The Jameis Salary Nonsense

January 14th, 2019

Bucs GM Jason Licht explains.

It seems this comes more from highlights-watching-only national voices other than the local pen and mic club, but it still bothers Joe.

There are allegedly reasoned and sober people who think America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, should not be brought back next year not because of his picks, not because of his dicey off-field hassles, not for getting benched this season, but for his salary.

Once again, Jameis is scheduled to be paid $20.9 million for the final year of his current five-year contract, which per Spotrac.com is the 18th-highest salaried quarterback in the NFL. And if a couple of quarterbacks have their deals reworked, Jameis very well could rank lower down the list in the bottom-third of quarterback salaries.

One guy hung up on Jameis’ salary is mock draft-scowling, L.L. Bean-wearing, Second Amendment abolitionistMike Florio-arguingparrot-insensitive, chewing-with-his-mouth-open, soup-gulping, California train-romancinganti-football proliferationouthouse-admiringairline-nappingsteerage-flyingYogi Berra-worshipingurinal picture-takingvideo game-playingTaylor Swift-listeningpickpocket-thwartingBucs-uniform-frowningAllie-LaForce-smittenBig-Ten-Network-hatingpedestrian-bumpingolive oil-lappingpopcorn-munchingcoffee-slurpingfried-chicken-eatingoatmeal-lovingcircle-jerking, craft beer-chugging, cricket-watchingscone-loathingcollege football-naïvebaseball-box-score-readingNPR-honkfilthy-hotel-stayingfight-instigatingbarista-training social activist Peter King of NBC fame.

It seems, per his column this morning on NBCSports.com, King was set straight by Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht in a phone conversation recently.

“If Jameis is somewhere between 15 and 20 right now [in performance] among NFL quarterbacks,” GM Jason Licht told me, “is it really absurd to pick up his fifth-year option [at $20.9 million], considering what other quarterbacks make? No.”

Complaining what Jameis’ salary is would be like going to a Ford dealership and saying, “I have $20,000 in my bank account and that’s all a new F-150 is worth and I’m not spending a dime more!”

The salesman will then escort you to the back of the lot (which is so far back you have to take a golf cart to get there) where there are high-mileage pre-owned 2007 model F-150s.

Don’t want to pay Jameis the fair value? Fine. Then buckle up for Brock Osweiler or Chad Henne.

71 Responses to “The Jameis Salary Nonsense”

  1. Buc50 Says:

    People forget that shopping is supply and demand. Thrift stores have some gems but they are thrift stores for a reason. If you don’t want to pay Jameis, someone else will.

  2. DB55 Says:

    Remember your boy Todd said Brock Osweiler was worth more. Smh

  3. Lubby Smith Says:

    It’s “really absurd” that any athlete is paid $20 million, surely a sign of our impending societal collapse.

  4. 813bucboi Says:

    never understood the compliant….

    #REALISTKNOWSNOTHING!!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!!

  5. Robert Says:

    “should not be brought back next year not because of his picks, not because of his dicey off-field hassles, not for getting benched this season, but for his salary.”

    thats 4 reasons right there….lol

    and he’s not a probowler

  6. tmaxcon Says:

    worrying about salary cap and player salaries when you can’t field a respectable team is the least of the bucs worries. put talent on the field and win championships that is all that matters. you can figure out how to pay for it later. after all that is the American way. live now, pay later or just file bankruptcy and screw everyone. I understand that Personal Responsibility like Masculinity was outlawed years ago but damn. Every cap can be manipulated. bucs problems are talent and leadership, not cap concerns or palyer salaries. putting the cart before the horse again bucfan.

  7. Bucsace Says:

    Jameis is a 2015 high mileage F-150……QB Bluebook price is far less than $20 million

  8. Robert Says:

    complaining what Jameis’ salary is would be like going to a Ford dealership and saying, “I have $20,000 in my bank account and that’s all a 4 year old F-150 with a drunken tenage previous owner, a carfax lookin like lindsay lohan owned it and F the police bumper stickers and old panties in the glove box is worth.

    fixed it fer ya

  9. Pittsshore Says:

    He should be paid as the 24-28th rated QB in the league. After all, that is what he is. Don’t forget….he is one more Hennessy Happy Hour (3H program) away from being banned from the league for an entire season. Our beloved Bucs better protect themselves and draft a QB that they can develop.

  10. Anonymous Says:

    Didn’t Brock get around 17 mil a year? The salary talk is ridiculous.

