“Internet Law”

September 10th, 2019

Tread carefully.

Joe really, really enjoys the work of Mike Tanier of Bleacher Report and sometimes Football Outsiders.

He’s a math guy (a former high school math teacher who once had a student NFL fans may recognize: Joe Flacco) who is an even better, more enlightening if not fun writer.

And in a Bleacher Report column about America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, Tanier has decided to toy with Internet Law.

Internet Law is, when it comes to the NFL, to ignore Week 1. Why? Because the social media mob say so; because they don’t like the results of Week 1.

But Tanier believes Internet Law does not apply to Jameis as he has very limited weeks in his life to turn around his play on the field or the Bucs will turn around and draft a new quarterback next year, and for all we know Jameis will be pitching in the St. Louis Cardinals organization as a closer.

Now, Internet Law requires all NFL columnists to warn readers not to jump to conclusions after Week 1. You know the drill: It’s only one game. Opening day results can be misleading. Winston is learning a new system. Be patient. …

Back in 2017, Winston tried to snap the Bucs out of a losing streak before a Saints game with his memorably corny “Eat a W” routine. Everyone from Golden Tate to Joe Flacco eventually dunked on the silliness, but it was also an illustration of the type of upbeat leader Winston strives to be, the guy with the infectious personality who gets teammates to believe in him and themselves. …

Quarterback wins aren’t a real stat. But interceptions are. And when you throw as many as Winston keeps throwing, no matter how high you were drafted, eventually you run out of chances.

Because Team Glazer has tens of millions of loot in play, because Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht has his reputation in play, because Bucco Bruce Arians has a personal connection to Jameis, Joe firmly believes Jameis will be given the full season to turn things around and demonstrate to Team Glazer that it can invest in his future and rest comfortably at night.

Joe knows there are some loonies who demand Jameis be jettisoned from the team immediately. That’s not happening and Tanier goes into detail why.

But for each additional game Jameis has like he did on Sunday — worse than a rookie — the odds of Jameis wearing another uniform next summer lessen.

61 Responses to ““Internet Law””

  1. AlteredEgo Say: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    As the tee shirt says “ The beatings will continue until morale improves “….

  2. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Here is the problem with giving Jameis the whole season……what if he “turns it around”….otherwise has great games 14,15 & 16?

    But stunk it up before that…..then what do you do.

    I think the Bucs should know by game 9 if they are sticking with Jameis…..if they have decided to move on…..and we are out of contention….(likely)…..then they will bench Jameis the rest of the year and give Griffin the snaps. Who knows what kind of QB he could be if he isn’t given an opportunity?

  3. Adam Lakers Carolla Says:

    BA was brought here to “fix” Jaboo. Give it time…it took Carson Palmer and the entire offense 8 weeks to get it in AZ. Patience Lads. Jaboo will determine if he will return next year, not us. Either way, I’m from Tampa so I’m stuck with this team win or lose.

  4. Joe Says:

    Here is the problem with giving Jameis the whole season……what if he “turns it around”….otherwise has great games 14,15 & 16?

    But stunk it up before that…..then what do you do.

    I think the Bucs should know by game 9 if they are sticking with Jameis…..if they have decided to move on…..and we are out of contention….(likely)…..then they will bench Jameis the rest of the year and give Griffin the snaps. Who knows what kind of QB he could be if he isn’t given an opportunity?

    First, that’s why Licht and Arians make the big money. If they decide Jameis gets another year with three or four good games to end the season, Team Glazer will likely listen.

    Please stop with the Ryan Griffin fantasy. If Gabbert wasn’t hurt he’d be the No. 2. And if the Bucs do decide to part ways with Jameis and go next year with Ryan Griffin and pass on all the QB prospects in the draft, that would be so utterly irresponsible Joe doesn’t know where to begin.

  5. Tye Says:

    when a young rookie like Gardner Minchew (6th round pick), who wasn’t even expecting to play, comes in at the 1st of the game and plays like a vet, makes JW look like a fraud starting in his 55+ game… That is how bad it is..
    just 1 game talk is for potential contenders…

  6. BucsBandit Says:

    ******WRONG*******

    Jameis is NOT going to get a Full Season to turn things around.

    In fact, I believe the OPPOSITE to be true…

    If he continues his ‘iffy’ play then he’ll be yanked by mid-season and replaced. That will make it much easier for the Bucs to move on from an Overall #1 Pick.

