“He’s Become Kind Of A Cult Hero”
January 3rd, 2020
Rising crossover star.
More and more every day, football fans are coming out of the woodwork to acknowledge there are few more exciting players in the NFL than Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston.
So much so it smells like the creator, curator and overall guru of Pro Football Talk, the great Mike Florio, has also become a fan of Jameis.
In a recent edition of “PFT Live,” seen and heard weekday mornings on NBC Sports Network, Florio and his co-host, former Bucs quarterback Chris Simms, spent an entire segment talking about Jameis.
Florio believes Jameis is becoming a cross-over NFL star that is guaranteed excitement to watch and quality entertainment where TV viewers get full bang for their buck.
“He’s become kind of a cult hero,” Florio said of Jameis. “People love the guy because they love to watch him play. Not because he is Pat Mahomes or Lamar Jackson, but because he increases the level of excitement for any given play because as soon as he goes to throw the football, you never know where it is going to go.”
Simms sort of agreed but admitted there are consequences with Jameis’ fun play.
“It is can’t-miss football,” Simms said. “It’s constantly aggressive. There are a lot of great plays and then one out of every 10 plays you go, ‘What the hell was that? I can’t believe that, it’s so stupid.'”
As for the words from Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians and his less-than-enthusiastic remarks this past week about Jameis, Florio believes that is good old fashioned posturing to drive Jameis’ price down.
“I think part of the game is scaring other teams away from Jameis Winston,” Florio said. “They don’t want teams [lined up] out the door trying to pursue Jameis Winston.”
Florio is of the mind Jameis will be back with the Bucs and added no team is dense enough to let go of a quarterback who throws for 5,000 yards in a season.
Simms disagreed. He believes Jameis’ picks all but wipe out his tremendous production.
Joe just knows this: No Jameis with the Bucs next year and not only will the offense suffer (unless this organization sells out its religion and drafts a stud running back), but this team will slip back into irrelevancy once again. Just like the halcyon days under commander Greg Schiano and in inept Lovie Smith’s first season.
You can watch the full segment on the Jameis discussion in the video below.
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:08 am
Joe,
We could cut bait and get done production from another QB. Don’t discount Evans, Godwin, RoJo, and crew. Fitzpatrick our up numbers in this offense too.
It’s so mind numbing to force the thought that we can’t do better than Jameis. What’s the worst that can happen, another year with no playoffs? We owe it to the fans and the organization to put the best player possible behind center. I agree with Simms’ weight of turnovers. They are the biggest reason we suck. Wake up and smell the turnovers.
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:11 am
So we’ll get a national televised game because Jameis might throw 4 picks and not because the Bucs are a good team? He is a cult hero to other fan bases and opposing defenses.
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:11 am
Depends on the price. If Teddy can be had fort the same (or less) contract Jameis wants, I vote Teddy.
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:13 am
If you have no rooting interest it’s exciting to watch as he gives both teams a chance to win but if your a Bucs fan the roller coaster of knowing your QB is gonna cost you 4-5 games a year is defeating
This loser attitude that there’s no one better is silly. You might not have as many TDs in the passing game but it will be offset by having a QB who is not gonna turn it over 30+ times and put the d in a bad spot weekly
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:17 am
Let me get this straight: This is generally a point / counter-point show, and the one backing Jameis does so because “as soon as he goes to throw the football, you never know where it is going to go.” Yea, let’s continue to base our franchise around that…
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:23 am
“Loyaltotheend” nailed it, if you have no rooting interest in the Bucs than the entertainment factor is great. Have any of these talking heads said they want Jameis to QB their favorite teams? Because I haven’t heard one of them say that.
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:25 am
He isnt a cult hero hes just gives people something to talk about good or bad. Thats the problem in Tampa we focus so much on everything else instead of focusing on getting back to the Super Bowl. Look at the empty seats in the stadium do they look like a cult leader or a entertaining team is playing there? We have giving JW everything he needed to succeed and he keeps blowing it. I have watched worse teams with way less weapon going to the playoff this and past season. I mean damn, when does a organization say enough is enough.
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:27 am
Joe’s never gonna change his mind. We could have a losing season again next year and Joe will blame it on the RB’s. Why all the hem hawing over Jameis when Joe knows full well he’ll be back unless the Glazers fire Jason Licht. Highly doubtful that would happen after just giving him a four year extension.
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:30 am
Winston isn’t entertaining if you’re a Bucs fan. It’s just annoying to watch.
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:31 am
For you fans who think the Bucs can go out and get a QB to come in and the team not miss a beat, just take a look at K Cousin, N Foles, C Keenum all big time QBs before they got those multi million dollar contracts. 2 of them has been benched the other just is hanging on. So be careful what we wish for I know Jameis pisses off everybody in Bucs nation and he’s not yet trust worthy but, I would rather see him come back for 1 year, bring in his replacement and let them sit 6 or 7 games or the year so they can get acclimated to the offense then move on. this guy would have to a a draft pick simply because a veteran that come in want to start and to me that’s a gamble
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:38 am
Oh good, our QB is viewed as a side show freak. Come see the Bearded Lady throw 5 picks, and almost 7 while throwing for thousands of yards!! I’m glad watching the Bucs has become a fad because of our hilarious QB’s blunders. great reason to keep him so we can at least be a national laughing stock.
