Exclusive: Adrian Peterson Talks Jameis Winston And Why He Wanted To Play For The Bucs

November 11th, 2018

A.P. Talks To Joe

First, a hearty thank you to future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson for carving out time to go 1-on-1 with Joe after today’s game — to talk about one of Peterson’s favorite competitors in the NFL.

That would be America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston.

Back in April of 2017, Jameis and a few other Bucs joined Peterson for a series of workouts in Texas with some Buccaneers and others.

Peterson was looking for work and Jameis was on his usual offseason quest to raise his game.

Joe asked Peterson what he remembered about his time with Jameis and what, if anything, was memorable. Peterson came away very impressed.

“You know, the one thing that stuck out to me the most was leadership,” Peterson said. “He really commanded the field when he was out there with his receivers and the guys. He was making the checks, the audibles, it was pretty special to watch. Someone of his caliber coming in, getting all his guys together down in Houston. And then the focus that he had while he was on the field was special, as well. And then off the field, too, meaning in the weight room and doing various training stuff we were doing, he showed a tremendous level of will power. You know, that was impressive to see. I’m not the easiest to impress.”

Meeting Jameis, Peterson said, made him want to play for Tampa Bay even more than he already did. Those published rumors of Peterson wanting to play in Tampa, along with a couple of other cities, were real. Peterson said he liked what the Bucs were building off a 9-7 season as well as their offensive scheme, and he believed in the weapons.

“I thought the Bucs had a great team and I felt like I could come in and make the offense more potent with all the weapons that they had, and then they got more [in the 2017 draft],” Peterson said. “So you know, I told Jameis, ‘Put a word in and see what they say.’ They didn’t want me. Ok. I moved on.”

Peterson, who has 672 yards rushing this season, said he talked to Jameis today and delivered a clear message.

“Keep your head up,” Peterson said he emphasized to Jameis many times.

“I know he’ll do that. He’s a strong-willed guy. It’s an unfortunate situation for him, you know, but it is what it is. That’s the National Football League for you and he has to understand that and I think he does. Fitzpatrick has been playing outstanding and, you know, Jameis will be there when they call on him. I can tell you that. I can guarantee you that.”

Joe talked to Peterson off the record, as well. There’s a lot of respect there for Jameis.

That doesn’t mean Jameis will stop giving the football away like it’s Halloween candy when he returns to the lineup, but it’s a little comforting to know Jameis has a lot of allies out there.

Joe will share a chat with another Jameis ally later this week.

55 Responses to “Exclusive: Adrian Peterson Talks Jameis Winston And Why He Wanted To Play For The Bucs”

  1. Kansas95Buc Says:

    Get Winston in a new up to date system and let him play his game

  2. K_Bassuka Says:

    Good thing AP didn’t come here cause he would’ve been p!ssed when they took him out in the 2d quarter to play the amazing Jaquizz, greatest coaching staff ever…

  3. Cs2 Says:

    No NFL player is gonna say “Oh Jameis is a terrible player, and a terrible person.” They know better than that. He even called fitzpatrick “outstanding”. Which he wasn’t today. That’s nice to type, but the reality is that many players will simply pass on talking about another player, especially a guy on another team. Happens all the time. –Joe

  4. Bucanole Says:

    I hope Jameis ends up on a team with blue jerseys. That’s be nice to watch on Sundays.

    Buc red just makes me think my eyes are bleeding.

  5. T REX Says:

    One accosts women and the other accost his children. Great teammates.

    GTFO.

  6. FireMikeSmith_orDie Says:

    the play-calling in the redzone and inside the 30 was particularly bad today… the redskins defense played lights out, but the play calling pretty much never had the redskins guessing

  7. Confused Buc Says:

    Glad he didn’t come here. He would have been a loser here. It’s contagious.

  8. TheNorm Says:

    Who cares how many “allies” he has. He’s an average QB with an organization about to clean house and that likely means a new QB. So his allies means nothing.