    The front office absolutely does NOT want to finish the season with Winston at QB and then have everyone ‘wondering’ whether they will or won’t keep it for another season.

    Their only chance of turning things around with the fan base is to remove the UNCERTAINTY of the Winston situation. And IF he does continue to crap the bad then it will be obvious that the organization is moving in a different direction if he’s benched mid-season.

    If he plays out the season it makes things 10X harder on the front office and the fan base.

    The time to start the transition to move on is NOW not the end of the season.

  7. DB55 Says:

    .300 lifetime winning percentage

    Trade or cut the man so he can play for a real organization

    The cardinals don’t sound half bad.

  8. BucsBandit Says:

    And Joe STOP THE GRIFFIN HATE. The guy has made the roster now for awhile for a reason… potential.

    Last year in preseason he has some impressive play. The guy has paid his dues. It’s a joke in the NFL that backups don’t get a chance to prove themselves more often. We’ve all see the Foles stories and others where a backup turned out to be a solid starter.

    Ryan Griffin, still young at 29, deserves the chance to start for the Bucs. Let’s see what he’s capable of.

  9. AceOfAerospace Says:

    As said above, the last thing I want is Winston to play like Winston plays for 12 weeks and then fool everyone into thinking he knows what he’s doing for a couple weeks. It has nothing to do with a new system. He’s still making the same stupid decision he did as a rookie. Stupid is as stupid does.

  10. BucsBandit Says:

    @DB55 LOL

    Jameis is NOT going to be playing for another organization, at least not starting. The rest of the league has seen the same turnover, inconsistent, inaccurate, bad decisions play as we have for 4+ years.

  11. Tye Says:

    JW will be like EJ Manuel and Ponder, passed around and fade away!

  12. Mike Johnson Says:

    Bucs will know in 8 games if jameis is their man. do something bold Tampa Bay. Bring in Colin Kapernick. I bet the guy would play his a** off for the Bucs. But then again, My bad..I’m thinkin of bold teams who think of nothing but Winning. And that ain’t us now is it? We never got any money, no playoffs for 12 yrs, can never sign a free agent, and always askin players to take less money. Yep..our formula for cellar dwellin baby!

  13. DB55 Says:

    Rest of the league also knows football and they know what you morons don’t but wtfdik

    Nfl film did a doc on Doug Williams and the real fans the smart ones like you said the same thing. He’ll never be good enough he’ll never accomplish anything.

  14. DB55 Says:

    Bucbandit

    LOL why have the Bucs been losers for 43 years? LOL

  15. The Buc Realist Says:

    This is some “reload”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    2019 will reveal answers to the sheep, that the “real” fans alreay know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  16. DB55 Says:

    Mike Johnson done woke up and I like it.

  17. Joe Says:

    And Joe STOP THE GRIFFIN HATE. The guy has made the roster now for awhile for a reason… potential.

    SSSHHHEEETTT… Dude has always been a No. 3 QB and he cannot even beat out Blaine Gabbert. Let that sink in for a minute.

  18. BucsBandit Says:

    Mike Johnson,

    BAHAHAHAHA. Seriously? Kap sucked and was BENCHED for a reason. Why people forget the guy was BENCHED for terrible play long before he started taking a knee?

  19. Jeffbuc Says:

    Jameis is a bad quarterback we all knew it. Just as die hard fans we didn’t want it to be true. Because then that means the bucs have a crappy year. So we all gave him every chance heard every excuse. It’s year 5 it isn’t happening. And no team is going to sign him to be there starter. He has worse stats than Bortles. Have you heard a word about Bortles since being released. A year or two ago. Nothing nada zilch. You can’t win games with a quarterback that you know it’s not if it when he is going to throw 3-5 picks in a game. And you know at least 8-10 games will be at least 2 picks. No thank you. I want to win and Jameis isn’t the answer. We win that game Sunday if think about these words Blaine gabbert starts the game. Blaine gabbert would have given us a better chance to win than some of you guys false idol Winston.

  20. DB55 Says:

    The Bucs sucks so fn bad they took a Heisman winning QBs who lost 1 game in college and turned him into a total loser. Lol. Smh.

  21. Lamarcus Says:

    I read this article today at work. I feel better now. JW is STILL the undisputed Qb for the team

  22. BucsBandit Says:

    Joe – Gabbert was only #2 because he is a high profile name. It’s the politics of the NFL.

  23. DB55 Says:

    I’d ask but I’m positive these dudes have been homeschooled by some guy named bubba.

