Thank You, Fitz!
September 30th, 2018
A journeyman quarterback, 35-year-old Ryan Fitzpatrick was tasked with leading the Bucs offense through the Jameis Winston suspension and keeping the team afloat in the process.
He succeeded beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.
Perspective can be a very comforting thing, especially after a humiliating loss to Mitch Trubisky and the Bears.
The Bucs have a fantastic backup QB. Two years in a row, Fitzpatrick has been an effective pinch-hitter. He’s 4-3 as a Bucs starter, including two Ws this season against strong teams — and he set an NFL passing record that might stand for another 20 years.
Fitzpatrick raised the bar on the Bucs offense, showing fans, coaches and Jameis just how explosive this offense can be. And he gave it everything he had, which is something his offensive linemen might not be able to say.
In the end, Fitzpatrick and injected real life into this season and made Joe super proud to be a Bucs fan.
Joe is grateful. Fans should be grateful. And Joe hopes Fitzpatrick is willing to come back in 2019.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:44 pm
nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Start Fitz after the bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 5:45 pm
Had people talking about the Bucs, for all the right reasons.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:45 pm
Yep I’m thankful for fitz thanks for getting us those two wins
September 30th, 2018 at 5:46 pm
Too bad much of the offense failed him these last two games which led to the defense being on the field and gettin down multiple scores. Good play Fitz, you deserved better. You showed the potential they have.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:46 pm
Luv Fitz. Straight up class man.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:47 pm
Agree with all of these points. Best #2 in the league. Ivy League, baby!
September 30th, 2018 at 5:48 pm
You gotta start jw……UNLESS he can’t hit Jax in practice… if not start Fitz and trade jw while you can get a 4th
September 30th, 2018 at 5:49 pm
After today, not sure there’s another W to eat on the schedule.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:51 pm
Worst 2-2 anyone ever saw. But hey, we’ll be .500 going into week 5 for the first time in who knows how long. When it comes to Fitz vs Jameis, I don’t think either QB is our guy, and Jameis will prove it this year. It’s his 4th year if he doesn’t produce then bye bye Jaboo.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:51 pm
Kind of sux he did so well because it over inflated this poorly constructed team by the joes buddy licht, most ppl know the bucs have no nfl rb on this roster yet licht and the joes said barber is that guy, barber is a backup at best, licht passes on good rbs in past 2 drafts and quality FA rbs, this team is and will be 6-10 then licht owns at 26-48 record and time to bring in ronde as the GM
September 30th, 2018 at 5:56 pm
@truth
September 30th, 2018 at 5:57 pm
Winston looked so much more composed and in control of the offense, it looked like the players really responded to him coming in the game, even the defense played better in the 2nd half. Also Winston made Mack look silly on that 1st down scramble. Winston > Mack.
September 30th, 2018 at 5:57 pm
Jameis looks like he always has going back to FSU….a couple of goofy retreating scrambles….hanging his WR’s out to dry…nearly killed Mike Evans…missed JDax….sorry folks I don’t seem Jameis anything other than get your hopes up every now and then teaser….he will never be an elite QB….how do I know….watch the elite NFL QB’s….decision making…mechanics..throwing on time to the spot….looking off DB’s…cool head….on and on…
September 30th, 2018 at 5:59 pm
Yes thank you Fitz you did what you are paid to do. You can’t help it that you have been on 7 teams in 13 years and that you are a serviceable back up QB (no shame in that) I am sorry that legions of fans tried to make you something your not and never will be.
September 30th, 2018 at 6:01 pm
Yes thank you Fitz!! Many of us believe you should still be playing. Many of us don’t believe that Winston will have the scoring success you had the first three weeks nor do we believe that they will pull him after only four interceptions which, he will have accumulated by his second game.
You were our “body” leader; now it is time for our “mouth” leader to return.
Also, thank you DeShawn Jackson, as we (especially Jameis) will miss you too!
September 30th, 2018 at 6:03 pm
Bar is set high for Jameis. I hope he at least get us to 8-8.
Thankful indeed for Fitzmagic. Great start.