  11. tmaxcon Says:

    Lubby Smith

    tell people to get off welfare and earn their damn way…. all the freeloaders relaying on the evil old white guys to pay taxes are what is causing the societal collapse that you reference. It’s not the players who work hard to achieve their goals and the right to earn maximum wages. end social programs only the strong survive… fixes global warming and population control too, so it’s a win / win… stop rewarding baby makers. if you can’t afford a baby it should be taken away and given to a family that can…. responsibility people. Players have earned their high salaries. remember these players pay more taxes per year than most of these freeloading baby makers do in a lifetime.

  12. Stevbobucfan Says:

    You know Jameis may not be a top five QB but, Tampa offense wasn’t in the top 5 in the NFL because of Koetter play calling. Jameis has to get some of that credit

  13. RODNEY J ALLEN Says:

    Whether u like it or not hes our qb for at the very least 2019 so quit being a bunch of whiny arses n let’s he how BA does with him. Besides some of y’all talking shiat wanted us to jump into the Brock Osweiler sweepstakes so sit down n stfu

  14. Kalind Says:

    There just aren’t better options. Look, I have liked Jameis since college, but he’s running out of rope. Dude needs to have himself a year, or he needs to be paid veryyyy little to stay beyond next year. Cheap starting QBs allow you to win with dominant defense (money can be spent elsewhere) what a show of leadership it would be for Jameis to go to Licht and say “I’ll take a pay cut to stay.”

  15. Mr Lucky Says:

    I said it last year and people scoffed so I’ll repeat myself: Put out a bid for Nick Foles. No way he stays as back-up to Carson in Philly.

    Then tell Jamies to take a pay cut (to this years salary) or we cut him. Let Nick tutor Jameis.

  16. Wausa Says:

    It’s beyond idiotic what people like Peter King or Max Kellerman say.

    They just want to make headlines.

    Kellerman said last week that The Patriots were the 6th best team out of the 6 AFC teams.

    Peter King says he wont vote for Antonio Brown for the Pro Bowl.

  17. Mr Lucky Says:

    @Tmaxcon, When the team/franchise is NOT winning you NEED to watch salaries. You can’t give top 5 pay to a top 15/20 QB. There aren’t enough fans to justify the Salary

  18. tmaxcon Says:

    jameis is the most talented and most important buccaneer of all time…. get used to it people… learn to love it! you really have no choice…. Jameis will be successful you might as well accept it.

  19. teacherman777 Says:

    We MUST trade down again! We need more second round picks AGAIN because Licht screwed up again!

    Wasted 2nd round picks:

    1. Austin Sefarian Jenkins
    2. Aguayo
    3. Noah Spence
    4. MJ Stewart (who the F scouted this short legged 6th string cornerback?)
    5. Ronald Jones (who the F scouted a RB who is afraid of getting hit, runs upright, has no upper body strength, cant block and cant catch!?)

    So, we must make up for 5 busts!!!

    So, trading down is a must! Again!!

    Like I said last year, nobody drafts guards in the 1st round. So one if the countries best will be there in the 2nd. The second round is the place to draft guards, centers, safeties, and running backs.

    Trade down 2-3 times.

    We need a legit, young, cheap RG.
    We need a RB that break tackles and catch the ball!
    We need a

  20. Bruce Blahak Says:

    Keep one more year…and they better get a succession plan in place, drafting at least 1 QB…

  21. tmaxcon Says:

    Mr Lucky

    the first priority is talent so the team has a chance to compete. then you can deal with cap… i am sure you are one of the 2% of Americans with a savings account and that is very admirable that being said we live in a “live now – pay later or win now pay later society. cap and salaries are the least of this minor league franchises concerns. remember the league has a minimum salary cap for a reason and the glazers are that reason….

  22. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    $20 mil for a QB is not a problem because we only pay one of them big $$$…..

    We have players like Gholston & Djax sucking up salaries and not performing….that is a problem.

    Pay Jameis and get him a defense and a running game….he’ll be worth it.

  23. AlteredEgo Says:

    Simply have to exhaust all doubt …no choice but to go down this road of picking up Jameis’s 5th year option……NO other choice !…

  24. Bucs fan #7423 Says:

    Jamie’s will be another happy camper collecting a paycheck while under performing

    -Bucs culture

  25. 1sparkybuc Says:

    With “fans” like these, no need for trolls. Most prolific QB over any four year period in franchise history. Likely to be the very first ever in near a half century to be offered a second contract. Odds are not good that the 65th candidate for the position is a better option. Fill the holes around Jameis and see what BA can do with him. Our most promising option is Jameis. He’s not going anywhere in the near future. If you can’t support him, find another team that meets your loufty standards.

