Jameis And Peyton Manning

December 26th, 2015
America's Quarterback has Peyton Manning-like numbers.

America’s Quarterback has Peyton Manning-like numbers.

Joe remembers back at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine, when rumors and chatter ran rampant among the hundreds of reporters, radio types and TV talking heads all cocooned in Lucas Oil Stadium in sub-Arctic Indianapolis.

Word was America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, was acing all of his tests and interviews with flying colors.

One source, in a column typed by good guy and well-plugged-in Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report, stated Jameis’ pigskin acumen was Peyton Manning-like. This brought howls of protests by some, notably those not in Indianapolis talking to NFL folks, such as BSPN’s Mike Wilbon, who referred to the take as “garbage” on national TV in a memorable rant.

Nearly 11 months later, who is scoffing now?

While Jameis may have matched Manning’s brainiac football IQ, one could argue that Jameis has surpassed Manning on the field, at least comparing both quarterbacks’ rookie seasons.

Manning threw for 3,739 yards with the Colts in 1998. Jameis, with two more average games, should surpass that. He currently has 3,422 yards.

Jameis started his NFL career horribly with ugly picks. But he’s not even close to the 28 picks Manning threw as a rookie. Jameis could finish his rookie season with less than half that. He currently has 12.

Touchdowns? Well, it appears Manning will have a greater rookie total. Manning tossed 26 touchdowns as a rookie. Jameis currently has 20.

Will Jameis become another Manning? That’s a bit much. Manning is one of the greatest to ever play the game. But Bucs fans ought to be damn happy the Bucs won’t be scouting college quarterbacks for the foreseeable future.

The future sure seems bright.

27 Responses to “Jameis And Peyton Manning”

  1. Pete422 Says:

    I get sick of comparisons. He is the first Jameis.

  2. Jeagan1999 Says:

    It’s a bit early to start comparing a rookie to one of the greatest players the NFL has ever seen! I think what you can say is that when you compare Winston’s rookie season, to that of other top flight NFL QB’s, he compares very favorably and gives the team (and the fans) hope that he can continue down the road to becoming an elite player.

    For myself, I think the two things that impress me the most about JW are his toughness and his grasp of the offense. He is not afraid to hang in the pocket and take a hit. He also seems to thoroughly understand Dirk Koetter’s offense, and doesn’t seem to have many of those “deer in the headlights” moments that most rookie QB’s typically experience.

  3. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    The only flaw thus far that I’ve seen in Jameis game is his accuracy on downfield throws…..I suspect that’s why we don’t see him going downfield more often…..he seems to overthrow mostly.
    I suspect he will be working hard on that part of his game in the off season.

  4. Erik with Clean Athletics Says:

    Jameis has a higher ceiling than Manning, IMO, bcuz he has the ‘Clutch Gene’ than Peyton never really had.

    Finally, the Bucs have a Franchise QB with the potential to be Great for many many years.

  5. Erik with Clean Athletics Says:

    *that Peyton never really had.

  6. OneBuC55 Says:

    He still has 2 more games to play and has 25 total TD’s and 3400+ yards passing right now…Even if he falls short as far as passing yards are concerned he should still own the record for most TD’s by a rookie when its all said and done…His low Int total is also impressive considering the fact that he’s only 21 and also how much he throws…

  7. tdtb2015 Says:

    @tbbf- I’m with you on that one. But you know Glennon was worst. Glennon was hitting CBs in the back of their jerseys on long throws often. I was so surprise defense of coordinators did not took advantage of that. He probably should of had double the ints.

    But thank God for JW!!!

  8. Couch Fan Says:

    If we can somehow just get an average defense together. Jameis will lead this team to many, many wins.

  9. FanOfBucs Says:

    Jameis is the opposite of robotic

  10. StPeteBucsFan Says:

    OK I guess I’ll be the first to let go with sacrilege. Manning is a great QB but not one of the greatest!!! Serioiusly just start checking of QB’s in your head you think are better and Manning can fall out of the top ten in a hurry.

    He won a SINGLE SB…he played for some really good Colt teams but always had trouble with the big games. Again he’s a great QB… but nowhere near the greatest!

    I agree with Pete422…enough of the comparisons…#3 is the first and only Fameis. He is an original enjoy it.

  11. J Says:

    Except behaving with class through real adversity

  12. Buccfan37 Says:

    Yeah, even Buc1987 was on the page giving Winston 20+ interceptions this year. Never happened.

  13. Walter Says:

    Manning is definitely one of the top Quarterbacks of All-Time, to say he isn’t top 5 is insane. Would you consider Terry Bradshaw better just because he has 4 Superbowls? Those are team accomplishments, just compare production. Peyton owns almost all of the major records a quarterback can hold besides INT’s. That alone makes him a legend

  14. J Says:

    When the game was still in reach vs the Rams and Saints… He looked bad. Rams let up.

  15. stevek Says:

    The Bucs and their fans are fortunate to finally have the anwser at QB. No doubt about it, Winston is our guy.

    I am very excited about the prospects of finally signing a drafted QB to a second contract.

    Next year we need a Buccaneer to tally 10+sacks. If we don’t get it this year, it will be 10 years since Simeon Rice had 10+sacks in a season.