Go Bucs!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 6:03 pm
*DeSean
September 30th, 2018 at 6:05 pm
If the horrific blocking, no run game, inconsistent WRs getting open continues it won’t matter who is at QB on the Offense.
On the Defense the problems run even deeper. 48 points to a low power Offense!
Looks like the Bucs and the Dolphins both got exposed today.
September 30th, 2018 at 6:08 pm
Thanks, Fitz…..but I’m quite surprised some JBF fans aren’t upset that you cost us a better draft pick. I guess we will start to see posters wanting to tank games pretty soon. There is no question Fitz showed us we can score….take note, Jameis!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 6:09 pm
Thank you for your hard work, Fitzy. My family and I admire the man you are, and the professionalism you showed In Leading this team. Thank you!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 6:12 pm
Nothing BUT proud of him. Well Done Sir. Well Done…
Then again, the season is far from over. Players get hurt all the time. We may see you back at the helm this year after all so STAY SHARP!
September 30th, 2018 at 6:17 pm
Buc believer Says:
September 30th, 2018 at 5:59 pm
Yes thank you Fitz you did what you are paid to do. You can’t help it that you have been on 7 teams in 13 years and that you are a serviceable back up QB (no shame in that) I am sorry that legions of fans tried to make you something your not and never will be
———–
This is perfect! All the other nonsense is simply uneducated football fans, if you can even call them that.
I am sorry that legions of fans tried to make you something your not and never will be.
September 30th, 2018 at 6:20 pm
Winston has had a chance to see first hand how to play QB in the NFL by watching Fitz. Hopefully he kept his eyes and ears open and his mouth shut..
Fitz is a class act
September 30th, 2018 at 6:20 pm
Please stick with the record setting class act!!!!
September 30th, 2018 at 6:21 pm
Fitz saved the season. We coulda easily been 0-4 without him. Now it’s up to Jameis to get us back on track.
September 30th, 2018 at 6:21 pm
Fitz hung his WR out to dry for the 2nd week in a row, that pass to DJax was the same as the one to ME last week where DJax was afraid he was gonna get killed by the safety, Fitz has to play smarter and not put our $10 mil receivers on IR. SMDH.
September 30th, 2018 at 6:22 pm
Just imagine the playoffs if this guy folds against Chicago. Something just sucks the good right out of anything Buccaneer. It is like destiny.
September 30th, 2018 at 6:27 pm
@inspired. I have no doubt jamis will take a dive and end up*cough* hurt once he loses few more to ensure his payday.
That when Fitz comes back and hopefully there’s still room to make playoffs
September 30th, 2018 at 6:28 pm
Fitz has won 4 of 6.
September 30th, 2018 at 6:36 pm
Jameis threw something close to 80% today, Fitz was what close to 30%??? :-/
September 30th, 2018 at 6:45 pm
Joe this is too low for you. you should be embarrassed.
September 30th, 2018 at 6:46 pm
why does every rookie qb look bette than jmeis?
September 30th, 2018 at 6:51 pm
shame on you Joe. you are not the man you pretend to be.
September 30th, 2018 at 6:52 pm
Dewey, you are so right. Football shows all over ESPN & NFLN were saying good things about our players & our team (after all the over-blown suspension talk). This team needs to just R.E.L.A.X. We have so many weapons we should be hard to stop. This OL needs to do a better job in run blocking so we can become a more balanced offense. The running game is how those long passes happen. Play action KILLS when done correct. The Failcons have looked bad on Def with all their injuries. P.S. I don’t feel for them (or the Panturds OL injuries & all the Aints injuries). I actually hope they all suffer many more. We always seem to deal with key injuries, this year is no exception already. Win your Division & you give yourself a much better chance at the teams goal, playing in & winning Super Bowl 53! It’s up to those players to come out week 6 & beat up on that under size but fast def in ATL plus get back on track scoring!🏈 GO BUCS 🏈
September 30th, 2018 at 6:59 pm
I don’t know if I would say beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. I thought 2-2 heading into the bye would be a decent start. Of course after todays beat down it looks like another 5 win season is in store for us yet again. In that regard maybe he did over perform wildly and today was when reality punched us in the face.