  26. D-Rome Says:

    It’s not a big deal. It’s one year. I would be outraged if the Bucs signed him to a long term deal. QBs in the bottom 1/3rd of starting QBs should never get the big money long term deal.

  27. TexBuc Says:

    I’m more concerned who will be our DL coach than any player’s salary.

  28. ndog Says:

    Jameis had 14 picks this year right? 2 in the Bears game when he was put in when it was over, after being off for 3 weeks (self inflected of course). Two hail marys (NO and NYG). One off Mike Evans in the Atlanta game. So when you take all that into account he really threw 9 that were bad passes and 4 of those were in the Cincy game, which was a complete disaster. So 9 picks in 11 games is not horrible, not ideal, but not horrible either.

  29. Lord Cornelius Says:

    @ndog

    All I know is he had 2 picks in the last 6.5 games of play that were actually his fault.

    And in general he is at worst a top 16-20 QB. At worst. Which is worth $20M nowadays. If you don’t think so go watch Case Keenum highlights from 2018 and what they got for that $$.

    At worst he is a top 16-20 QB with upside to be top 5 that he has flashed throughout his early career. His 3rd / 4th seasons were both ones in which he missed time. I’d like to see a full healthy season at this point in his career.

  30. tmaxcon Says:

    joe can you have one of your minions do a workup of how many of jameis picks directly cost the bucs a win. the defense led by the crying clown gave up far more leads costing the bucs wins than any of jameis picks.

    if you people cared about wins as much as picks glazers would have been forced to hire a real man at coach years ago.

  31. stpetebucsfan Says:

    I have a suspicion that 20 million may be off for JW’s salary but not for the reasons being discussed.

    Either he busts and we can all gripe at that time…or what I believe is more likely…he plays very well for a dramatically improved TEAM..and the 20 million is a bargain!!!

    If we get to the playoffs next year 20 million is taking advantage of JW.

    But it’s all a moot point anyway. We HAVE to have a starting QB and right now that’s JW. Buckle up and hope we’re stealing money from JW not the other way around.

  32. AlteredEgo Says:

    Joe..can you do a work up on the total cap dollars down the drain with Licht’s FA signings….

  33. TexBuc Says:

    or maybe how times the defense gave up the lead in the 4th quarter???

    how many missed extra points and fields goals directly causing the TEAM to lose???

  34. tmaxcon Says:

    AlteredEgo Says:
    January 14th, 2019 at 11:48 am

    Joe..can you do a work up on the total cap dollars down the drain with Licht’s FA signings….

    you won’t want to see that number especially considering Lovie Smith had his hands on about 96 million in mistakes. Lovie did far more damage than Licht ever could.

  35. Buc1966 Says:

    Draft Will Grier, and send lying cheating Winston packing. Can’t put him in our public schools. They CAN find QB who will win as many or more games than Winston and not have to protect any females he gets around. This wasn’t a “hassle” as Joe likes to gaff it off as. It was hurting his team, his family, his fans, and the girl who was just doing her job. He is LUCKY she didn’t simply call the cops.

  36. miken Says:

    @texBuc … This year, Zero and zero

  37. Buc1966 Says:

    Can a person be coached after 4 years with the same problems to not be careless with the football, make better decisions on and off the field, and be an honest man? Doubt it. I agree, he is the best prospect for QB for 2019, but he isn’t the guy going forward…on the field or off the field. Keep the slob around, and show Will Grier how NOT to be. In the meantime, JW has a bright future as a backup somewhere, but no one will hire him to be the face of the franchise. And it would take longer than a year of keeping his nose clean to decide to pay him $100M for five years. Draft the future, and trade him early 2019 to a team that needs a QB “now.” No, don’t tell me about Big Ben. JW is no Big Ben, and this is no PIT metropolis. Clean it up. Clean it all up.

  38. Buc1966 Says:

    Funny how guys here are trying to mitigate the JW picks by saying they are not all his fault, and should not count. Sure, work up states with all QBs in the NFL if you want to apply such a bogus stat to Winston.Winston would have to improve his character to just get suspended for dogfighting or fixing a game (offenses of two other QBs in NFL history). And how many QBs have been suspended in NFL history for NFL findings or otherwise of sexual misconduct? Two, I believe. JW is one of them. Congrats…a real gem. Not the future.

  39. MHBuc25 Says:

    Nick Foles at 21 million or Jameis at 21 million (including off the field)

    You take Foles.

