Was Rapoport Right?
December 28th, 2018
NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport.
Now that it’s all out there in public that malcontent wide receiver DeSean Jackson was less than an ideal teammate, for Joe it sheds new light on a year-old report.
Last December, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported there was friction between Bucs coach Dirk Koetter and America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
Both men denied the report, Jameis more forcefully than Koetter. Joe had well-placed sources within the walls of One Buc Palace that went on the offensive claiming the report was complete and total BS.
Joe was skeptical of the report just on face value. Did Jameis and Koetter ever cross swords? Joe is of the mind that likely happened. The history of the NFL is full of quarterbacks who at some point or another did not see eye-to-eye with their coach. It’s almost expected it happens so often. Johnny Unitas, Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach and Steve Young were just some of the famous quarterbacks who openly clashed with their coaches and in some cases had bitter relationships with their coaches.
But as Joe typed the list of stunts that Jackson pulled with the Bucs, Joe began to wonder whether Rapaport wasn’t far off target.
Now Koetter used to sing the praises of Jackson as a teammate, among other things, and about the same time Koetter would indirectly have a critique of Jameis saying about Jackson, “We didn’t get him the ball.”
Joe didn’t think much of this. Jackson clearly was a guy that needed to be stroked and if one would ask Jameis about his play, he would freely admit he needed to improve. So Joe thought of this as mind games by Koetter. The Bucs coach knew he had a fragile ego in Jackson and a tough-minded prodigy with Jameis who could take the public finger-wagging.
But you read of all the nonsense Jackson was up to last year, and that’s just what we know, there likely was much more — with Jackson sleeping in meetings and rarely taking notes and simply having a lazy arse attitude — that had to irk a workaholic like Jameis.
Joe can imagine after a while Jameis thinking, in so many words, why are you supporting this a-hole who won’t put in any effort and is trying to run me out of town when I’m out here busting my tail for this team to try to get better?
Of course, Jameis took a big credibility hit when he lied to his team about his Uber hassle in Arizona.
So as we are hours away from the end of the season and perhaps the end of Koetter as Bucs coach, Joe is starting to think perhaps Rapoport and his report of friction between Koetter and Jameis, now a year old, may have been onto something.
December 28th, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Makes sense to me. If I were Jameis, I’d be pizzed too. But Jameis has a lot of reasons to be mad…at a lot of people (including himself)
December 28th, 2018 at 12:08 pm
I like Koetter as an OC but he just doesn’t command the respect required to be a head coach.
December 28th, 2018 at 12:11 pm
This whole organization is a laughing joke at this point. Think Eddie DeBartolo still wants to buy (LOL)????
December 28th, 2018 at 12:11 pm
Jameis has a reason to be upset… he gives his all, work-ethic and leadership to the team only to have the coach support self-absorbed players above team-oriented ones. Keep Jameis and send D-Jax packing.
December 28th, 2018 at 12:13 pm
Bucsfan will comment and defend Jackson the loser with his usual, Jameis cant hit him deep crap. I love how fans can excuse Jackson’s crap all two years just because hes fast. Hes an overrated ome trick pony who cant catch a ball u less it hits him right in the hands. And even then hell drop it.
December 28th, 2018 at 12:21 pm
America’s Sword Crosser.
December 28th, 2018 at 12:21 pm
i was right along with rapoport when he made that comment….i believe winston and dirk had issues that caused a division starting on offense….that carried over into this season when dirk never had winston back and not naming him the starter after his suspension…the whole QB mess cause the division to carry over to the defensive side of the ball…..
once that happened, players started questioning dirk as a leader and HC…..
dirk has created a huge mess for the next HC to clean up…..
KRIS RICHARD 4 HC!!!!
#REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!…#ADIOSDIRK!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
December 28th, 2018 at 12:23 pm
It just is NOT DJax’ day, is it?
I think we knew what we were getting when we got him, at least people that watch football anyway. The Bucs gambled and lost…..again!
Folks, this is an organizational problem, the inability to bring in like-minded players into a culture or family with a singular goal: Winning! Strong leadership would NOT have allowed this to fester, and boy this must have been festering for a while.
