is likely gone in free agency (though he’d be wise to take a long-term backup deal from the Bucs) and the Bucs should look for an A-list backup.
And that goes back to the approach of Team Glazer, Licht and Koetter. If the Bucs believe they’re a playoff contender, then shouldn’t they upgrade at the No. 2 QB slot?
Griffin has never taken a regular-season snap. Why put a playoff-caliber team (if the Bucs brass believes that) in that potential situation when it’s unnecessary?
Brian Hoyer is about to hit free agency. The 31-year-old journeyman was 6-8 as an backup starter for the Bears and Texans (combined) over the past two seasons. In 2014, he won seven games with the Browns — the Browns! — an amazing feat.
Hoyer, 31, spent three years with Tom Brady and has been on five teams. He’s also a fiery competitor.
There’s no doubt in Joe’s mind that Hoyer is the kind of guy who would benefit 23-year-old Jameis. And, yes, it’s still all about Jameis.
February 16th, 2017 at 10:24 am
Man, I can’t believe Brian Hoyer is 31 already.
I’m feeling pretty old…
February 16th, 2017 at 10:26 am
I would rather have a developmental guy if we only keep 2 QBs.
February 16th, 2017 at 10:33 am
I agree Bonzai- but I also agree with Joe that Griffin is not THAT guy. I would like to see us draft someone the 6th or seventh is there is a guy that slips. OTW a serviceable veteran like a Derek Anderson-type guy is my preference. Hoyer would fit that. If Glennon was smart, he would sign a 4 year deal for 4 million a year and hold a clipboard. No concussions, no broken bones, just bathing in cash.
February 16th, 2017 at 10:34 am
That’s not the point of the post bonzai. The thought is to get a knowledgeable quarterback to help develop our still developing superstar. And if god forbid we have to resort to our number two qb, hoyer has proven he’s not the worst option out there.
February 16th, 2017 at 10:39 am
We have invested two years in Griffin for a reason…..he took a roster spot as a 3rd QB the entire period.
I think it is very unlikely we will make any change there.
You can question the wisdom of that…..but the intention to keep Griffin in a backup role going forward is very clear.
February 16th, 2017 at 10:46 am
Gotta disagree Bonzai. If Jameis goes down, the season is over. I’d rather have that investment into an asset that can make him better
February 16th, 2017 at 10:51 am
Really like this line of thinking Joe, would love to have Hoyer back him up for those exact reasons.
February 16th, 2017 at 10:51 am
I like this idea. Hoyer is capable enough and smart enough. It’s an upgrade from Glennon to boot. And this is a former MGMer saying that too!!
February 16th, 2017 at 11:01 am
What we need is a Steve DeBerg type. Hoyer might just fit that bill. Then get a rookie with a late, late pick or an UDFA to be your practice squad.. um I mean developmental guy.
February 16th, 2017 at 11:02 am
I’d be down with Hoyer…he’s decent in a pinch. I’m more than fine with The Giraffe galloping away. From the minute he was drafted by the DirtStar and Italian Stallion…Buc football has been bad…like dumpster fire bad until the 2nd half of 2016. Plus…he’s one fugly fella to watch play and/or hold a clipboard.
February 16th, 2017 at 11:05 am
Not a bad idea Joe. But you know who I’d really like to come work with JW? Kirk Warner! I wish he was the QB coach cuz coach B is hot garbage. Kirk loves JW and maybe he can help JW get to the next level.
February 16th, 2017 at 11:08 am
Or even his brother and new Hall of Famer Kurt would work 😉
February 16th, 2017 at 11:13 am
DB
And he’s from the great northern state of Iowa!!!
February 16th, 2017 at 11:21 am
Griffin is not an NFL qb. Let him go.
February 16th, 2017 at 11:29 am
There is an interesting list of FA’s on MSN this morning.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/ten-underrated-nfl-free-agents-who-will-rake-in-big-money/ar-AAn1eLX?li=BBnba9I&ocid=mailsignout#page=2
February 16th, 2017 at 11:43 am
Really–F%&**^King stupid
NO! just spend an extra 10 million and get Djax then spend it all again and get his buddy Garcon then draft D!
February 16th, 2017 at 11:44 am
SB- I would sign Woods, Stills (though I don’t like his hands), Wagner, Jefferson, Short. If Sweazy is still injured- TJ Lang too. We can afford most all of these guys
February 16th, 2017 at 11:44 am
Jon and clod
Lmao, ty gents. Clod I’m still rotfl.
February 16th, 2017 at 11:45 am
Hmmm, someone to mentor Jameis huh? Didn’t I read a couple weeks ago that the Browns released Josh McCown?
February 16th, 2017 at 12:08 pm
Before anybody takes my head off I’m not suggesting that Brian Hoyer is the equal of #3. But he’s also not MG8. In Hoyer’s mind he may “accept” the backup position but he will be playing his backside off trying to look better than #3.