  40. T REX Says:

    I dont care what he’s paid if he stops turning it over and starts winning. If we have a losing record it is time to dump him. Everyone agree?

  41. Anonymous Says:

    None of the money comes directly out of anyone’s pocket tv review pays the player salary the team just has to manage it properly. He really hasn’t done anything more then Brock Osweiler or Chad Henne . As far as wins.

  42. Zwak Says:

    I don’t pay them and don’t care who makes what as long as we stay out of cap trouble..

  43. Roadwarrior Says:

    The money doesn’t really come out of anybody’s pocket directly all the players salaries were paid for by TV revenue. Now the Glazer‘s made a killing on the tv money for a long time. James hasn’t done anything more than Brock or Chad as far as wins go But I guess he has more upside. not so sure about that Either.
    I think you can be better. Bruce and his staff or figure that out.

  44. Jeff Says:

    Thank you Joe! Also, it’s a 1 year deal! We have him at a complete steal! I’ve just accepted that there are always going to be people that hate him and any argument rational or not that they can use to try to get rid of him, they will cling to.

  45. cw_buc_crazy Says:

    You lower your expectations when you pay a mediocre QB, with very questionable character $21 million/year. This is what happen when unions get involved, and mixed with owner’s greed.
    You may say art/sport gives you satisfaction and pleasure in your leisure time, but what entertainment had JW gives us…!? only headache. I guess WE don’t matter. Keep paying , don’t create waves….. is going to be fine. This is what they think. $21 million, wow.

  46. Joel Says:

    “Then buckle up for Brock Osweiler or Chad Henne.”

    Osweiler is 15-15
    Henne is 18-35
    Winston is 21-33

    Without spouting off meaningless stats (stats are for losers), what has Jameis done to show he’s better than either of those guys?

    2013, he won a title with a defense at FSU that is basically all in the pros.
    2014, he was a turnover machine at FSU.

    So 2014 thru 2018, he’s been the same guy. A liability to his team.

  47. Pittsshore Says:

    Right on Joel!!!!

  48. celly Says:

    Here is where you can find the currently salary for QBs under contract for the 2019 season.

    Excluding those under rookie contract, if you don’t think Jameis would easily get that amount on the open market, then you’re only fooling yourself. We’re only paying market value, so stop complaining.

  49. stpetebucsfan Says:

    Celly

    Where ya been dude? Good to see you back.

  50. Morgus the Magnificent Says:

    Screw the money issue!! He SPECIFICALLY “should not be brought back next year because of his picks, because of his dicey off-field hassles, for getting benched this season” AND for splitting the fan base….it sucks.

  51. tmaxcon Says:

    Buc1966

    Hey clown remind me what charges winston was convicted of?????

  52. passthebuc Says:

    Must be a typo
    but i agree as posted, is absurd to pick up his 5th year.

  53. Buc1987 Says:

    Buc1966…you guys are all the same.

    You should start an Anti-Jameis Winston Fan Club or something. All of your talking points are all the same.

    The best part about it is you keep repeating the same BS off the filed blah blah blah crrrrrrrrrrrrrap!!!

    We know what he did off the field. EVERYONE knows. We know his past. Not many of us are too hung up on it. Unlike a few 100 fans or so. Most of us WANT Winston to succeed. Some of us (like me) still think he WILL.

    Come back tomorrow and tell us again how you feel about Jameis.

  54. cw_buc_crazy Says:

    Tom Brady $15 M vs JW $21 M what kind of ‘market value’ make sense here!!! Screw the market value, he is not worth it. You don’t pay for a Yugo the same or more then you pay for a Cadillac. Non sense!

  55. D1 Says:

    t max,

    1966 never mentioned Winston was convicted .
    You imagining assaults on Winston’s character at this point or anticipating them?
    You didn’t need to pull out the “no convictions ” defense. Jameis isn’t a Mafia kingpin or Capo.

  56. YucsFan Says:

    Watching those games yesterday, just shows how far off the Yucs really are ?? Jason Licht should have been fired, but must have something very juicy in the inept Glazer boys ?? To see all the players that the Yucs could have drafted in the past 5 years was truly unbelievable!!!! Once again he will miss on another draft and maybe.. just maybe we will go 8-8 ? Shame on this franchise for selling us BS that we were a playoff team when they could have traded DJax, McCoy, David, and maybe Brate for 2nd, 3rds, and 4ths ? I would love to see them trade Joes quarterback JW to a hungry team and maybe land a first and sign Foles to a 3 year deal ? Like I’ve said so many times look at how the Lightning are run and Stevie Y retires and they bring in BrezE and you have the best team in the NHL. BA is a good guy, but will not be able to make this team a contender because JW will fold under the pressure or do something stupid again. They should of Balled up and changed everything!!!!

