Take Risks But Don’t Gamble”

December 20th, 2018

The new subdued and extraordinarily mellow version of America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, was back on display today during his weekly news conference at One Buc Palace.

It just feels so strange to Joe seeing Jameis so overly calm and even. It’s been an odd transformation.

Jameis was asked, in general terms, whether his game has been neutered because he’s so focused on not turning the ball over. He waved off that notion, saying he is still scrambling and looking to make plays.

“Take risks but don’t gamble,” Jameis said, noting that’s best explanation of his football mindset.

Joe liked the phrasing. It’s good to hear Jameis say he’s just taking calculated chances and risks. Still, Joe thinks Jameis looks a little neutered on the field, playing a little scared at times.

Joe would love to see a complete and spirited game from Jameis on Sunday against Dallas. He looks like he could use a little fun that a win and a good showing would provide.

Today’s video is below.

59 Responses to “Take Risks But Don’t Gamble””

  1. Cs2 Says:

    14 TD and 13 ints is totally taking risks

  2. AlteredEgo Says:

    Sad…hard to listen to…sounds like a broken man

  3. Cgmaster27 Says:

    Cs2 let’s look at it since he was benched since hes clealry been different since then. 8 TDs and 3 picks, 2 of them being hail Mary’s.
    Now can he continue it? Well see

  4. stpetebucsfan Says:

    All things considered getting JW neutered was a good thing. Would we rather have a winning QB or a record setting QB?

    “Neutered” Jameis is what has given me some semblance of hope for the kid. Just like horse racing…sometimes you need to create a gelding to harness the energy and have a winner.

  5. Brandon Bob Says:

    Of Winston’s 13 picks, 2 I believe were tied, 3 while ahead and 8 when the Bucs were behind. Maybe a check down charlie who doesn’t try to win the game when trailing would be a better fit for you morons. No picks when trailing but all losses. Bunch of loser mentality on this site.

    Didn’t Coach Edwards state ” You play to win the game”, not you play to not throw turnovers

  6. Dirks Great Granpappy Says:

    It’s a tale of two seasons for Jameis and both are total extremes. He needs to find balance. He doesn’t need to match Fitzs first two games and he shouldn’t play scared.

    He needs a more progressive system to get him to take the next step

  7. Zwak Says:

    Put him on ice and evaluate Griffin we need to see if he’s a capable of being our backup next year!

  8. MHBuc25 Says:

    “”Zwak Says:
    December 20th, 2018 at 5:17 pm
    Put him on ice and evaluate Griffin we need to see if he’s a capable of being our backup next year!

    Too many people are scared that Griffin would play very well, sad state of the new NFL. You crown QB’s “the franchise” prior to them taking a snap in the NFL. And the same people, including Joe, bitching about Mike Glennon days want #3 to have the best supporting cast and now it’s the OL holding him back. When that was brought up w/ Glennon they scoffed at it saying “A franchise QB like Winston instantly makes your offensive line a top 10 OL.”

    About that one… Yea.

  9. Buccernutter Says:

    Brandon

    We have the dumbest fans in sports. Sometimes I wonder if we deserve to win with some of these fans.

  10. DB55 Says:

    Joe thinks Jameis looks a little neutered on the field, playing a little scared at times.
    —————-
    By chance has the transformation become more visible after the first half on the Saints game? I say yes it has. He was on fire that first half since then he been acting like – no running, don’t hit me, aww don’t touch me. –

    The sooner you get Dotson and Benenoch out of here the better.

  11. SchwiftyBuc Says:

    Been saying it for the better part of 2 years. Give Jameis a good O-line,

  12. AlteredEgo Says:

    SchwiftyBuc Says:
    December 20th, 2018 at 5:28 pm
    Been saying it for the better part of 2 years. Give Jameis a good O-line,

    GM gave him weapons first…and here we are..if Jameis does not work out we are stuck with scalpels when we need shovels

  13. SchwiftyBuc Says:

    Ok… Give Jameis a good O-line, a good running game, and even an average defense, and he will have us in playoff contention year in and year out, and with a defense that’s actually good he can win Superbowls. Haters are gonna hate and talking heads gonna talk.

    Objective people that actually watch games and can evaluate football at even a moderately high level can see that Jameis has all the required tools to be a top 10 QB in this league every single year if he has the right team around him.

