“It Is Like Running For President”
April 8th, 2015
Grilling “bible school camp counselors?”
As politically aware Americans know, prominent politicians are thoroughly vetted via media and swarms of investigators from their own parties and rival parties. The truth is available — if you choose to find it.
But those truths don’t matter much. Serial adulterers, former drunks and socialists still score big national victories.
Jameis Winston’s private quarterbacks coach, George Whitfield, has watched his share of presidential elections, and he sees comparisons to what his prized student is going through.
Whitfield talked to The Tennesseean about what he’s witnessed.
“Everyone has done their due diligence on Jameis. Everyone from his elementary school teachers to vacation bible school camp counselors, high school coaches to even some of the cooks at Florida State have been vetted,” Whitfield said. “All of them, team bus drivers from high school and college and the private black car company drivers who picked him up for the Heisman (ceremony), they’ve all been vetted. It is incredible, really. It is like running for president.
“People are trying to get a true sense of him. I feel 100 percent about him. He’s an incredible kid. He’s had a storyline in the last year and a half, and he’s had some very public learning moments along the way. But in terms of the young man and teammate and someone you can learn from, he is incredible.”
Hmm, “bible school camp counselors?” Were the Bucs trying to find out if Winston munched on a roll before saying grace? B
Buccaneers officials claim an unprecedented amount of research has been done in preparation for their No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Joel Glazer told Joe the Bucs are comfortable with Winston being that pick and the subsequent face of the franchise. Glazer easily could have said more homework was needed on all prospects. But no, he went all-in on Winston (and Marcus Mariota).
So it seems Winston has passed his presidential vetting. What it all means, though, is unclear. Like any 21-year-old rookie with a seven-figure signing bonus, Winston could do one stupid thing this summer and screw himself and his team.
Regardless, Joe’s vote has been cast. Winston is the choice. Joe’s not trying solve the world’s problems or force people to buy medical insurance, Joe just wants to win a home game, wear Bucs gear without enduring ridicule, and watch his beloved team play in January.
Winston offers the best and fastest shot at that, especially under the current Bucs coaching staff.
April 8th, 2015 at 12:12 pm
#5
April 8th, 2015 at 12:13 pm
As unlikely as it seems I’m 100% sure Winston would make a better president than the two choices presented up in 2016. Not even close!
April 8th, 2015 at 12:15 pm
“Joe just wants to win a home game.” Let’s stop there and not get ahead of ourselves. #babysteps
April 8th, 2015 at 12:23 pm
Koetter is all smiles with the duck and all business with the winner. Never trust a falcon is all I’m saying. We NEED the winner, not just for what he does on the grid iron but more importantly for what he does OFF-the-FIELD. His energy, man this fanbase needs to have a tiny bit of fun. If not we may all need to use our gov mandated insurance. #deadpool #heartstints #denofdepression
April 8th, 2015 at 12:26 pm
Just read that “Winstons camp” is getting “impatient” and would like “confirmation” about what Tampa plans on doing with the number 1 pick…..ya that should sit real well with Lovie.
April 8th, 2015 at 12:27 pm
I want something novel….
I want a offense that can score at will.
I want the scoreboard operators fingers to fall off.
I want to hear complaints that they are out of charges for the ship’s cannons by half time from over use.
Is that too much to ask for?
April 8th, 2015 at 12:27 pm
Nobody knows if he passes until the end of this month.
Notice that the paper quoted here is “The Tennesseean”
No commitments have been made to ANYBODY
April 8th, 2015 at 12:49 pm
Just read that “Winstons camp” is getting “impatient” and would like “confirmation” about what Tampa plans on doing with the number 1 pick…..ya that should sit real well with Lovie.
———————————————–
LMAO… right because no draftee gets impatient or “would like confirmation” on when they could get drafted…
What a horrible horrible person. I just cant stop laughing at the stupidity.
April 8th, 2015 at 1:00 pm
TheShaz
An offense would be nice. Not going to happen until Lovie is gone or someone can find the cure for Lovie’s fear of points and winning before November. After all he doesn’t need points and football starts in November.
April 8th, 2015 at 1:01 pm
Vote Winston to win now
Vote Mariota to win more for the next Ten Years
Winston will have success like Cam Newton and RGIII and then tail off thereafter,
Mariota will build to a sustained success over a longer period of time
April 8th, 2015 at 1:02 pm
I heard that the Bucs have not spoken to either of his assault accusers. Would speaking directly them be considered too insensitive or something?