  57. cw_buc_crazy Says:

    @YucsFan
    ————-
    I can’t agree more. nothing to add in this summery. Well put it together.

  58. YucsFan Says:

    Oh and JawMiss isn’t worth 20.9 !!! He’s a joke and just imagine if he ever plays in a playoff game ?? Oh man it would be horrific, but thank God this is his last year with the Yucs!!! Please do something stupid or maybe a tape comes out, so we don’t have to see him play next year !! I wouldn’t be surprised is Byron Sandwich is still more accurate then squinted or eats Ws

  59. YucsFan Says:

    @cw_buc_crazy says
    I know some spelling was off, but even ex Bus balled out ? It’s just sad and really wish Malcom’s sons would sell this team. I pay big money for 4 stadium tickets each year and tired of giving them away after week 7?? The same song and dance, but they don’t care if people show because they still are banking !!! Can you really see JW dealing with the pressure of playoff football when he can barely deal with the regular season ? BA isn’t a magician and just don’t see it happening and not trying to be pessimistic, but would be fielding calls all day for JW and everyone except Godwin, Howard, and Evans

  60. down in the dirt Doug Says:

    Better running, plus better offensive line, plus better coaching, equals a better Winston—-see—easy math.

  61. tmaxcon = POSITIVE REALITY Says:

    D1

    winston haters are acting like he committed first degree murder when he made an unwanted advance 3 years and was chased down by a gold digging skans with the same lawyer from the original gold digging skank that slander this fine young mans reputation. me too movement is a joke and are the sheep that blindly follow the libtrad crisis trend of the day

  62. Jean Lafitte Says:

    That’s $1.3 million a game to watch an average QB lose.

    Boy, here’s a thought. If only we paid him $1.5 million a game he might win.

    Makes sense to me. Why use that money to build a winning program with All Pro players so we could win despite our crappy average turnover prone QB?

    Maybe all those extra zeros will make JW play better? You know with a couple extra dollars thrown in my direction it could turn me into a JW jockstrap holder as well. I’ll even make it team friendly and start at $10,000. Do that and I’ll hold my nose and defend JW with every bit of my unscrupulous fiber to the bitter end..

  63. Ndog Says:

    YucsFan just wondering didn’t your boy Foles just throw two picks yesterday? But you don’t want Jameis cause he turns the ball over right?

  64. Ndog Says:

    In fact Foles has 7 picks in his last 5 games but don’t like Jameis cause he throws picks right? Then why do you want Foles? Oh that’s right cause you have no idea what you are talking about.

  65. Ndog Says:

    Also Foles started 5 regular season games this year and had a TO in every one of them. Then in the playoffs he threw 2 picks in each game yet he is the guy you want. But don’t those numbers scream turnover machine?

  66. Jean Lafitte Says:

    ^^^^he’s not the Iggles starting franchise QB either. In fact, he’s just another ho hum average backup that has been out performing your “America’s QB sensation Jameis Winston” for his entire career despite the fact he’s had no starting gig.

    …and by the way, didn’t he win the SB as the backup for the Iggles? What has JW provided to this point? 3 out of 4 double digit losing seasons <— So yeah Foles can throw interceptions but he can also strap a team on his back and win.

  67. DaPostman Says:

    @Jean,

    Why didn’t Aaron Rodgers strap the Packers on his back and win this year? Do you think Foles is better than Rodgers?

  68. Bucsace Says:

    Byron Leftwich’s early career at Jacksonville was actually more successful than Winston’s tenure in Tampa so far

  69. Morgus the Magnificent Says:

    I absolutely LOVE how the Winston apologists are attempting to elevate their turnover machine, groper, FHITP, helmet-pushing, starting a fight from the sidelines in street clothes, $900k FSU expenditure guy by COMPARING him to a second string, soon to be traded for a 4th round draft choice !QB. I agree with that comparison.

  70. BucsFanAgain? Says:

    Tmax calls Winston a “Fine young man” and then accuses others of being blind?!

    Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!

    You couldn’t make this stuff up!

  71. HateAndLoveTheBucs Says:

    Peter King – Jameis is 15-20 in talent. Salary is 18th highest. Not seeing the problem. Add to it, I think this staff might be able to help him get that long ball back that he had in college.