Doesn’t matter. He’s as good as gone next year anyway!
December 28th, 2018 at 12:26 pm
Jameis is a bad deep ball thrower, but even on some of the decen throws into 1-on-1 coverage which targeted Jackson, I never once saw Jackson fight for a Jameis pass.
December 28th, 2018 at 12:26 pm
It is puzzling to me somehow that GMC has escaped all this attention now paid to Djax……TMAX where thou be?
December 28th, 2018 at 12:29 pm
For all of Jameis’ hard-working (workaholic) tendencies, you would think that he would be able to Execute at a High level more consistently than he does.
One would also expect Jameis to be able to utilize our most potent offensive weapon in DJax.
But Jameis couldn’t, so DJax feels like he’s wasting the prime of his career here… Totally understandable.
December 28th, 2018 at 12:35 pm
I knew what we were getting when we signed him
I don’t see how Football people didn’t know.
December 28th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
Fall guy is Dirt not Djax
December 28th, 2018 at 12:59 pm
Somebody please beam DeSean up to the mothership.
December 28th, 2018 at 1:00 pm
Bucsfan3 Says:
December 28th, 2018 at 12:11 pm
Jameis has a reason to be upset… he gives his all, work-ethic and leadership to the team only to have the coach support self-absorbed players above team-oriented ones. Keep Jameis and send D-Jax packing.
________________________
I 100% agree with your post Bucfan3
December 28th, 2018 at 1:02 pm
Yup. All D-Jax fault. Damn him.
Who will be the scapegoat next year for the Messiah ?
Let’s do a poll?
December 28th, 2018 at 1:03 pm
I’m gonna go with receivers , tight ends , Oline , kicker , defense and new scheme cause new coach coming.
December 28th, 2018 at 1:08 pm
Tampabaybucfan- ATrain took care of that on another thread. Oh, and don’t encourage him for pete’s sake!
December 28th, 2018 at 1:10 pm
Bird- You forgot the obligatory, “he’s 25, he’s 26, he’s 27”!
I don’t think he will need a scapegoat next year. He IS, or he ISN’T! End of story.
December 28th, 2018 at 1:13 pm
And the 28th day of December shall now be known as Save Jay-miss Day!
You are giving it 110% today Joes.
Maybe offer to cut the Glazer’s grass if he’ll keep your lord and savior, The Soiled Messiah.
Amen.
December 28th, 2018 at 1:16 pm
^^^
That’s hilarious.
Yah joe is working it big time. We know what joe.
December 28th, 2018 at 1:18 pm
Didn’t we have a winning season the year before Djax got here?
December 28th, 2018 at 1:25 pm
Cgmaster27 Says:
December 28th, 2018 at 12:13 pm
Bucsfan will comment and defend Jackson the loser with his usual, Jameis cant hit him deep crap.
——
Ahhhh geez, running another smear campaign and joe is obsessed with djax today. This sounds a lot like the Doug Martin smear campaign. But didn’t Doug Martin just rush for 100 yards?? Guess Doug Martin wasn’t the problem huh joe?
Does djax run his routes correctly?? Yes
Does djax get open deep downfield?? Yes
Does djax return punt returns for touchdowns when the game is on the line?? Yes
Was djax hired to do all that above?? Yes
Does djax have a quarterback that can complete a deep pass to him?? NOPE!!!
But it’s djax fault for being pissed at this shtty organization right joe?
December 28th, 2018 at 2:10 pm
Hey all of you D-Jax bashers, three things for you to think about:
1- ALL of our receiver numbers were better this year because defenses had to account for D-Jax. Want proof, look a the numbers when D-Jax doesn’t play. Without him our passing game has been pedestrian. At WORST, he is a VERY effective decoy. NO ONE, Evans, Brate, Godwin, Hump has the numbers they do this year without him.
2- trashing his talent(not his attitude) shows how naive you are. His numbers are LEGITIMATE HOF numbers and NO ONE else on our team has career numbers that are even close.
3- make all of the excuses you want but Winston is the ONLY QB he has had issues with. Even journey Fitz could find him.