  14. Rod Munch Says:

    Tell a 24-year old Favre if he takes chances or turns the ball over he’s benched for good.

    Yeah, that’s how you coach a gunslinger running a 1970s deep ball Air Coryell offense.

  15. Bird Says:

    ^^^
    Huh?

    Take Blake Bortles . And I am a ucf grad. I’m not a homer like the messiah cult for Jameis Bortles has been pretty terrible. They have pretty much the same turnovers since in the nfl. Jameis is obviously better. No question.

    However , Bortles had all the above last year. Good oline. Good run game . Good defense. They almost made the super bowl despite him.

    Any qb …good or bad could do the same thing with that reasoning. What am I missing ?

  16. JIMMY T Says:

    Hey Cs2
    2 against the Bears in a game he should never have played in. The 4 in one game against bengals & one Hail Mary against Saints so keep just looking at numbers instead of peeling the onion a little bit. 1 pick is too many for the HATER CLOWNS. Every QB has bad games. Big Ben had 11 picks in 2 games this year. FITZ had a chance to do something special but he PETERED out after 2 games. If we had a kicker and a D we could have won the Falcons game. IF KOETTER starts Jameis at GIANTS we probably win that game. It’s waaay more than one player but to you Jameis haters we woukd be 16-0 if he wasn’t here.

  17. Mike Says:

    Rod Munch is spot on….
    They have this kid walking on eggshells- he’s calm because he’s numb and checked out.

  18. Not there yet Says:

    Agreed we have the dumbest fans in sports, it’s like the drunk uncle at all family functions, you just have to learn to ignore them

  19. JIMMY T Says:

    Big Ben has a great TEAM behind him. He throws picks EVERY GAME but they win so no complaints. If Jameis throws 4 TDS runs for 1 & has 2 picks and we lose HE GETS THE BLAME! That’s why he knows and many others know that if he played for an ORG that didn’t waste 2nd round picks on kickers and built their O line and D linetheough the draft he would win many games. Let’s see what a new coach with a real plan FOR BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL CAN DO. If that happens and Jameis poops the bed than fine but UNTIL THEN none of u should want to throw away a young, talented QB

  20. Bucs Fan #7423 Says:

    Will Jamies turn the ball over 3 times?

    Wiill Jamies play good in the second half?

    Will Jamies be confused by the defense?

    Will Jamies throw 4 touchdowns?

    Find out next time on Dragon ball Z

  21. Rayjay1122 Says:

    Isnt risk and gamble synonymous with one another?

  22. ben Says:

    look at nfl qb rating between Winston and Fitz… and then ask why is Winston worth the big $$$ ???

  23. Mikiebucsfan76 Says:

    I don’t care what the Jameis haters say I would like to see Jameis with a very good coaching staff including QB coach and a good defense and see how far this team can go. I think what’s been missing from bucs coaching staffs has been good leadership and teachers many players are crappy when they play for the bucs then they go somewhere else and become stars

  24. Hodad Says:

    Jameis is as subdued as the fans. Last two home games nobody has shown up. Licht, and Koetter have sucked all hope out of the fan base, and now it’s being reflected by the players. What could Jameis possibly be up beat about? He knows he’s facing a pissed Dallas team playing for the division at home. He knows he has no Elliott, or run game of his own. He knows there will be break downs in his pass protection, and he better brace for the hits. He knows his H.C. has no answers, and will be fired. Merry Xmas Jameis.

  25. Tampa Bay Demon Says:

    It reminds me of when Mike Tyson was on that interview with Barbara Walters, after Robyn Givens had slipped him those drugs. Jameis does look neutered. Not even a shell of the personality he once was.

    The calm and composed demeanor on the field is good, in a way, for him. But i fear the things that made him truly who he was as a leader, may be neutered out of him. We will see.

  26. LakeLand Says:

    It will get better against a weak Atlanta Falcons defense in week 17

    Then fans will be calling him the franchise again

    Nothing like a weak, pathetic ,injured defense

    If you’re an NFL QB

  27. Tampa Bay Demon Says:

    Cheers, Schwifty. Great frikkin post!

  28. Kobe Faker Says:

    “Did we fire our incompetent recievers coach yet?

    Skylar diggins? We have the worst position coaches in the NFL thanks to Klueless. Where the hell did he pick this cat from?