  24. BucsBandit Says:

    @DB55

    Now you’re really showing how little you know about football if you’re crying about former Heisman winning QBs not having success in the NFL somehow being an NFL team’s fault.

    Dude, seriously, take up another sport to watch.

  25. Jeffbuc Says:

    Poor decision making poor timing poor footwork poor leadership. And poor conduct off the field. Poor deep ball thrower. Poor anticipation thrower. So tell me what actually is he good at. I will tell you evading pressure and dragging the play out until he throws a jump ball down field 50/50 ball or he gets stripped and fumbles. So even what he is best at he still ends up screwing that up half the time. So he isn’t great at anything and is good at half of one thing. And below average on all other areas of being a qb. Db55 did I miss anything that he is great/good at. Or was that pretty spot on.

  26. AlteredEgo Say: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    DB55… You are full of sheet comparing Doug Williams to Jameis… Doug was a winner with the heart of warrior, he was loved in this town by Buc fans… it was Culverhouse not Tampa fans that caused the rift… how old are you? Because if you didn’t live though it as an adult you have been spoon fed hate

  27. DB55 Says:

    bandit

    You’re right. Please educate me then why have the Bucs been bottom dwellers way before Winston got here?

  28. DB55 Says:

    Check out Doug Williams a football life. It’s in there

  29. Jeffbuc Says:

    A great or good qb after a game like last week should come out on fire this week against the panthers. Show he prepared his but off and put in all the work to know this opponent. But I guarantee Jameis will come out firing balls over people’s head sailing deep balls 20 yards past the receiver. And have his typical halftime stat line of 8-16 65 yards. One fumble or int. And halftime announcers will say the same thing we hear every game. Bucs and Jameis really need to get something going on offense. Jameis came out a little to hyped and missed some easy throws. He jut needs to relax and run the offense for the bucs to have a chance to get back into this game. Same story different game 4 plus years.

  30. Buczilla Says:

    If we have a choice between Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa (provided they are still the top two guys come April), I hope that we go with Tua. I’m just tired of these big, goofy, gangly, inaccurate quarterbacks (Vinny, Josh, and Jameis) that we seem to favor with our first round picks. The old qb prototype is dead and buried.

  31. AlteredEgo Say: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    DB55 … I don’t need to check out “football life”… I saw everyone one of his games in The Ole Sombrero… as a season ticket holder… do not compare Jameis as a QB to Jameis ever again… spare yourself from the embarrassment

  32. StonedBuc Says:

    BRING IN COLIN! THAT WOULD ELECTRIFY THE TAMPA BAY AREA! TALK ABOUT A MONEY MOVE!

  33. Jeffbuc Says:

    Amen buczilla just give me someone who is accurate. Watched Watson go right down the field to take the lead last night. I text my buddy that Jameis misses both of those throws Watson made. And they weren’t extremely difficult throws. Just had to have a little touch and accuracy. Jameis would have overthrown stills by 10. And I would have been yelling at the tv screen we had the game won he was wide open. And he missed him.

  34. DB55 Says:

    Wait where did bandit go?

  35. Jeffbuc Says:

    Stoned buc an inaccurate qb who hasn’t played in two seasons would not electrify Tampa bay. We already hava guy on are roster who beat him for the starting job when he was still in his supposed prime. He couldn’t beat out are backup for the starting job. No thank you.

  36. Asdf Says:

    The Palmer to Jameis comparison is very unfair to Palmer. He had a several fantastic seasons period to BA. He had proven he could succeed in the NFL and didn’t make the idiot plays that Jameis can’t seem to shake.

    The problem with Jameis is that yes, he can make some fantastic plays. We have all seen them, both in college and the pros. The huge problem is that his bad is just so utterly terrible that it costs games. You can’t win with such inconsistency in the NFL. Bad Jameis is just too terrible to march out there on game day. It’s been 5 years now and there are no signs that he can shed bad Jameis. He teases us with great plays here and there but he doesn’t have the skills or decision making you need from a starter in this league.

    I’ve personally seen enough and think we should have drafted an insurance QB this past year, however Jameis will get at least half the season to show something. At this point nothing he could do would make me not draft or sign insurance. If he has a great rest of the year there is still no way in hell I’m giving him a long term deal. Can’t allocated significant cap space to a QB that needs so much help to succeed.