September 30th, 2018 at 7:10 pm
When does hockey season start. We are toast with the human turnover machine back in the saddle.
September 30th, 2018 at 7:20 pm
2-2 isn’t bad – and had Dirk not coached like a coward in the Steelers game and took the ball out of the hands of at the end I think he marches down the field for the win. To verify I’m a Winston backer, but I still think Fitz gets the job done if Dirk isn’t Dirk.
Anywho 2-2 is about a best case scenario before the season and now Winston has his chance to see what he can do. Unfortunately it appears to my eye that Dirk has wrestled back control of the offense, but we shall see.
Things get better now that we are past the opening 4, and the bye week comes at a perfect time.
September 30th, 2018 at 7:41 pm
Oh well, great while it lasted *golf clap*.
Now back to one win out of every 2.5 games.
September 30th, 2018 at 8:06 pm
I’ll give you credit Rod M. You’re a confident dude. Hats off to yas. But..I have no condifence in these 2 AtL let go’s (Koetter and Smith) Its taking Koetter to long to learn actuall gametime situations and Smitty is just smiling..and..Hanging on. I knew this organization was not serious about winning when they were both hired. We won’t win many games with this Knee-fense. The bears literally just walked up and down the field like they wanted to today. You saw it. And I just don’t think its gonna happen this year. Smitty though has to go..NOW. Keep the faith my man. I have totally lost mine with this team.
September 30th, 2018 at 8:22 pm
He did his job….now maybe the guy we drafted #1 can start doing his. The Bears are literally like Jacksonville 2.0….serviceable QB/offense with ridiculous defense. Its the exact blueprint the Bucs will need to use for Winston until he can go a season without avg two turnovers per game. Unfortunately our secondary is learning on the fly and Smith’s defensive scheme is no longer relevant.
September 30th, 2018 at 8:58 pm
Well said bobby m
September 30th, 2018 at 9:00 pm
I have a funny feeling that we have not seen the last of Fitz this year
September 30th, 2018 at 9:02 pm
Joe,
I think godeep66 should be banned for infering the thing he just did about Jameis and his home- I’m not that PC, but this kind of talk is offensive and racist and way over the top!
September 30th, 2018 at 9:03 pm
Go deep should be banned
September 30th, 2018 at 9:03 pm
Racist
September 30th, 2018 at 9:04 pm
I’ll actually miss seeing a QB who can hit on deep balls to Jackson, be accurate and not make boneheaded plays like Winston certainly does.
For the first three games, I actually had confidence in the offense that I haven’t had in a very long time.
Winston has never had a stretch of football like Fitz did for the first three games. Yeah, I understand he’s the “future” still, but the guy is only starting because of where he was drafted.
If Winston was really that good, you wouldn’t hear people wanting for Fitz to stay in. Winston is in his 4th season; he should have it together by now.
September 30th, 2018 at 9:34 pm
Two years from now Winston will be spending his Sunday’s on the sofa eating Doritos. He is terrible. Tried to ease him into a plain Jane simple offense without throwing downfield (because he can’t) and he was still awful.
Don’t confuse “rust” with “waste of skin”. Fitz is the only chance at being .500 or better this season.
September 30th, 2018 at 10:21 pm
Nice post, but it sounds too much like a eulogy. LOL. Stay loose, Fitz, because there are a lot of games left to play!
September 30th, 2018 at 10:39 pm
thanx fitz and good luck,
October 1st, 2018 at 10:54 am
What Gino Says is absolutely correct. Jamis Winston is not the herald franchise QB everyone thinks he is. Quite frankly I don’t think he is a good backup either. The only thing he is good at doing is making stupid decisions on and off the field. Waste of money for this NFL team. Trade Jamis for Levon Bell, fire Mike Smith and put Fitz back in as your starter.
October 1st, 2018 at 11:35 am
Having Fitz back would be a nice situation to have – – BUT
What do you do with Ryan Griffin???
He seems to have some up side yet no experience – Fitz has the experience but little upside
We have spent a few years trying to develop him.
Might be interesting depending on who is in the FO and coaches we have.