  9. MadMax Says:

    I was hoping we would land him but oh well, he’s still playing good for someone else…

  10. Anonymous Says:

    I Winston is the man we need coaching change. We need to get Bell now

  11. SchwiftyBuc Says:

    IM WITH JASON LICHT! THIS TEAM DOESN’T NEED HALL OF FAME PLAYERS WITH WINNING MENTALITY AND ELITE WORK ETHIC! IT NEEDS GUYS LIKE CHRIS BAKER, DESEAN JACKSON AND JEREMY MCNICHOLS! OH AND WHO NEEDS AN ELITE ATHLETE LIKE DONTE JACKSON AT CORNER? GIVE ME MJ STEWART ALL DAY! WOO FOLLOW THE LICHT….

    I think it’s high time we stopped listening to a work that Justin Palowski says or screams.

  12. Rod Munch Says:

    If by outstanding AD meant Fitz is 0-4 in his last 4 starts is outstanding for every other NFC team in the playoff hunt, then he’s right.

  13. SchwiftyBuc Says:

    Don’t you know that Running backs don’t do anything after they turn 30. That’s what the all knowing Joe#2 that won’t be named or it will trip the filter told me anyway.

    Just like he told me that taking OJ Howard over Dalvin Cook would be a luxury pick. Even though Howard is a generational talent at TE and Cook isn’t even the 5th best running back taken in that draft. But wtfdik.

    Damn bro, I really wish I knew the correct avenue to take that would get me into scouting. I swear ever god dang year I’m more accurate with my rankings than any of the paid anaylists or scouting departments. Guess it’s just my fate to remain a lowly plumber while the Bucs are mired in incessant mediocrity.

  14. Pryda Says:

    Jameis for me is the kind of guy that will stay on one team forever money doesn’t matter to him the love of the game is what keeps him moving ! He isn’t going no where and bye bye Koetter gtfo Peterson would have been great here

  15. BrianBucs Says:

    So the Child Abuser wanted to play with the Crotchgrabber. That’s classic

  16. TheNorm Says:

    Winning games at this point would be counterproductive to the future of this team. Just like the meaningless win the last stupid game last year got us fat slow worthless wasted pick called VITA VEA.

    Winning that meaningless game got us Vita Vea. They deserve it.

  17. Alvin Scissors Harper Says:

    Leadership? Yeah, he eats W’s, I guess.

  18. JimmyJack Says:

    Leadership that takes us straight to a blowout by most halftimes.

  19. Im tired and 87 is right Says:

    Here comes the dumb fans just wanting Jameis gone. How about this Jameis isn’t going anywhere. Anybody with a football IQ knows he will at least get one more season. Just go look at history and QBs with five year deals. And Jameis has been by far way better then some of those folks. Defense and RB are the big issues with this team and all you fans should focus your energy on that.

  20. Bucs Fan #7423 Says:

    AP said Jameis has leadership skills????? LOL!

    Jamies is still a little boy, he needs to mature and grow up

  21. Hamsadwichtime Says:

    When he ends up on another team and kills it, which he will like most bucs castaways, you haters can s—CB my d—-

  22. Rod Munch Says:

    87 – Winston is going anywhere, but Dirk certainly is, which is why the Bucs should fire Dirk tonight and not even bother waiting until tomorrow. I know the Glazers don’t fire guys mid-season, but Dirk should be an exception. He’s throwing guys under the bus left and right, he’s burning down the team on his way out the door, all because the Glazers made him fire his buddy Mike Smith. I’m 100% convinced of that, look at the last couple of weeks where he not only throws Jameis under the bus, he throws the entire defensive staff under the bus – saying he has nothing to do with the play calling (saying the NFL’s all-time worst defense isn’t on him). He throws D-Jax under the bus saying he has an open invite to return punts, I’ve never heard of an open invite to return punts, but that’s what Dirk says – so if you want D-Jax to return punts, well that’s on D-Jax, not him. Today he throws Monken under the bus – have the NFL’s #2 yardage offense, #7 scoring offense (both the best in team history), well Dirk is here to fix that issue – and then we end up with 3 points.

    Dirk is throwing a fit and taking down everyone around him, and he knows it too. Get the guy out of there while there is something still left.

  23. Rod Munch Says:

    Guys, it’s ALL DAY, AD, not AP.

    I had a very upset Vikings fan tell me that a while back, so get it right.