December 28th, 2018 at 2:18 pm
So D Jax is the official 2018 excuse for the failures of America’s Turnover Machine ?
This season’s new scapegoat?
December 28th, 2018 at 2:24 pm
I concur with Bucnut2. D Jax helped the rest of the receivers get less coverage.
So D Jax gets passed at the inability for Winston to hit the deep ball, so it’s his fault.
D Jax is no angel, but he is a system of QB failure, not THE problem.
The Bucs were a more dangerous offense with a pissed off Jackson than a kum-bay-ya kisssy poo high school rah-rah vibe.
December 28th, 2018 at 2:58 pm
Our offense has missed OJ much more than MeJax this year.
Defenses have to play more cover 2 with MeJax in there but teams have been playing cover 2 vs us anyway because Dirk hasn’t shown he can beat it consistently.
MeJax gives halfassed efforts on deep balls so what makes you think he gives his all on a play to play basis? That alone is bad for our offense. All the guy cares about is HIS stats and how HE is perceived. Late to meetings, falling asleep, fighting coaches? And you idiots are defending him just so you can include this in your Jameis witch hunt? You guys are pathetic
December 28th, 2018 at 2:58 pm
Absolutely.
December 28th, 2018 at 2:59 pm
Our offense has missed OJ much more than MeJax this year.
Defenses have to play more cover 2 with MeJax in there but teams have been playing cover 2 vs us anyway because Dirk hasn’t shown he can beat it consistently.
MeJax gives half fast efforts on deep balls so what makes you think he gives his all on a play to play basis? That alone is bad for our offense. All the guy cares about is HIS stats and how HE is perceived. Late to meetings, falling asleep, fighting coaches? And you idiots are defending him just so you can include this in your Jameis witch hunt? You guys are pathetic
December 28th, 2018 at 3:05 pm
bucnut2 Says:
“trashing his talent(not his attitude) shows how naive you are.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Definitely not trashing DJax’s talent, bucnut2. — I had several posts recently about how much I was looking forward to him being on the field again, because of how much just his presence helps open the offense.
His attitude though, is inexcusable, and it has definitely been a big factor in the disconnect between he & JW.
December 28th, 2018 at 3:09 pm
Bird Says:
“Who will be the scapegoat next year for the Messiah (Jameis)?
Let’s do a poll?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bird, the single biggest factor in determining how Jameis does from here… is Jameis. And always will be.
There have been many other factors at play, there is no question. And the DJax one is a big one.
But Jameis would be the FIRST to admit… that it is up to him to be the best player that he can be.
December 28th, 2018 at 3:15 pm
Alaska and Joe(read Lee)- Ok- nice try at a veiled defense of our “franchise QB”. If you guys don’t think D-jax demands more courage resources than OJ you are just plain uninformed. Go look at the ALL 22 when both are in the game. After New Orleans and Philly, D-Jax was demanding attention. Also, if Koetter cant’t beat cover 2 why was D-jax KILLING it with Fitz at QB? Same offense, same weapons, same crappy line, yet very different results with a different QB. I love OJ but he is not YET Gronk, or any other elite tight end that is demanding attention. Hence the attention paid to D-Jax made everyone else better.
So having debunked your off hand comment, please address my second point
December 28th, 2018 at 3:20 pm
Demon- thank you for your reply. Please see my above point. Winston is the ONLY QB i his 13 year potentially HOF career he has experienced problems with. I ask you, if this were happening in Jacksonville with Bortles at QB, wouldn’t MOST of us sane fans saying the fault lies with the turnover prone, marginal NFL QB verses the HOF wide receiver?
December 28th, 2018 at 3:21 pm
He wasn’t.
Feel free to look up just how well Fitz was “killing it” with DJax.
Trying to think of a more over-hyper player than DeSean Jackson. Can’t right now. Maybe Philip Rivers.
