“I Wish We Still Had Him”
October 26th, 2017
Jameis yearns for an old Buccaneers friend
As the Buccaneers appear to be in the midst of an internal leadership crisis and seemingly have forgotten how to close out games in victory, they will be reuniting Sunday with a guy who was at the center of their 2016 revival.
America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, was talking Russell Shepard with Carolina media this week.
Shepard was a Bucs captain last season, a special teams ace and a quality No. 5 receiver who was overmatched when called upon for full-time duty.
Shepard loves Jameis, per the Charlotte Observer.
“Just to see his career, to see how it’s playing out, I’m extremely proud of him,” said Shepard. “He played a big part of me taking the next step of my career. We have man-crushes on each other.”
And James adores Shepard.
“One thing, he’s a leader. He’s a leader by example and he’s a leader vocally,” said Winston. “Another thing he brings is passion. He is one of the most passionate players I’ve ever been around, ever had the honor to play on a team with. He just loves this game of football.
“And the third thing he brings is his energy. He’s one of the hardest workers that I know. When it’s time to play football, he really loves this game and he’s always pumped and he’s always ready to take advantage of any moment that he gets.”
Jameis went on to say of Shepard, “I wish we still had him.”
As the Bucs appear to be imploding on level, it’s easy to wonder whether the Bucs were wise to let Shepard walk. Joe’s not delusional; Shepard doesn’t play defense. But maybe he was the type of guy who would have helped Bucs players not come out flat.
October 26th, 2017 at 10:40 am
He was one of those glue guys, Licht shoulda kept him.
If he had no qualms about keeping Robinson, a Corner, that literally never plays corner. He should have been fine with keeping a WR that would never have to play WR.
October 26th, 2017 at 10:43 am
No question we should have signed him! We had the money and he is a proven special teams ace and servicible 5th wr. Man, Mr Lict has a tough time in free agency
October 26th, 2017 at 10:44 am
Went with the sure handed Adam Humphries instead…
October 26th, 2017 at 10:50 am
I disagree he was overmatched. The few times he was called upon he would show up with a critical catch and they should have kept him. Over reedy
October 26th, 2017 at 10:58 am
@JonBuc- dude leave Humphries alone. He’s an undrafted gem, I don’t care that he fumbled. That game is on the defense.
October 26th, 2017 at 11:08 am
That FLAT word tho
October 26th, 2017 at 11:13 am
Yeah.. the reason we lose this game will be because of Shep. C’mon.
October 26th, 2017 at 11:18 am
@R.O.
Not really the point of this article.
No one is worried that we are going to get shredded by the guy, but he was clearly an emotional leader of this team. And this locker-room is sorely missing his presence.
October 26th, 2017 at 11:21 am
Woulda coulda shoulda
Shepard had injury issues, and frankly, I’m pleased with our TRs and TEs. I don’t miss him one bit.
October 26th, 2017 at 11:23 am
JonBuc Says
“Went with the sure handed Adam Humphries instead…”
I get your sarcasm, but Humphries really is the better choice. Every player has the occasional bad play. Hump has had one.
It hardly makes him a bad WR.
October 26th, 2017 at 11:43 am
yes,yes,yes!….”character player” let go…i said this in the spring…big mistake letting him walk…filled the final game day positions without any questions…a perfect #5 WR and special teams standout…i predict he’ll make a big play against the Bucs on Sunday…Payback time 🙁
October 26th, 2017 at 11:50 am
Shot at Desean maybe?
October 26th, 2017 at 12:07 pm
InJameisWeTrust Says:
October 26th, 2017 at 10:58 am
@JonBuc- dude leave Humphries alone. He’s an undrafted gem, I don’t care that he fumbled. That game is on the defense.
Shep was an undrafted gem as well…and an emotional leader…which this team lacks.
Not sure if I agree with Buccaneer BrownEye calling Hump a better overall player…but I do agree that Shep will have a big play or two vs. the Bucs
October 26th, 2017 at 12:13 pm
We didn’t let him walk. He went where there was opportunity. He wasn’t going to play WR here. Not sure why we are pretending the Bucs just have him the cold shoulder or something…
October 26th, 2017 at 12:27 pm
Nice story, but I’ll take Godwin.
October 26th, 2017 at 12:40 pm
Coulda/Woulda/Shoulda…Great book title for the history of the Tampa Bay Bucs!
October 26th, 2017 at 1:12 pm
Sorry I like the Godwin kid and all, but we should’ve kept Shepard and drafted Kareem Hunt instead of Godwin. Boy what could’ve been. WR was NOT a need.
October 26th, 2017 at 1:24 pm
Carolina promised Russell Shepard more playing time at WR than the Bucs would have been able to give him. That + $10M for 3 years which is beyond reasonable for even a very good ST player.
Also we have Robinson and Ryan Smith at positions of greater need than WR who are both killing it as gunners and cost less combined than Shepard.
October 26th, 2017 at 2:14 pm
I wish we still had Bradley McDougald. We have nothing but trash at FS this season.
October 26th, 2017 at 4:02 pm
Wasn’t Shepherd on the Arizona trip last (40-7) year?