  37. AlteredEgo Say: Your comment is awaiting moderation. Says:

    Asdf… in pre draft talks here I offered the insurance strategy several times, a win win in my book. If Jameis became the solution the young WB could be traded later… long term it was the best option, but they didn’t go that way

  38. Loyaltotheend Section 312 Says:

    Jameis will play well the last 6 or 7 games and Licht will franchise him and not bring in another qb

  39. Asdf Says:

    @AlteredEgo

    Couldn’t agree more. Especially if you thought you had enough talent around the QB position (think the answer there is yes). Why go all in on JW when he has never shown enough to justify that?

    Would not have been pissed at all if we had drafted a QB high. May as well continue to take your shots until one sticks! If Jameis couldn’t take the heat from competition then you don’t want him anyway!

  40. Alanbucsfan Says:

    The odds?
    This is his 5th year
    He played like an idiot
    Either he starts playing winning football- good decisions and no turnovers, or goodbye- fans are tired of losing

  41. 813bucboi Says:

    i dont see him getting a full season if he continues to play the way he did sunday combined with rojo and the defense playing like they did sunday….

    JW sticks out like a sore thumb…..

    someone made a great point above….screw looking sharp week15 week16 and week17….we need him to look sharp right now….

    licht has to manage this team with a sense of urgency….

    GO BUCS!!!!!

  42. Lameis Winsnone Says:

    Anyone that mentions bringing in Krapernick as QB is either joking or completley delusional. He hasn’t played in over 3 years. He wasn’t even that good while he was in the league(hence at least half the reason he isn’t in the league). What are we going to do with him as QB, run RPO every play!?!? LOL

  43. Frank Pillow Says:

    Jameis is a shell of his former self. The guys with the lion-hearted, champion-caliber, infections will to win is gone. The self-proclaimed ‘gun-slinger’ isn’t even a ‘game manager’ at this point. He has humiliated himself and alienated this fan base with his transgressions off the field and his sub par play on it. He was a more productive, valuable player as a rookie. On Sunday, he didn’t look the part of a 5th year QB and/or a 1st overall pick. He was flat out atrocious at times. I didn’t see him throw with rhythm, anticipation or touch. I didn’t see him confidently move around in the pocket or scan the field. I didn’t see good reads. I didn’t see him throw his WRs open. Honestly, I’m not sure I ever hav
    Perhaps with wins comes a gentler view on his antics and limitations—think Favre, Big Ben and a host of other players who, generally, engender fan-love. However, he simply hasn’t given us a reason to continue making excuses for him…not with all of the loses.

  44. BucsBandit Says:

    @TouchdownTampaBay – LOL. That makes zero sense… you act like this is Jameis’ first season and he needs to play more for other teams to decide if he’s worth trading for. The entire league has FOUR YEARS of tape on Winston’s play. He has been turnover prone with accuracy issues and continues to play that way. There’s no mystery. SPOILER ALERT: I seriously doubt any team is trading for Winston.

    @DB55 – the Bucs won the Super Bowl in 2003. I know, because I was at the game. Maybe you missed it? So they haven’t always been bottom dwellers. But they’re certainly bottom dwellers now because of our QB situation. And, yes, AlteredEgo is right… you should be ASHAMED of yourself to compare the great Doug Williams with Winston. Absolutely ashamed.

  45. Casey Morgan Says:

    Joe–

    1. Winston has proven again and again that he sucks. Give him a game or two more and move on.

    2. It’s like you didn’t go to any practices and didn’t watch the pre-season games. Gabbert was outplayed by Griffin throughout. It was only Arians loyalty to him and supposedly knowing the system that lead him to #2.

  46. Alanbucsfan Says:

    Sean Mannion, Vikings backup, is on a 1 year contract- worth a look

  47. NOSBOS Says:

    You know you make me wonder if you’re being low frequency rumblings when you mention “closing for the St. Louis Cardinals next year”. I’ve privately wondered to myself how much it bothered him when they put wording in the contract “no baseball”. My senses tell me he wanted or believed he would somehow be able to pull off both. With one being taken away his play sometimes makes me wonder if he’s rebelling. Jameis is a big fan of Bo Jackson two sport athlete. Jameis is pushing good little brother to play baseball not football. I hear all the explanations about fault when it comes to those picks Sunday. The one that reek of “I don’t give a f#$%” was the screen pass late in the game. It’s like another poster stated, what QB doesn’t know if you can’t see the back you throw the ball in the dirt.

  48. Blue-footed booby Says:

    So what if Winston was a Heisman trophy winner? Guess what DB55? There have been previous Heisman trophy winners and/or accomplished college quarterbacks in the 21st century who just couldn’t cut it in the NFL.

