“I Think There Was Panic”
January 2nd, 2015
The “Custodian of Canton” believes folks who wear suits at One Buc Palace panicked watching the Bucs nearly lose the Chase for Jameis.
Not even copious amounts of alcoholic beverages over the past couple of days with friends and neighbors have shaken Joe’s memories of the win of a loss Sunday, when the Bucs nearly gagged away the Chase for Jameis and lost the first overall pick in the draft.
Watching the game unfold, Joe had the very same feeling he had when he was watching Lovie Smith and his then-Bears squad unable to beat the Packers in 2010.
That game gave the Packers a tiebreaker edge over the Bucs, leaving Tampa Bay home watching the playoffs.
The Bucs haven’t had a winning season since.
Well, per the “Custodian of Canton,” eye-RAH! Kaufman of The Tampa Tribune, folks who wear suits at One Buc Palace were sweating out the Saints game fro the same reason Joe was.
That was what Kaufman told the one and only Chris “Mad Dog” Russo on the station that bears his name, “Mad Dog Radio,” part of the family of sports channels heard exclusively on SiriusXM Radio.
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo: Was there a sense in the building about winning the game [Sunday] at the half because the No. 1 pick was on the line?
eye-RAH! Kaufman: Yeah, I think there was panic in the front office and in the owners’ suite. It was a very strange game, Chris. The Saints were sleepwalking. You know that game didn’t mean anything to New Orleans. They had gotten eliminated. They were embarrassed in the first half, and then all of a sudden down the stretch with the game on the line, and the Saints down by six in the fourth quarter, we look down on the field and we see Lavonte David and Johnthan Banks, their best cornerback, they are on the sidelines, Chris. They are healthy, and they are on the sidelines.
As Joe wrote earlier this week, Lovie didn’t throw the game. If the immortal Taverres King doesn’t hand the ball to Keenan Lewis for a pick in the closing minutes, the Bucs very likely win — and lose the Chase for Jameis.
However, Joe would not be surprised if Lovie got a call from upstairs (not to be confused with the coaches’ offices) and was ordered to start resting certain players.
It looked fishy, but it is a win for the Bucs and a win in the Chase for Jameis.
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:03 am
Jameis Winston will not be the Bucs pick and for good reason.
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:07 am
Chase for jameis….not only is that horse dead, it is being pounded into horse tartar….
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:14 am
Starship #5 Jameis Vick will be our pick…that is how we roll in Tampa….can you imagine the party next time Johnny and Cleveland visit…..Clear out the strip clubs to make room for the entourage….partyeeeeeeee.
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:17 am
Having rewatched the first half of last nights game, ultimately Winston reminds me Duante Culpepper. He was easily confused and frustrated by a college defense which was predicated on speed, not even scheme, they were confusing him because of how fast they were getting to him. He panicked and blew up, his maturity level is nowhere near where it needs to be, he needs another year of school, don’t be shocked if he stays and his numbers get worse, I truly believe he’s hit his ceiling, after watching a few of his games this season, he has gotten worse, not demonstratively but subtly he has regressed, it might be the talent level around him, which was much better last season than this, which means, by Joes definition, he’s not great because he’s not lifting those around him, but playing at there level, maybe it was those players from last season who made Winston great and not the other way around, as we watched this season, it wasn’t Johnny 8Ball who made Mike Evans look good, it was the other way around.
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:17 am
Winston will be a better pro than Mariota last night’s game did not erase the 26 other wins and game film. Lovie does not have the luxury of time or patience to develop a spread qb into a NFL qb. Winston is his only choice if he truly wants to earn / coach for his 20 million versus cashing glazer checks on the couch after next year.
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:18 am
Getting on the same level as your boy Johnny last year. Yes I know everyone forgets you wanted Teddy too but you didn’t have a fanboy man crush on him like You did with Johnny.
I may be way out of line and you may not post this but I am starting to think you are in the same boat as another Tampa journalists who roots for the Bucs to lose because it makes his job easier. You want people like Manziel and Wiston so it will make your job easier. I’m sure no one minds reading about Winston but let’s be objective and report on both sides of the coin. Love your site Joe(s) and I have nothing but respect for the amount of work you put into it would just like to NOT fish for info on Mariota on dozens of other sites when I can just come here.
By the way I haven’t really made up my mind on either one yet, so I don’t have a dog in this fight.
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:19 am
That game was never a “Chase for Jameis”…..Mariota will be the first QB picked in the draft, whether it is by the Bucs or not. What that loss did is to put us in a position to trade down for Jameis if thats what we want.
The Owners were concerned perhaps because they want Mariota…..if you are spending a #1 pick to be the face of the francise for years to come…..Jameis Winston would not be that face.
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:20 am
You mean the “Chase for Marcus”.
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:24 am
@jOE
THERE IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THROWING THE GAME AND DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO WIN. SOME OF IT IS EMOTIONAL AND SOME OF IT IS CALCULATED. EVEN IF IT IS SUBCONSCIOUSLY CALCULATED.