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:38 am
I must have missed it, when did we did we stop being irrelevant? Which losing season was it, please explain.
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:45 am
@jeanlafitte
clueless Joe wanted Johnny Drunk here as QB and thought Dominik was a good GM so his football opinions mean zero and he will never admit when he’s wrong
@stevebobucsfan
Is there another qb that’s gonna turn it over 30+ times in a season and cost this team wins and put the defense in a bad position week after week? Can’t win with sloppy qb play
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:46 am
I’m not entertained by Jameis’s stupidity one bit. I’d rather have a qb that throws for 3000 yards with no INTs and actually wins games. If they are going to re-sign Jameis, hopefully it’s a backloaded deal with incentives. We still need to draft a QB with potential and we need to get a RT, RB, and kicker to help Jameis’s next year.
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:48 am
Ineffective oddity vs irrelevant vs laughing stock vs curiosity vs losing team vs 3rd place in division
Just because he’s below average doesn’t mean he can’t at times be momentarily spectacular
Is all that average play worth not taking a chance on someone else?
Etc.
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:53 am
its like going 0-26; bucs are exciting because people are rooting for jameis to do something stupid. That td to perriman was classic jameis, just throw it up in the air and then you get a pick 6. That isht isnt entertaining; find a competent qb who does the right thing all the time
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:58 am
Like watching NASCAR…..most won’t admit it but the excitement is because of the potential crashes….
Spare me the excitement & get me some wins…..
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:59 am
“Slip back into irrelevancy” Joe? 7-9 ain’t exactly what I would call relevant. We won 2 more games than last year, woo-hoo!
We have great stats! YAY!
Jameis CAN be replaced, EVERYONE can be replaced.
Wait, I forgot……..STATS! YAY!
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:00 am
I tend to go with the opinion of those that have actually played the game at the highest level….I still go back to Dungy saying before the drafting of Winston, he comes with too many red flags to overcome both on and off the field….AND it proved true. Winston is the product of an extraordinary program. That FSU team had ELEVEN guys gets drafted in one year. That’s elite talent on one college team. I remember watching him in college and would tell folks…..you wont get away with that stuff in the NFL. Slow starts, turnovers….he was bailed out over and over by the defense and just overall superior talent. Then NFL is the best of the best and you see the result. In his best statistical year, still losing season, career high in turnovers. Even if you swing a few wins his way for kicking, you also have to swing a few back the other way that we should of loss….like Indy. At best we were 9-7….second in the division, still don’t make the playoffs. You wont win because of him….you might overcome him, but then we’re not talking about a franchise QB.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:03 am
Florio is spot on. No way Jameis isnt back next season. And all Arians tough talk is just posturing..
Demar Dotson was recently on a bucs podcast where the subject of Jameis came up, and he said this “I know Jameis is gonna be back next year.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:05 am
You can tell how exciting he is by the half empty stadium and blacked out games
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:08 am
Every game almost ending in a pick-6 is very entertaining, yes …
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:09 am
FAMOUS …enough said.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:09 am
LMAOOOOO @JOE trying to act like the bucs arent irrelevant with him. Newsflash jameis has had a grand total of 1 winning season hus 5 years here at 9-7 with no playoff berths. Thats about as irrelevant as you can get. Matter of fact the bucs may be the most irrelevant franchise in the entire nfl over the last decade. Lmaooooo joe you’re too funny.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:10 am
If you don’t think the Glazers, Licht and Arians aren’t seeing the empty seats on gameday, you’re fooling yourselves.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:11 am
If bucs and fans want a playoff team then Winston needs to be gone. After 5 yrs why waste the bucs very good receivers?
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:14 am
Sign Fitzmagic and put the dollars saved into resigning the Dline.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:17 am
I would really like to see a breakdown of all his interceptions from this year. Not making excuses for them, but just to know. It seems like he has a high percentage of early down picks. I know against the 49ers in week one he had three picks, two of them on 1st down and one on 2nd down. To me, the early down picks are what drive me really insane. I may or may not be correct, but it just seems like most of his picks are early downs.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:17 am
JW for $15-20M with incentives tied to wins, TDs and lower turnovers — nothing tied to yards. The contract should be no more than 2 years, so a new coach after BA can make his own decision to keep or dump JW. Any guaranteed money should be in year 1, so if JW has another 30 interception year, the Bucs can trade or release him after 1 year and go after a QB next year with the supporting pieces in place.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:18 am
Posey99 blacked out games are no longer a thing & due to the NFL revenue sharing, the half empty seats don’t really matter to the Glazers. It did matter to their dad, however the Glazer kids just care about the bottom line.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:25 am
@Florio … “because he increases the level of excitement for any given play because as soon as he goes to throw the football, you never know where it is going to go.”