    We also need WR, OL, S, CB help. I am really excited to see the 3rd Lovie and Licht draft. I may be pissed that Lovie gets a third year when Schian didn’t, but I am very pleased thus far with the performance of our drafting.

    If only we could hit on a FA. We haven’t since V-Jax and Clinton McDonald.

    Joe- Does Mike Glennon get traded this offseason. Houston is starting Brandon Weeden this weekend, and the 49ers are trotting out Blaine Gabbert. I have got to believe that there is a market for Mike Glennon’s services. Hopefully it materializes into a starter, or a 2nd round pick?

  16. Tampa Tony Says:

    Let’s see him do it consistently year after year before we break out the comparisons

  17. Bucnut2 Says:

    I agree with TT. Let’s see what his 2nd season looks like. I remember Josh Freeman throwing 25TD’s to 6INTS

  18. QBKilla Says:

    Couldn’t agree more Joe. Jameis is the real deal and will be one of the top QB’s in the league for a long time. If it were’nt for all the drops, He would already have 26 TD passes.

  19. lightningbuc Says:

    [Any more of this sh!t you’re gone. Anyone — no matter how long of a commenter they have been here — insinuates a Bucs player committed a felony when no charges have ever been filed gets run. Joe’s responsible in a court of law what’s on this site. This is not a subject you want to test Joe on. Give it up or get run. The choice is yours. — Joe]

  20. StPeteBucsFan Says:

    Peyton is not even the greatest QB of his generation! As much as I dislike Brady he gets that award hands down!

    Then we could drag out the Montanas…Unitas…Namaths…Marino..especially if you’re simply enamored with stats and not championships..there are plenty of great QB’s…simple yardage stats are meaningless given that the seasons aren’t even the same length and the offenses have differed dramatically.

  21. godzilla13 Says:

    Just think what Winston’s numbers will be like next year, then the year after? Why am I so confident his numbers are going to be great? Because he has already achieved those numbers. Imagine what this years numbers would be, without the drops and penalties? Record breaking, that’s what.

  22. Andre Wright Says:

    Imagine his numbers if Mike Evans didn’t drop everything

  23. Dave Says:

    St Pete—-

    Namath??? Marino?? Not even close.

    My top 5 ever–
    Brady
    Montana
    Unitas
    Elway
    Manning

    The hate Manning gets for only winning 1 SB is crazy. Football is the biggest TEAM sport around yet QBs get ranked by those wins only sometimes.
    He’s been to 3 SBs and has had fairly average teams mostly. The colts had an amazing run of double digit wins, but without Manning they were a 500 team or worse. He is the OC on the field. Every QB talks about him with reverence. Yet some fans dismiss him. Crazy.

    Would you rank Bradshaw ahead of him? He is above average but wins 4 SBs because of the talent around him.
    You could argue Montana had a lot of help because of the talent around him.
    I won’t go there though, he’s a top 5.
    You mentioned Namath? He had a couple good years, nothing more.

    Give Manning an above average defense with the colts and they probably have another SB. Whatever. Would have should have could have.

    The point is football is such an intricate team sport I just always felt ranking a QB based on SB wins is extremely unfair. That’s not to say it doesn’t matter. I hate the patriots but put Brady number 1, partially for his SB wins.

    Manning though, is easily in the top 5 conversation.

    As for JW and the Bucs… If JW has the football brain that Manning has, to go along with his dedication and drive and leadership, the Bucs are in good shape for the next decade.

  24. Joe Says:

    Joe- Does Mike Glennon get traded this offseason.

    If Jason Licht is offered a second round pick pretty sure he couldn’t pull the trigger quick enough. But look at what quarterbacks were traded for this past year. Right now Joe would be shocked if Licht got offered anything better than a fourth-round pick.

  25. Winston4prez Says:

    I get why he is being compared to manning.. I am hands down jameis’ biggest supporter, and critic. Every Qb has things to work on. Jameis proactively works to get better.. Jameis is going to be great. It’s true that if Evans would have caught those easy passes jameis would be smashing the record books, but that is football. We have to watch carefully how a player develops before we zero in on their ceilings.. Once again Jameis proactively works to get better and I believe he is in control of how great he will be..

  26. JaMarcus Leafwhich Says:

    Comparing Winston to Manning is just ridiculous. Anyone ever think that maybe just maybe having the leading rusher in the NFL has a huge impact on Winston’s success? Stop downing Evans please. He’s on pace to surpass his rookie stats and fir every dropped pass Winston has 4 overthrown balls that Shaquille O’Neal couldn’t reach. But no way it could be Jameis fault, Evans or Lovie must be the culprits. You people are weak minded and easily brain washed. Jameis is getting better and might turn out to be good but Freeman had more TD’S and less Int’s with alot less to work with and look how he fell off. Add RG3 and Kapernick to that list of players who looked ridiculously awesome, more so than Winston. Only time will tell. This I can tell you he’s no Peyton!

  27. JaMarcus Leafwhich Says:

    At the end of the day we still have the 4 best qb in our division. A better comparison would be Matt Ryan, who still has about 400 more yds on a down year with a new OC.