  24. Troy Says:

    Jameis! Jameis! Jameis! Our savior. I demand he play. Princess Leia (ie Joe) says Jameis is our only hope. Help us, Jay-Miss Kenobi! You’re our only hope! LMAO! When those bad ole Darth Glazers strike Jay-Miss down, do you think he’ll come back stronger??? Too comical the way you fools obsess over this crappy QB.

  25. Rod Munch Says:

    If you ever wanted to see a textbook example of someone who is triggered, look no further than Troy’s post.

  26. JimmyJack Says:

    Jp…..floate me a AP autograph bro.

  27. JimmyJack Says:

    I hope Dirk gets a flat tire on his way home.

  28. Lamarcus Says:

    Man Bucs higher up said no to AP but yes to Charles Sims? Wtf is going on here. It would of been a thing of beauty AP working with JW everyday. Maybe JW would still be in shape to play. The butterfly effect hits this team repeatedly

  29. Rod Munch Says:

    I think some of you are saying AP, even after being corrected and knowing it’s AD, you do it anyways just to be difficult. How rude.

  30. LakeLand Says:

    Adrian Peterson is a older one dimensional RB

    The Bucs could have drafted a solid 3 down RB in the 2017 draft
    5-6 of them were available for the takings

  31. G-Money Says:

    I am so tired of you loser ass fans that continue to find a reason to bash Jameis Winston even when it’s just another player saying how he feels typical Tampa Bay A-holes!!! Even when Fritz no more magic looked exactly like he always has as a starter; you still find a way to bring Jameis in this BS. As much as I love my Bucs, I’m now completely on board with Jameis leaving and being great!!!! So you A-holes can continue to find a way to blame him for this BS that’s been on the field for the last 2 weeks…. Dirks call !!!! And your choice for HC !! So tell me Bucs Fans; how’s this we don’t want to loose the continuity between Dirk and Jameis working for you? Oh yeah “Lovie” wasn’t black enough or good enough my bad to get the job done !!! Just Saying !!

  32. DBS Says:

    Nobody cares what you say munch.A lot of us No your just a professional poster anyway.

  33. T REX Says:

    Munch is one giant arse. No true Bucs fans want to keep America’s Turnover Machine unless they are Winston fanbois instead of true Buc fans.

    WInston is a loser living off of one great freshman season. He’s sucked ever since.

  34. Troy Says:

    Love how people think I’m triggered because I live in reality. The only people ‘triggered’ are the fools who think a qb change will save us. I want Winston to play because it will settle the matter for good that we need to move on. Are you all going to ‘tell me so’ on Winston’s greatness if we manage to beat a 1 & 7 football team? How about when he throws 2 picks and we lose?

  35. JimmyJack Says:

    The Bucs are just a joke. We played a whole bunch backups and even a few replacement level players today and they handed our asses to us in our own stadium.

    It’s not even about this team competing anymore…….these guys aren’t even trying

  36. Oxycondoms Says:

    Bucs went from drafting Chubb or Nelson to Vita vea lol

  37. LakeLand Says:

    I picked the Bucs to go 4-12

    There’s still hope

  38. JimmyJack Says:

    Bucs made out from their draft position. They still wound up with a top 10 pick and manage to get three number to round picks…… That is a franchise changing opportunity. But only if you make the right pics

  39. Lamarcus Says:

    I rather JW learning from AP than from Fitzpatrick. What has Fitz has to offer JW but turnovers. This team was trending up until they got JW to learn from losers in football like Fitz djx Baker lvd GMC tj ward

  40. JimmyJack Says:

    Wow Lavonte David called Warren Sapp a mother f**ker? It’s not possible to win with trash. Or anybody who supports trash like Kwon.

  41. JimmyJack Says:

    Not possible

  42. Joe Says:

    Wow Lavonte David called Warren Sapp a mother f**ker?

    Think it was Kwon.

  43. JimmyJack Says:

    Maybe I’m having a kneejerk reaction but it sounds like we need a new LB core.

    I’ll give Glanton an A for effort but his was a step behind every play today.