December 28th, 2018 at 3:29 pm
Joe(read Lee) _ have you looked at his career stats?? Also you should check with the Sage Ira, who said on one of his podcast, that D-JAx was a potential HOF. Oh by the way, Rivers is MUCH better than America’s QB!!! It’s obvious that you will go to ANY lengths to defend your boy
December 28th, 2018 at 3:45 pm
Not sure what you are suggesting. Go look at this year’s stats and try to tell anyone Fitz and DJax were lighting it up. They were not. Never, ever compared Jameis to Philip Rivers. DID write Rivers and DJax are overrated. Joe will stick to that. The way (some) Bucs fans masturbate over DeSean Jackson, you would think the guy is Lynn Swann, Jerry Rice and Randy Moss rolled into one. Meanwhile, DJax will be on his fourth team in seven years next fall.
Gee, how could such a transformative talent wear out his welcome so quickly wherever he goes?
December 28th, 2018 at 3:49 pm
Bucnut take your own advice and watch the all 22. First 2 games there was a ton of cover 1 being played which led to the explosives. After the first two games how much did MeJax do?
Fitz was killing it with everyone (not just MeJax) the first couple weeks. He had the best two game stretch in NFL history pretty much. It was a mirage.
If you hold a starting QB to that standard you will never be satisfied, guaranteed.
December 28th, 2018 at 3:52 pm
Not sure why you called Rivers overated and didn’t mention Winston(talk about over rated) please, if you will, respond to my post regarding Bortles. If this were happening in Jax with Borltes( who is tied with Winston for most turnovers n the NFL in the last 4 years), wouldn’t most UNBIASED observers say the turnover prone QB doesn’t get it and potential HOF WR is right?
December 28th, 2018 at 3:53 pm
A- I agree. Which is why I disputed the cover 2 comment. You can’t have it both ways. It was cover 1 with over the top help to D-JAx. No help to OJ!!!
December 28th, 2018 at 3:56 pm
Joe see randy moss. Don’t like the guy buy HOF and QUALITY QB’s found him, just like quality QB’s have found D-JAx
December 28th, 2018 at 3:59 pm
bucnut2 Says:
“I ask you, if this were happening in Jacksonville with Bortles at QB, wouldn’t MOST of us sane fans saying the fault lies with the turnover prone, marginal NFL QB verses the HOF wide receiver?”
———————-
Haha, yes bucnut, I have to admit that if it were Bortles, I would DEFINITELY blame him. LMAO!!!!!
I mean, yes I just view JW very differently than a lot of those other QB’s that have maybe struggled. I think there is genuinely something there with Jameis that could still be special.
I may end up being REALLY FRICKING WRONG.. and if I am, I will definitely admit it. But I do believe there is something there.
Good shouting with ya man
December 28th, 2018 at 4:01 pm
I want to be clear- I don’t love D-jax and am fine if he’s gone. BUT making him the scapegoat for a bad team and a marginal QB is ridiculous!!! The ONLY people that think that are her in Tampa. If you listen to NFL network like I do, almost NO One thinks Winston is very good.
December 28th, 2018 at 4:02 pm
Alaskan… on fire. 100% correct. OJ has been sorely missed. Cover 1 all but disappeared after Eagles
December 28th, 2018 at 4:02 pm
Thank you Demon!!! Same to you!!! See me last post.
December 28th, 2018 at 4:04 pm
NEw- Dude- what are you saying??? OJ played 12 games after Eagles. D-jas will have played 11??
December 28th, 2018 at 4:39 pm
Hahahahaah
Joe – the way you master bate to Jameis
He is joe Montana , Tom Brady Aaron Rodgers.
Do you even listen to yourself.
Hypocrisy bad man.
December 28th, 2018 at 5:45 pm
Jameis is not America’s Quarterback. This is frustrating. It’s like spitting in our faces. This some kind of sick joke?
December 28th, 2018 at 6:27 pm
Support MyQB#3 Jaboo should of took the Draft picks for Djax when we could
December 29th, 2018 at 10:39 pm
Free agents who leave contenders to sign with losing teams are consistently under-achieving pains in the azzes. There have been a few exceptions.
Evan Smith came here to play.
Simeon came here to win a championship.
Vincent Jackson brought it.
Hardy, goes without saying.
Any more?
I’m waiting…