    Jason White, Matt Leinart, Vince Young, Troy Smith, and Tim Tebow all failed to succeed in the National Football League as starting quarterbacks.

    And soon we can add Jameis Winston and possibly Marcus Mariota to this list as well. There shouldn’t be any hard feelings for DB55, Lamarcus, and other Winston supporters if they recognize that far more quarterbacks bust in the NFL than succeed.

  49. Keke Says:

    I believe Jameis time after this season is over… since his rookie season and second year in the league, he has never been a consistent QB. His time is up and I hate to say that bc the Bucs will be in QB purgatory once again.

  50. Glazers Suck Says:

    Sign Kaepernick save the season.

  51. orlbucfan Says:

    Just the photo of fake Judge Judy indicates that this column is a joke.

  52. Bob in Valrico Says:

    Jameis has been a five year experiment.The glazers have extended him for 20
    Million. If Jameis plays similarly to previous game, then 8 games should be enough to evaluate. This fanbase is win starved and should not have to suffer
    an entire season if Jameis doesn’t turn it around.
    The schedule includes road games and stout defenses. Jameis has to prove he
    can handle both on a consistent basis. IF he can’t ,then fans have a right to expect the QB that gives the best chance to win.

  53. BucsBandit Says:

    TouchDownTampaBay – I’m sorry… but he IS as bad as I think he is. And nearly every NFL expert analyst agrees with me for a reason.

    He just doesn’t have what it takes to be a solid NFL QB, and that takes consistency.

    It’s clearly obvious he lacks deep ball accuracy. He has other accuracy issues. He has bad footwork. He holds the ball way too long which is most likely an indicator that he struggles to make quick reads which is required to be a solid NFL QB.

    He just doesn’t have “it” in many ways. Time to move on. I wish Winston well for the rest of his life, but I truly hope he no longer plays for my team.

  54. Figures Says:

    @db55

    Lmao a dude that has more turnovers than anyone since he’s been in the league is the teams fault lmao.

    What a dumbas s you are.
    Total idiot moron just like MIA ROD MUNCH AND DUMBAS S NDOG

    You’re all nothing but excuse makers. Everything is someone else’s fault.

    Probably liberals too. Which would explain a lot of your excuse making.

    Idiots. Lmao and everyone is laughing at you all with your excuses.
    Thanks for the daily hilarity that you cause lol.
    Better than stand up lmao.

    We ARE ALL LAUGHING AT YOU IDIOTS 😂

  55. Bob in Valrico Says:

    Could be that some defenses have figured out that trying to apply pressure up the middle compresses the pocket and rattles Jameis and liimjts his escape routes.
    So far, he has not been as effective escaping the pocket and running.

    I will say this, if BA thinks Jameis is his future QB, then he needs to get off his cart and take a hands on approach. After being benched last year and having shaky outings against Cleveland and San Fran Jameis’s confidence may need a boost. No Risk it,short and intermediate passes seem like the best way to try to get Jameis back in the groove.

  56. DB55 Says:

    Figures

    I’d respond but joe would ban me so ….. gfy

  57. BigMacAttack Says:

    The defense will carry the team if Jameis can do his job. Take the sack or scramble for a few yards. I think he’s way better on bootleg play than in the pocket. He throws darts when he’s on the run.

  58. firethecannons Says:

    JeffBuc and others are right I have seen enough of the Winston turnovers over the last four years. I know what we have. Absolutely nothing has changed except he is now trying to learn a new high powered offense. I was hoping we could trade him for pick before the trade deadline to a team that has lost their quarterback. Sound cruel but this dude will make 20mill this year alone–enough! We now have the NFL quarterback with the most interceptions ever and there are 15 games to go.

  59. tgregs Says:

    Joe why don’t you replay some of your Freeman accolades…”laser like precision” comes to mind… or everything on your man crush on Johnny Football. Bottam line is you are clueless on NFL talent and always will be. Own IT!

  60. lambchop Says:

    “But for each additional game Jameis has like he did on Sunday — worse than a rookie — the odds of Jameis wearing another uniform next summer lessen.”

    Does anyone proofread around here? That doesn’t even make sense.

    The more games he has like last Sunday, the odds he’s in another jersey INCREASE.

  61. T REX Says:

    DB55…brah, you’re embarrassing yourself. Stop it. Take a break or something. I feel like I’m watching a boxer get punched to death. Stay down man…stay down.