  44. Bird Says:

    Fitz payed terrible He looked like a bum. He knows

    It’s on. Play Jameis. Already called it
    Redskind top 10
    Jameis gets New York

  45. Bird Says:

    Joe gets dreams

  46. Bird Says:

    Lamarcus said he would throw Jameis his dingy

    Ranch dressing

  47. Bird Says:

    Titanic last dingy

    Lamarcus was Leonardo

  48. Bruce Says:

    There’s a once a decade QB talent on this team, and all most of you do is complain and bash the guy. I’m not sure why so many Bucs fans are so delusional to think you just deserve winning or an elite qb. It’s been a while in case you forgot. But hey, that’s on you. The sky is the limit with this guy, but unfortunately the floor is the limit for this coaching staff. All the guy cares about is winning and supporting his teammates, and all many of you miserable turds care about is ripping him. Get over yourselves and support your qb. Once he has a competent coaching staff, either here or elsewhere, there will be a buffet of W’s. All you can eat. Free refills.

  49. Bird Says:

    Licht , Koetter done

    Jameis absolutely
    Go Bucs

  50. catcard202 Says:

    JW3 is a gunslinger & TO prone now…But that isn’t the problem, though it does make him an easy scapegoat for L’s & fan discontent…I mean, JW3’s 1st 50 games compare pretty well to Mathew Stafford’s 1st 50…(2009-13). NFL growing pains can hurt! The off the field / immaturity stuff doesn’t help either….But it’s not just JW3 that’s cost the Bucs games.

  51. Defense Rules Says:

    @JimmyJack … “It’s not even about this team competing anymore…….these guys aren’t even trying.” Totally agree with the first half of your statement JimmyJack, but not the second part. The Bucs put a piece of garbage out on the field today, on BOTH sides of the ball (and on our not-so-special teams). They’re certainly not competitive with ANY NFL team right now, BUT none of those players are stupid. You ‘stop trying’ & everyone in the world knows it. It’s on film … and you can forget making any real $$$ in the NFL (unless Licht re-signs you of course). And besides that, one thing I learned playing sports growing up is that when you give less than 100%, THAT’s when you’re most likely to get hurt.

    What breaks my heart watching this Bucs team play is that it’s being led by a bunch of folks with no answers. LEADERSHIP … at ALL levels … has failed this team, yet again. Dirk Koetter has zero idea how to turn this collection of players … some talented, many not … into a winning TEAM. The assistant coaches that he’s assembled have no answers either; it’s just a knee-jerk reaction to events game-by-game and even play-by-play it seems.

    Bucs had PLENTY of opportunities to win that game yesterday, but instead they puked out THREE total points. LOTS of plays THAT WEREN’T MADE could’ve easily changed the outcome, but collectively this Bucs team missed time & time again. They were trying JimmyJack … but they didn’t make the plays WHEN THEY COUNTED. And that’s been happening week after week. The 3rd down play in the Red Zone when the NFL’s highest paid center misfired getting the snap back to Fitz & we ended up with NOTHING on that drive made me want to throw up. Jensen obviously didn’t do that intentionally, but damned, plays like that are totally unacceptable at the NFL level. Those are the kinds of plays that LOSERS make … and that’s why they lose.

  52. @zammypup (IG) Says:

    So four new offensive lineman (off the street) and a Washington on starter walked into a bar…in Tampa.

    Jason Licht’s $40 million dollar defensive line met them.

    Who won?

  53. jay adams Says:

    There have been Generals in War that had leadership qualities but they lacked skills in understanding how to appropriate troops, when to retreat, when to move forward.

    The same situation is what we have here. Leadership is not the only ingredient of the recipe. 6 TDs and 10 Picks so far this season. 2 or more Picks in each of his last 5 games is a terrible pattern.

  54. rrsrq Says:

    What most of you are not seeing here is this. AP respects Jameis and mutually, Jameis respects AP. Imagine Jameis having the trust to turn around and hand the ball off to AP and then imagine AP’s conversations regarding in-game situations with Jameis. It’s called chemistry because they have that working relationship and mutual respect. Right now, who on the offense do you think Jameis has that kinda respect for, yeah he trust ME, Brate and Hump but none of those guys probably command his respect.

  55. Anonymous Says:

    Koetter doesn’t like Jameis