April 8th, 2015 at 1:19 pm
And just like Prez election, the people in his corner have an excuse for all the bad, and the haters see only bad in every move.
“Well, what leg does he put in his pants first before he puts them on? Oh the left? That’s a huge red flag. Do you need any more proof his best friend is Kim Jong-un?”
“He shot a guy straight in the head? Oh, the guy must have looked just like Hitler. Nothing to see here!!”
April 8th, 2015 at 1:31 pm
JBF….still trying to convince us that Jameis won’t be a disaster? …….or yourself? He has Johnny Football written all over him.
April 8th, 2015 at 1:40 pm
@Aloha,
There is only one accuser. I doubt the Bucs need to talk to her as her opinion of Jameis Winston is already known. Do you have any doubt about what she would say?
April 8th, 2015 at 1:40 pm
Mariota joe- how does he have Winston have manziel written all over him? Please explain. They look play and act nothing a like. The only similar thing is that they both won the heisman. Winston has never had a problem with addiction or with his personality.
April 8th, 2015 at 1:46 pm
Bill
She gives a different story every time she tells it so who knows what she will say.
April 8th, 2015 at 1:51 pm
tmaxcon,
lol, touche
April 8th, 2015 at 1:55 pm
Were his emails checked?…..was his server wiped…Oh!, that’s right….he only used them for yoga class. He’s qualified!!!
April 8th, 2015 at 1:57 pm
INDY….just read JBF’s own words from one year ago. I’m tellin ya…I’ve been a Bucs’ fan since I moved here in 1986…season tickets….travelled to a number or road games (especially New Orleans…lol)…..but this is NOT going to end well. And I know I’m in the minority, but I believe that Lovie, Licht, and the Glazers know that. ….ok, cue up the Jameis defenders…they’ll attack me again (which is kind of dumb, since I’m not the issue here)
April 8th, 2015 at 2:02 pm
as a season tkt holder ..M.M. is the best qb in the draft and the right pick for the bucs.
April 8th, 2015 at 2:04 pm
Ben
That’s your opinion which you are entitled to regardless how wrong it is. Winston is the only choice Lovie has to finish his contract
April 8th, 2015 at 2:22 pm
“Mariota Joe Says:
April 8th, 2015 at 1:57 pm
I’m not the issue here”
That’s the thing. Joe isn’t the issue here either. I want Winston. I, 100% unequivocally, did not want Manziel last year. I’m sure a large portion of people who like Winston, didn’t want Manziel.
Conversely, I’m sure there’s a portion of people who wanted Manziel, that want Mariota (both played in Spreads, one an option spread, the other, Air Raid.)
Manziel is small, and largely played sandlot ball (similar to Tebow.) when his first option wasn’t open.
April 8th, 2015 at 2:33 pm
I didn’t want Manziel, but I do want Mariota. I understand that it is possible that Winston could be the pick. I’m fine with that as I’ll cross my fingers and hope for the best.
April 8th, 2015 at 2:37 pm
Manziel = Bust and Mariota = Bust
For those that want Bryce Petty
Petty = Super Bust
I wathed him last night and he has a LONG way to go even though he has a great arm.
April 8th, 2015 at 2:42 pm
Winston = Bust
Wow, that was easy.
April 8th, 2015 at 2:52 pm
The difference between Manziel and Winston is that, before the draft, every picture we saw of Manziel was with a drink in his hand and a girl with big boobs on his arm, while Winston is seen with football attire surrounded by teammates…oh! I get it! He’s g_y!
April 8th, 2015 at 2:53 pm
Well that was why Manziel was the best QB last year. Because he had girls hanging on him. That is what makes a great QB.
April 8th, 2015 at 2:57 pm
I think it will be interesting to see when the 3rd signal caller goes…3rd, 4th, 5th round? None of them are seen as starters. Just long term backups.
April 8th, 2015 at 3:06 pm
@Skyline- I actually think Huntley could turn out to be a decent QB if he were to sit on the bench and learn for 1-2 years. Not for us, but for some other team who already has a QB
April 8th, 2015 at 3:07 pm
Sigh, many of the mock drafts now have Mariota going outside if the top 10. You simply cannot pick a project with the number one overall pick. The Mariota lovers that keep saying he has more upside still amaze me. I can only assume they say this because he ran a fast forty? Spread QBs have mostly been miserable failures in the NFL. Fast running QBs haven’t had much success and most are chronically injured. Honest question, why exactly do you think this. Based on history he most likely will be a bust.
