Aura Of “America’s Quarterback”
August 10th, 2015
The spotlight is on. Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.
Joe has typed the following before, but still some readers refuse to believe.
You know the type: members of the flat earth society who believe you can win a Super Bowl with an archaic, run-first offense with no quarterback to speak of.
No quarterback today moves the needle like “America’s Quarterback,” Bucs signal-caller Jameis Winston. None, with the possible exception of Tom Brady.
Does the Internet break down if Brady Instagrams a thank you for a gift of crab legs? No. Jameis’ every move is documented. Hell, he can’t even go to a watering hole or even hold a car door open for a lady like a common gentlemen without it trending on Twitter and blowing up Facebook.
That’s why he is “America’s Quarterback.”
Still a non-believer? Take Emily Kaplan’s words. Typing for theMMQB.com, Kaplan was at Bucs training camp and Titans training camp in successive days and noticed how Jameis is a rock star in a football helmet (with apologies to former Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik) and Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is, eh, just a guy.
I think the coolest aspect of The MMQB training camp tour is its successive nature. Visiting teams back-to-back (to back-to-back…) reveals some interesting contrasts.
Take, for instance, a 24-hour span during which we saw Jameis Winston’s Buccaneers and Marcus Mariota’s Titans. Winston’s three interceptions certainly juxtaposed interestingly compared to Mariota’s clean, fluid session. I won’t make grand assumptions on that tiny sample size, but I was struck by what happened afterward. Winston, the No. 1 pick, gets swarmed by nearly two dozen reporters and a handful of camera crews jostling for position. His interceptions become headlines, tweeted about incessantly. Winston is monitored closely by Buccaneers employees. In Nashville, meanwhile, there are only a handful of local reporters. Mariota answers questions, coolly, and moseys around his own locker room without interruption.
BSPN didn’t set up shop Saturday at One Buc Palace with a court of 30 employees — 30! — because of Kwon Alexander. NFL Network didn’t broadcast live the first rookie minicamp practice and the first training camp practice because of Kaelin Clay.
No, sir. It’s because of one person and one person only:
“America’s Quarterback.”
Bucs fans always stomped their feet because BSPN and NFL Network didn’t give the Bucs attention in years past. Well, those days are over with Jameis leading the Bucs.
August 10th, 2015 at 8:09 am
Never seen hype like this for the Bucs. As for “aura” hopefully that aura can protect him from the pass rushes he will see when this all becomes real.
Unfortunately, there is no “aura” when it comes to the offensive line, which will determine the level of success for Jameis and the running game.
Without a running game, Jameis’ “aura” may fade considerably.
August 10th, 2015 at 8:28 am
We love him in Tampa but I’m sure every team we play wants to take his head off bc of his positive attitude. I’m praying the OLine protects.
August 10th, 2015 at 8:43 am
With a new report saying that Mariota is ‘years’ ahead of where they expected him to be, are you (Joes) going to be 100% satisfied with the Winston pick, even if Mariota proves to be the more ‘pro-ready’ and polished QB when the season starts? What if it takes Winston a couple seasons to be as polished as Mariota? Oh, the twist of fate that would be. I just hope Winston proves good enough to help us win right away or the narative is going to get ridiculous (as in full of ridicule).
August 10th, 2015 at 8:50 am
Ahhh…When you people learn? JW HE IS THE GREATEST QB OF ALL TIME. Just wait and see. Bucs fan are in for a treat.
August 10th, 2015 at 8:50 am
Hate to be a kill-joy, but after the draft and stories of past allegations at FSU died down there has been virtually no mention of Jameis here in upstate NY outside of myself and a few other Bucs fans I know. Maybe he seems like America’s QB based on the amount of attention he’s getting in Florida, but Brady is the guy still stealing the headlines up in the Northeast part of the country.
August 10th, 2015 at 8:53 am
Finally – proper usage of the designation “rock star”. Dom should be apologizing to us Joe – not vice-versa.
August 10th, 2015 at 9:02 am
I feel as though Winston just has the “it factor” which can also be called an aura. He has a ton of charisma and wins other players, coaches and fans over. Erik, Mariota may very well be a star in the league as well. Maybe both will be greats when it is all said and done. Only time will tell. The Bucs obviously went with Winston and I think that was the right move. When veterans were texting and urging the staff to pick Winston over Mariota, I think that is a little telling. Winston was the better fit in Tampa and that is not taking anything away from Mariota’s skill sets. We could only take one of the two and the Bucs went with the right guy for the Bucs. Also, Kudos Erik for honoring your jersey bet with 87. Rare theses days.
August 10th, 2015 at 9:17 am
Sorta like johnny football last year… This year not so much
August 10th, 2015 at 9:26 am
Brady doesn’t move the needle himself, he has the ball handler deflate to his specifics.
August 10th, 2015 at 9:26 am
Marcus Mariota will never play a full 16 game season in his career. Mark it
August 10th, 2015 at 9:33 am
I believe the website that some of you are looking for is musiccitymiracles.
Bookmark it.
August 10th, 2015 at 10:00 am
Marita 100 years a ahead schedule please. What are they suppose to say Erik? “Were taking it easy with the guy because we know he has a long way to go”. Sound silly dude,and Creamsicle I second your notion,that guy won’t complete a full season. Too frail,and my belief is he won’t finish his first game. We about to pound this boy.
August 10th, 2015 at 10:14 am
I honestly love Winston, guys. Please don’t take my concerns the wrong way. Trust me, I’m hoping he ends up being the greatest QB of all time. I will be very upset if Mariota is better, though.
August 10th, 2015 at 11:28 am
Nole I wouldn’t call him because he got sacked a whole lot in college and still played well so that is pushing it. I can’t believe the Teen Titans are being too soft on him being they want him to start against us because that is a recipe for disaster. I doubt very much that we’ll get many straight up sacks against him, most will be from behind. The man got jets on him. Just because Famous is more popular than MarioTa doesn’t mean anything Joe.
Now as to Dumbineck he should called “On That Rock Star”!
August 10th, 2015 at 12:19 pm
Jameis Winston has received more attention than any player in Bucs history.And it won’t be going away anytime soon, he’s not a player with 15 minutes of fame.
August 10th, 2015 at 1:51 pm
I thought Aaron Rodgers was America’s QB?