He’s too fiery a competitor to just simply accept his fate in life. He’d go down with a fight and that’s great. Nothing wrong with somebody inspired to put as much heat on #3 as possible. Competition is good for EVERYBODY!
I’m neither an MG8 mobster nor a trasher…but I do think it’s fair to say that MG8 never viewed himself as competition for #3. That may be pragmatism but to h with pragmatism..Hoyer will not be pragmatic…he’ll be competitive.
But…..it’s all about the $$$. I hear Bucbybirth…we need to FIRST make sure we have #weaponsforJameis.
February 16th, 2017 at 12:26 pm
If I were Hoyer and I had any aspirations of having a chance to start in the NFL there are about 10 teams I wouldn’t sign with and Tampa is one of them. If he’s resigned to the fact that he will be toting a clip board this fall why not? I know it’s fun to dream in the off season about every FA you want on the team but just because we want them doesn’t mean they want us.
February 16th, 2017 at 12:32 pm
Brian Hoyer = #Weapons for Winston in the classroom and on the field as a competitor. Iron sharpens Iron, GO BUCS!!!
February 16th, 2017 at 12:44 pm
I was thinking Brian Hoyer or Ryan Fitzpatrick. I would take either of them over Glennon and Griffin.
February 16th, 2017 at 1:59 pm
it think we should go get Johnny manzail trade jamous winston for a 2nd round pick and then sign adrian peterson to a 2 year 70 million doller deal he deserves it and then see if aaron hernandez can get on parole and pley or us
February 16th, 2017 at 2:33 pm
How do the Bucs know what they have in Griffin?
Premature ejection of QB3…IMO
February 16th, 2017 at 2:47 pm
I’d rather have “The Cannon” back over Hoyer.
February 16th, 2017 at 3:20 pm
BuccaneerByBirth Says
“Gotta disagree Bonzai. If Jameis goes down, the season is over. I’d rather have that investment into an asset that can make him better.”
I understand your point…but there is one thing I am fully against, decisions based upon fear. And essentially, that’s what you suggest…that we should fear Jameis going down.
Consider Bill Belichick. Does he go looking for these guys in fear that Brady will go down? It’s a valid concern at Brady’s age. But no, he does not. He drafts guys and develops them. And if they get a shot to play, they do well and he gets trade value for them.
This whole idea that Jameis needs a veteran behind him is a myth. We have a head coach who is a quarterback guru for a reason. Jameis gets his exposures to veterans during the off seasons.
And besides…I question that Hoyer is a ‘a fiery competitor’ as J0E claims. I’ve never seen that at all.
Can Griffin win games? Well, isn’t that up to Koetter, our guru, to assure? If not, then draft a QB or sign an undrafted QB to replace him. But these horrible QBs float around the league getting paid as backups without earning the money. Cut the line and move on. Bring in new talent that might just earn a spot.
February 16th, 2017 at 3:25 pm
i think a veteran QB would be wise. all the consternation about what happens if your starter goes down….Hoyer even at his most mediocre would be perhaps the 3rd best QB the bucs have seen since Garcia left town. Just as importantly, a veteran backup you can trust, mostly resting his old bones on the bench and adding value to installs and meetings, gets you out of this 3 QBs on the 53 man roster nonsense
February 16th, 2017 at 4:10 pm
@jackson
I thought u were serious until I read 2 years 70mil. I thought u were just a JW3 hater. Lol
February 16th, 2017 at 4:36 pm
Licht has this delusion that he’s going to develop trade value for Ryan Griffin through preseason hype. He’s young, mobile….studying behind a “future star” in Winston….basically attempt to do what the Patriots do with their back ups.
Personally, i want a veteran game manager at back up vs a developmental project.
February 16th, 2017 at 4:59 pm
I’d say the Bucs keeping Griffin on the roster as a 3rd QB for 2 full years says a lot about what they think of him. Think about it – an extra roster spot for 2 full years is a pretty big investment to make if you are just going to cast that guy aside at the conclusion of it.
I’d be surprised to see the Bucs make a major investment at QB#2 if Glennon goes elsewhere. I think they WOULD invest a decent chunk of $ in Glennon if he will return because he’s been here and he knows the system so well – but there are obviously limits to that and the market will probably dictate that Glennon goes elsewhere.
Ryan Griffin is likely your backup QB for the foreseeable future folks. Assuming that turns out to be the case – lets all get behind him and hope he takes a nice step forward this year. Truth be told we havent even seen that much of Griffin so I’m not sure why so many are down on him already. He looked as good or better than Glennon last pre-season IMO – but that aint saying much… Glennon did not help his stock much last pre-season which is why no decent trade offers for him came last season.
February 16th, 2017 at 9:52 pm
Maybe the reason we kept Griffin on our roster for two years is due to the fact that we were trying (hoping) for that second round draft pick for Glennon? This might just be common sense talking, but if we didn’t have Griffin and we did in fact trade Glennon, then that would mean we would have had one QB on the roster. And then what happens if that one QB got injured? Didn’t think anyone here likes the druggernaut enough to put him under center….