April 8th, 2015 at 3:18 pm
@unbelievable
It is very much a possibility that one of those guys could sit for a few years and come in and play. Glennon should have sat for a few years as well, but that didn’t happen. I think Grayson has the best chance of those other guys of doing something.
April 8th, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Based on history Winston would most likely be a bust then, right? Heisman, National champion, slow, can’t read underneath coverages. Those guys don’t make it in the NFL.
April 8th, 2015 at 3:20 pm
The Shaz said:
“I want a offense that can score at will.”
–We see it every week. It is called the ‘opposing’ offense.–
“I want the scoreboard operators fingers to fall off.”
–See above.–
“I want to hear complaints that they are out of charges for the ship’s cannons by half time from over use.”
–This one may be difficult to accomplish, even though they take only two ‘charges’ out to the ship each week (and usually bring one back after the game).–
BTW, are you the same ‘Shaz’ that dropped in on usenet years ago?
April 8th, 2015 at 3:29 pm
^^^^LMAO
April 8th, 2015 at 4:02 pm
And another thing….those “love handles” !!!!! Wow!!! UGLEEE…and telling. You just can’t ignore photo evidence like that. His boobs are bigger than mine.
April 8th, 2015 at 4:23 pm
What a logical rebuttal skyline. Greatness at the college level is a horrible thing. We should look only at QBs that performed poorly in college and choke in big games.
April 8th, 2015 at 4:34 pm
From NFL.com
Winning in the NFL is rare for Heisman QBs
Since 1950, 27 quarterbacks have been selected as the Heisman Trophy winner. Of those 27, only 20 started at quarterback in at least one NFL game. Among those 20, only four quarterbacks have a winning record in the NFL (regular season). Robert Griffin III is the only Heisman winner with a career passer rating over 90 in the NFL (90.8). Since 1950, the combined NFL winning percentage for quarterbacks who won the Heisman Trophy is under .500 (480-501-4, .489).
tickrdr
April 8th, 2015 at 5:58 pm
Dumbest argument ever. The Heisman is not a negative. Many heisman winners never even get drafted and weren’t expected to do well as a pro. Winston is going first overall because of his size, arm strength, on field play and high fooltball IQ. Name one person that is saying Winston should go first because he won the heisman.
April 8th, 2015 at 6:04 pm
Kind of like your bad argument against spread QBs? Also, that is why Manziel was projected high because he had won a Heisman. You were talking history and we are, but when it goes against your thoughts then it doesn’t mean anything. However it still holds true for Heisman and national champion winners. They don’t do well in the NFL even though they dominated in the NCAA.
April 8th, 2015 at 6:06 pm
Also, Mayock changed his mine and us going Mariota cause he doesn’t believe that the gap is big at all. Others will follow.
April 8th, 2015 at 6:38 pm
No skyline I’m simply saying the heisman is not a negative which is what many are saying when they throw out those stats. The heisman is an award for being the best college player. Sometimes they have a skill set that is transferable and sometimes they don’t. Nobody thought Gino Toretta or Charlie Ward would be amazing QBs in the NFL. To say that winning a heisman is a bad thing is nonsense though. Mariota also won a heisman and I certainly don’t hold that against him. He most certainly deserved to win the award, I just think what he was asked to do at Oregon does not really tell us if he can run an NFL style offense.
As a UCF grad and a lifelong Gator fan I simply want what is best for the Bucs. I think Winston is the better choice.
April 8th, 2015 at 6:47 pm
I understand that. However, I feel as though Mariota has shown enough to let us know he gets it and the transition won’t be as difficult as some would have us believe. Also, I worry that Winston is as good as he is going to get. If we draft him I hope for our sake that isn’t true.
April 8th, 2015 at 7:23 pm
“Skyline Crew Says:
April 8th, 2015 at 6:47 pm
Also, I worry that Winston is as good as he is going to get.”
The fact that he has been playing baseball since he was seven should inspire some sort of hope of the opposite. He’s never had an off season to work on what at lot of QBs do every spring and summer for years.
April 9th, 2015 at 12:07 am
Some QBs still play baseball in the spring. Wilson comes to mind.