THIS IS KNOWN IN SPORTS CIRCLES AS THE PETE ROSE EFFECT. (AND KNOWING PETE, I WOULD GAMBLE MY FORTUNE THAT PETE WOULD NEVER HAVE INTENTIONALLY THROWN A GAME)
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:25 am
Joe get of Jamies do you not watch him has bust all over him bad attitude needs a lot of work at the QB position and well he is a shitty person. No Business would want his tarnished face to be the face of the company. It’s all over the only one still on that wagon is you and FSU fans.
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:30 am
I believe there may be more uncertainty now than ever……
Simple as that……..
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:31 am
Kudos to Joe for a masterful job of social engineering on JBF. Keep the flames of discord stoked by dropping Winston’s name this year like you did Manziel’s last year. Nothing gets a reaction from readers quite like the thought of controversial QB’s coming to Tampa…well played Sir 🙂 The real irony is Glennon will probably have put up better numbers in his limited year one and year two seasons than either Mariota or Winston will, yet fans can’t get rid of Glennon fast enough.
Dude, there is no “social engineering” here. Joe loves Winston as the Bucs pick. Joe likes Mariota. But Joe is not going to be some lukewarm pansy on the subject. Sports are supposed to be about fun and passion and winning and losing. That goes for the offseason, as well. Sometimes Joe is on the money. Sometimes he is not. Same is true for every other Bucs fan. –Joe
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:32 am
Honestly, I think that the fact that the team passed on both Manziel and Bridgewater last year to go with the player that they knew was going to be really good in the league (they were right) says that they aren’t prone to over valuing QBs. There’s nothing I’ve seen or heard about Licht that indicates that he’s someone who would over invest on a marginal QB. Just the opposite actually. No doubt that we get a QB, I just don’t think it’ll be either of the 2 front runners and I really don’t think it’ll be at #1
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:37 am
Mariota has to be the pick are you kidding joe stop on winston he is playing baseball
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:38 am
There was definite panic amongst fans on the JBF open thread. We almost lost at losing. Mediocrity is shameful thing when it starts to manifest itself. Everyone thought we were headed in the wrong direction with Dominik/Morris and Dominik/Schiano. Man if those don’t look like the good ole days compared to the despair do-no-wrong Lovie and his lapdog GM have led us to. Mediocrity and shame. What a time it is to be a proud Bucs fan.
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:39 am
Tom…the only uncertainty left is whether we draft Marcus or trade down. Winston will not play another real game until the draft….and Lovie won’t put a guy in a Bucs uniform that will give him a bunch of crap on the sideline during a game, no matter whether it is justified in the name of “competitive fire” or just being an AH.
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:43 am
Joe there is no worry from you that winston plays baseball instead of going to the nfl ? Or Winston goes back to fsu next year ?
Why the hell should Joe worry? If Winston plays baseball, doubtful, then Joe would draft Mariota. We’ll have an answer in less than two weeks when underclassmen must declare. –Joe
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:44 am
@mark2001 – I thought it was pretty interesting that Fisher was threatening to bench the QB that was responsible for all of those late game comebacks when they were badly in need of a late game comeback. Whatever he was giving his coach an earful of must have been pretty egregious
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:45 am
I can’t take this Winston angle much longer. I’ll come back to this site roughly 2 months after the draft so I don’t after read all this stuff now and listen to Joe and for all the other Winston Guys complain about our new QB The Hawaiin Steve Young. It’s been real but the daily Winston Watch and all the other crap is way too much.
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:50 am
@NJBucsFan – I think that’s why the “Read More” button exists. If there’s a line of articles that you don’t like, you don’t read more. Swearing it off altogether seems a little extreme. Obviously, it doesn’t matter to me either way but I’m just not sure why abstinence is what you landed on as a solution.
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:51 am
Loe nose Jameis
January 2nd, 2015 at 9:53 am
Go poke around Joe and you will see that Winston is not even focused on the NFL but baseball and may stay for yet another year of college. (Pretty sure is own school wants him to leave). No thanks on risking not only his off field crap and his meltdown on the sidelines but be damned if we risk drafting a guy that won’t come here.. I’m starting to get the feeling both Mariotta and Winston will stay in college. Winston cause he’s a douche and needs to repair his image and Mariotta cause he’s just a good guy and probably wants to finish his degree. B
January 2nd, 2015 at 10:00 am
Can we agree on this….the number one pick is very valuable…it can be used to select the player you want….or it can be traded for multiple picks. We need a QB, OT, OG, DE perhaps a MLB, CB….
Either way we go, we will improve our longer-term chances of winning.
Jason Licht will be getting lots of phone calls….and offers up until the very last minute on the clock. Lets hope he is equipped for the task.