    Goofy lookin Brate caught 1 pass for 9 yards? 7 million? Brate makes more than Jameis

    Godwin has regressed under this coach

    We have 2 of the sloppiest route running outside recievers in meme evans and mejax

    Precision pass patterns and scheme? …

    Kobe Fakers biological clock

    11 days 5 hours and change”

    Kobe Faker

  29. Mike Johnson Says:

    I’ve always Loathed them CowGirls. I guess its because they were so good..for so long. It would be like a superbowl to me if we marched into that Jerry Jones state of the art stadium and whipped up on them Cowgirls! In front of a probably filled stadium. That would be great. One never knows which game our Bucs will bring.

  30. Defense Rules Says:

    In reality we have no real way to evaluate Jameis this year as a franchise QB. Missing the first few games (his own fault) hurt, in more ways than one. Coming in late in the Chicago game was meaningless (way behind; short week to prepare). Since then he’s started against the Falcons (a close loss), the Browns (a close win), the Bengals (another close loss where he was pulled in the 3rd qtr), benched in the Panthers & Redskins games (both losses), but came in in relief in the Giants game (yet another close loss), started against the 49ers & Panthers (both wins), and against the Saints & Ravens (both bad showings IMO).

    However, our OLine has been quite mediocre most of the year, our running game has been close to non-existent (at least when it counts), and our defense has left a lot to be desired (trying to be kind). Add to that losing OJ and for awhile DJax (both of whom ‘stretch the field’ better than our other receivers and it all has to impact QB play in various game situations.

    Personally think that those who use the term ‘Jameis-haters’ are just pandering to fan ‘extremes’ (seems to be a LOT of that going around nowadays in the political realm, so maybe this is just a spin-off of that). Have talked to a LOT of Bucs fans in the past 4 years, and have yet to meet a single one who ‘hates’ Jameis. Have talked to a lot who aren’t impressed by some of his reported off-field ‘episodes’ and others who aren’t impressed by his inconsistent performances on the field, but to say that any of them ‘hate’ Jameis is ludicrous IMO. Personally hoping that a year with some new coaches & (hopefully) an improved surrounding cast will bring the ‘Good Jameis’ more to the forefront. Bucs need STABILITY as much as anything & a QB-carousel hardly leads to team stability.

  31. cmurda Says:

    Nobody can convince me that we should get rid of Jameis via trade or otherwise and either draft or pick up another QB. Jameis hasn’t been our issue. This tissue defense has. I’ve seen a bit of hope that a good defensive minded coach could fix our defense. Kicking and defense has cost us playoff positioning, not Jameis. The difference between early turning the ball over Jameis and the more recent not turning the ball over Jameis was simply the scoreboard. We were getting our doors blown off early in the season. The last few, we haven’t. Jameis was great against the 9ers top 10 defense and pretty good against Carolina. He wasn’t great against the Aints and Ravens but he didn’t get a whole lot of help from his friends. For some reason Godwin forgot how to catch a football and the O Line has been awful.

  32. BeeBucs Says:

    Time for us to MOVE ON!!!!! Trade Jameis to the Broncos for 2019 1st and 2020 1st or 2nd. Draft Justin Herbert if he declares.

  33. Slugglife Says:

    Goofy looking Brate?

    He could bang your chick with you in the room and you couldn’t do anything to stop it. If you tried to stop it your lady would slap you.

  34. Defense Rules Says:

    Agreed cmurda, but I get the feeling that there’s more to this year’s 5-9 record than we all have been told. We started off 2-0 this season & had a pretty good offense going, but we’re 3-9 since then. The same offense that scored 48 pts against the Saints in Week 1 only scored 14 pts against them in Week 14. The same defense that surrendered 42 pts to the Panthers in Week 9 only gave up 17 pts in Week 13 (both weeks coached by Duffner BTW). Fitz started 1 game against the Saints (a win) & 1 game against the Panthers (a loss). Jameis started 1 game against the Panthers (a win) and 1 game against the Saints (a loss). Where the (blankety-blank) is our team CONSISTENCY?

  35. Kobe Faker Says:

    “Kobe’s chick? Lady?

    I havent had any action for over 10 years…and i always had to pay

    You must be new

    Im a pathetic loser just like the yucs”

    Kobe Faker

  36. BucEmUp Says:

    When was the last time Jameis called off a play and complete changed a formation prior to snap that wasn’t designed based on what he was seeing?