January 2nd, 2015 at 10:01 am
The only thing joe could draft is a chain gang
January 2nd, 2015 at 10:07 am
So my wife is sitting next to me watching the Rose Bowl and when Winston falls back and drops the fumble she says…”Oh, the Bucs just found their new QB.” I thought that was funny, but then someone tweeted…”Manti Teo’s girlfriend first career sack!” And I wasn’t able to keep a straight face when I thought about the game for the rest of the day.
Happy New Year.
January 2nd, 2015 at 10:08 am
I haven’t heard anyone in the National media say they’d take Winston 1st overall. I can’t wait to hear what the great Jon Gruden has to say about who’s the better QB. #MissYouGru
Actually, there are plenty of national types saying Winston has an edge. –Joe
January 2nd, 2015 at 10:11 am
“Chase for Jameis?” Yeah, dead horse is an understatement and where is Bobby Ramos when we need him?
Joe, why don’t you tuck this one away for a while until your boy does it again and has the local police after him? At least then you can use the phrase appropriately.
January 2nd, 2015 at 10:11 am
Mariota reminds me of Kaepernick. That’s not a compliment.
January 2nd, 2015 at 10:41 am
Scott frost people. Hire frost if you draft mm bc there is no way mm is going to have wide open rvcs every down in the NFL and if he plans to run he’ll be on IR by year 2.
January 2nd, 2015 at 10:51 am
I am curious as to where the stories come from about Jameis being a party guy like Johnny Football or J. Freeman, I admit I have heard some of the issues he has had, but never the ones about being a party guy. #passsion
January 2nd, 2015 at 11:09 am
Licht will most definitely put up a lot of smokescreens leading up to the draft. If Licht can get a ransom for the first pick, he might pull the trigger. He said many times since being hired that he puts an emphasis on value. Using the first overall pick on a QB that might grade out to be marginal as a pro wouldn’t qualify as value.
This could all be a mute point if the Glazers demand the first pick to be used on a QB. This would be meddling on the ownerships part, which is usually never a good thing. My guess is the Glazers really want a QB. QBs sell jerseys. A new, highly drafted QB gives the fan base hope. Hope is what the Glazers are relying on to sell tickets. Considering the total lack of success this teams had the past several years, I can’t see the Glazers being happy with another retread QB or a QB currently on the roster.
January 2nd, 2015 at 11:23 am
Bucs tanked the game.
January 2nd, 2015 at 12:15 pm
mariotta looks like the best qb in college but Winston looks like the best pro in college at quarterback, ill take either one even though I think Winston can run a pro offense on day one just don’t come here wearing josh freeman’s #5 trust me Winston you don’t want that problem
January 2nd, 2015 at 12:35 pm
To me Winston lost in the biggest game! Mariota Dominated when it was his turn. I as a fan did not like seeing Winstons emotions he looks like a player that will get frustrated when he loses and in Tampa we lose ! then you look at Mariota he never seemed bothered calm mind thinking looking observing the whole game. I like his leadership style.
January 2nd, 2015 at 1:41 pm
I warned Joe last year that he should be touting Bridgewater and not Manziel. I even brought up how Steve White & Shaun King – 2 former Bucs who actually know the game – advocated for Bridgewater.
I see stubborn Joe still won’t listen about these turnover-prone overhyped controversial college QBs. MARIOTA is the guy. Learn to evaluate prospect intangibles and you’ll stop embarrassing yourself every time you talk about the draft.
January 2nd, 2015 at 2:25 pm
If the YUCS choose Jameis, mark my words he’s going to play baseball. For the Royals at that.
January 2nd, 2015 at 2:28 pm
LOL Harsh!
January 2nd, 2015 at 3:59 pm
Obviously Joe learned nothing from his Manziel crush.
Jameis is the same thing with a little more physical talent.
They’re both loose cannons.
Mariota or trade down for picks.
Like a groupie from the 80’s Joe(s) love the bad-boys,
but the bad boys only ruin their lives and leave them.
Watch the Manziel saga unfold and see Howards correctitude.
This all very nice, but Joe must have written 50 times that Joe was eager to draft Johnny Football or Teddy Bridgewater. Selective reader. –Joe
January 2nd, 2015 at 6:47 pm
Reminder, That was Winstons 1st lost ever as a college qb…I think he’ll be ok…
January 2nd, 2015 at 7:09 pm
From what I gather from the comments lately this will be a lonely site between the draft and say week 5 when the readers who wants to draft Oregons whole offense with the #1 return to watch Jameis fire up Tampa with his passion and lead us to a winning record.
Until then Joe it’s you and me!
January 2nd, 2015 at 8:16 pm
@Joe
If there is some substantial evidence that the Bucs tried to lose the game, could they lose some draft picks? Could the NFL punish the Bucs for an intentional lose?
–I hope not… but I am starting to wonder…
January 2nd, 2015 at 8:19 pm
P.S. I appreciate your fresh take and your willingness to stick your neck out on a player–that’s probably why people come back to read your site.
As far as QBs go, I don’t know enough to give a valuable opinion. My only desire is that we pick at least 2 OLine in rounds 2-4. Thoughts?