    To say his game has been neutered is an understatement. More like led out to pasture. I haven’t seen the same aggresevness as we did with Monken early on. The entire offense looks afraid to play fast. Nobody looks like they are having fun..The defenses are never playingnon their heels. Koetter has neutered the entire team. The Glaziers should demote him to special teams assistant and make him quit

  37. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Test

  38. BrianBucs Says:

    This new, subdued and mellow version of Winston is the result of one of two things:
    The Bucs are trying to give him a more likable persona because they know that the vast majority of Bucs fans don’t want him here and won’t pay big money to watch him play, hence the empty stadium
    OR
    Winston’ s league ordered counseling, of which he is taking three different kinds, is changing his personality to make him a better person and keep him out of trouble, this avoiding an indefinite suspension next time. Maybe some shrink has him on some kind of antidepressants or something for ADHD or Manic Depression
    Something has changed though with Winston as he seems much more confined, both on and off of the field

  39. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Taking a risk and gambling are essentially the same thing……semantics.

    What is important is the risk-reward…..there are times where the reward doesn’t warrant the risk involved.

    A throw deep downfield on 3rd and long has a high reward and relatively low risk for example, if it is intercepted it is no worse than a punt…..but if it is successful BAM!!!

    Jameis threw 3 interceptions in Bengals territory and a fourth was a pick 6.

    Now that will lose a game for sure.

    I don’t hate Jameis….I support him because he is a Buc…..I hope he improves and helps us to become a winner.

    I just may be possible that if our coaching staff is as incompetent as many say it is….some new coaches may have a positive influence on him.

  40. Jim Says:

    Hopefully he’ll head butt a another Cowboy line backer Sunday and we can all breathe a big sigh of relief…

  41. BucsFanAgain? Says:

    RodMunch,
    Favre even said that Winston isn’t a Favre-like player. Careless and inaccurate doesn’t equal greatness. You are constantly confused by the distinction.

    Sincerely,
    Everyone Else

  42. Tampa Bay Demon Says:

    Stupid comment, Jim

  43. BrianBucs Says:

    Anybody that compares Winston to Favre needs to sober up

  44. down in the dirt Doug Says:

    Note to Jameis.It has been very hard on you this year.I want you to know that many of us are thankful that you are our quarterback.WE LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU AND WANT YOU TO LEAD US TO A SUPERBOWL VICTORY. GIVE US A SMILE AND LETS BEAT THOSE COWGIRLS!!!!

  45. MHBuc25 Says:

    “”BrianBucs Says:
    December 20th, 2018 at 8:59 pm
    Anybody that compares Winston to Favre needs to sober up””

    I got one better… how about those comparing Winston to Peyton Manning or Drew Brees? That’s about as bad as it gets in 2019. There’s not enough meth in Marion County to make you that high.

  46. Fire Light Says:

    Fireeeeee Licht!

  47. Mike Johnson Says:

    Actually guys..the new..subdued Jameis is pretty cool. Less drama and less cockiness. HE HAS BEEN HUMBLED. And..thats a good thing! He now understands its not about spur of the moment slingin the ball like it was at FSU. You cannot get away with that crap in this NFl. Everybody in the secondary is good. They will pick your A** off ! bigtime. So he gets it..FINALLY. I think Jameis is going to be allright. And with a new coach and a new system? He is going to SHINE. You heard it hear 1st from..Mike Johnson.

  48. Knoxville Bucs Fan Says:

    Your new head coach could very well be in Dallas Would be interested to know if the Glazers are introduced to “Kris Richard” come Sunday. You on it Steve/Lee? Richard is the real deal This dude made the Legion of doom

  49. tickrdr Says:

    More fun with statistics, UPDATED:
    First of all, kudos to ProFootballReference.com, where all of these statistics are generated. I admit to being a “stats nerd”, so I often look for a statistic which may help to define good QB play. One I have always liked is TD percentage, i.e. the percent of passes attempted which result in a touchdown pass. So, if you get a list of 2018 passers, and sort the column by TD percentage you get:
    Now SUBTRACT the respective INT percentages yields:
    Mahomes = TD 8.7% – INT 2.1 = 6.6
    Wilson = TD 8.2% – INT 1.6 = 6.6
    Tannehill = TD 7.2% – INT 2.7 = 4.5
    Brees = TD 6.9% – INT 1.1 = 5.8
    Fitzpatrick = 6.9% – INT 4.9 = 2.0
    Rivers = 6.9% – INT 1.8 = 5.1
    Luck = 6.1% – INT 2.3% = 3.8
    Trubisky = 6.1% – INT 3.2% = 2.9
    Dalton = 5.8% – INT 3.0% = 2.8
    Ryan = 5.6% – INT 1.1% = 4.5
    Watson = 5.6% INT 2.1% = 3.5
    Goff = 5.3% – INT 2.5% = 2.8
    Wentz = 5.2% – INT 1.7% = 3.5
    Mayfield = 5.2% – INT 2.7% = 2.5
    Roethlisberger = 5.2% – INT 2.6% = 2.6
    Mullens = 4.9% – INT 3.0% = 1.9
    Cousins = 4.8% – INT 1.8% = 3.0
    Winston = 4.7% – INT 4.4% = 0.3
    Brady = 4.7% – INT 1.8% = 2.9
    Rodgers = 4.3% – INT 0.4% = 4.4
    Darnold = 4.0% – INT 4.3% = -0.3
    Stafford = 3.9% – INT 2.2% = 1.7
    Carr = 3.8% – INT 1.6% = 2.2
    Prescott = 3.7% – INT 1.8% = 1.9
    I stopped here because Prescott has the lowest TD percentage of any QB whose team is leading their division. Note: Lamar Jackson was purposely not included due to small sample size to date. I believe this list includes ALL of the division leaders at present, and all of the current seeds for wildcard playoff slots, except Lamar Jackson. Not surprising that a list of 24 QBs would include all of the playoff QBs.
    tickrdr
    BTW:
    The last five NFL MVPs were all QBs.
    Their TD percentages during their MVP years were:
    And subtracting their INT percentages yields:
    2017 Brady = 5.5% – INT 1.4% = 4.4
    2016 Ryan = 7.1% – INT 1.3% = 5.8
    2015 Newton = 7.1% – INT 2.0% = 5.1
    2014 Rodgers = 7.3% – INT 1.0% = 6.3
    2013 Manning = 8.3% – INT 1.5% = 6.8

  50. Pete I Says:

    So basically BAD Jameis was a gambling turnover machine who was hard to watch because he lost games. And the GOOD Jameis is a dull hard to watch boring machine who loses games…

  51. Bucsfanman Says:

    So long as he doesn’t throw stupid interceptions and makes good decisions, I could care less whether he’s “neutered” or not.

  52. Fire Light Says:

    That’s like saying calling an escort your girlfriend.

  53. PhillyBuc Says:

    So he goes from a spastic maniac eating W’s to a dull, spiritless accountant in one year? Something wrong here, time to move on and please take Gmac with him.

  54. Jim Says:

    When I offered that an “excited” Jameis Winston might head butt a defending line backer, just as he has done before when playing Dallas, Demon became upset and hurled an insult. These are the risks we take when we make a fact-based observation regarding our QB’s less-than-perfect, ummm…actions/accuracy/character/intelligence/control,..take your pick. Seriously, when have we EVER seen a quarterback head butt a linebacker?

  55. Brandon Bob Says:

    Bucs Fan again,

    “Favre even said that Winston isn’t a Favre-like player”

    Farve said the same thing about Rogers

  56. Anonymous Says:

    Jim Says:
    “Seriously, when have we EVER seen a quarterback head butt a linebacker?”

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Does Tom Brady count? — Willie McGinest had to teach Tom to learn to calm down before games, after Tom head butted about 12 teammates in the locker room.

  57. Anonymous Says:

    @Jim,

    I think I misunderstood the nature of your comment, and want to apologize for what I said. Take care

  58. Tampa Bay Demon Says:

    ^^ Last 2 comments were both from me. — Sorry, forgot to sign in.

  59. Thisisagarbageblog Says:

    First, risk and gamble has the same conotation. Whoever is selling Jameis on that perception should be fired. Jameis must play within in the ability of the players surrounding him. That players ability is neutered by inept coaching and a cancer called Desean Jackson. If Jameis played with in the ability of his offensive line he would throw the ball away or take a sack and wait for the next play. Dumb donkeys.