That might be great for the media, but for Bucs’ fans … it really sucks.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:26 am
Jameis has become a carnival midway attraction
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:27 am
I concur Joe by not bringing Jamie’s back we will be setting the franchise backwards. Had an offense this whole time who moved the ball while our defense lost the games for so long and now that our defense is starting to play great football folks want to throw the offense away? I don’t get it. Come on fans wake up before you run people out of town! Go Bucs!
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:32 am
I sometimes think Joe writes things just to get comments. Not relevant without 30 interceptions and a QB that throws the ball up for grabs. It’s the receivers that have gotten him the yards, surely not Jameis pin point accuracy!!! Come on Joe….
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:33 am
New QB please. “Excitement”= lots of yards and lots of completions and touchdowns to both teams. Not a recipe for winning.
Please get the Bucs a new QB. One who shows contrition for picks, not “it’s not my fault it was ripped. I’m ballin’. I’m the best in the world of you take away the picks”.
That is nonsense. You suck bc you lose and can’t consistently lead your team to a division title or playoffs. No accountability and I can’t watch this guy play bad QB and act like he’s the best afterwards.
Drew Brees, Pat Mahomes, Russell Wilson, and Lamar Jackson. They are balling. They don’t throw for as many yards, and they damn sure don’t throw near the amount of turnovers. We’d be better served to have a QB that appreciates ball security. Tired of losing. Tired of turnovers. Tired of no accountability.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:35 am
How are we going backwards by getting rid of Jameis? That hilarious!
We are setting ourselves back by bringing JW back and expecting playoffs, only to be disappointed with the endless turnovers, inconsistency play, and the FSU honks that could care less that the Bucs are hemorrhaging games left and right all the while our QB just sucks.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:35 am
People are obsessed with JW.
There is really nothing to talk about but JW in terms of the Bucs.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:35 am
Jameis threw more picks when the defense was playing better (more home games). Simms is correct, and there is no “posturing”. No one would offer Jameis 30+ mil starter’s money. There “might be” a coach with ego to pick him up as a back-up and attempt to fix him. He may be back, but after the defense and Godwin are signed.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:35 am
The only people who think Jamies Winston is any kind of hero are the defensive backs on the opponents team.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:36 am
Bring in Mariota and lets settle this thing once and for all 🙂
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:39 am
Let’s pay the D Line and get a rookie QB or journeyman who turns it over half as much. That would still be top five league average if Jameis had half the turnovers. Dude makes too many mistakes to gain his stats. Can’t win that way. Appalling is the idea of being subjected to a sixth year of this BS.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:43 am
Let the NFL marketplace set the price for Jameis
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:51 am
2014-2019 || Jason Licht || 34-62-0
• Jameis Winston (28-42-0)
Vs.
2009-2013 || Mark Dominik II 28-52-0
• Josh Freeman (25-36-0)
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:51 am
People love a comedy that is actually a tragedy.
You want people to like to watch your QB because he is very good and wins games, not because he is a pitiful train wreck and they are waiting on the next pick 6.
There is absolutely no way to convince me that the Bucs can’t find a better option than Winston.
Bucs, time to move on.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:52 am
The list of teams that may vie for Jay-Miss’ services as a starter is very short. Most teams have their guy or they are drafting a guy. The Bears, the Panthers, the Chargers (maybe), the Colts (big maybe). That’s it. The only team that makes the most sense are the Bears. Every other team is rebuilding, they have a high draft pick, and they’ll use that pick on a QB. None of those teams would sink starter money for a turnover prone QB. The Bucs have all the leverage here.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:54 am
I get a laugh every time I read these comments–the impossible trade requests, threats to abandon season tickets or follow another team, the worn out Jay-Miss tag, cheap Glaziers and the “old man” Arians who is younger than both Belichick and Pete Carroll.
Also, love the “embarrassment” comments about empty seats and national laughing stock.
Bottom line–who cares? Cubs fans proudly wore team merchandise for over 100 years without a World Series win–and the games were sold out every year!
That’s what a fan is being about–loyalty!
All you bitchers and moaners can take a hike. I’ll be watching every game next year, no matter who the QB happens to be–because I’m a Bucs fan, good or bad and will forever be a Bucs fan, good or bad. The moment I start caring about what others say about the hat I’m wearing will be the moment I’ve lost all self respect.
And the last thing I want is to be compared to some of you!
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:55 am
Ummm Joe, attendance figures for this season were lower than in 2013, 2014, and 2015. This team is irrelevant. Someone from the Bucs called me yesterday asking trying to sell me on season tickets. I told him now was not a good time. When he asked when was a good time I told him to call me back at the end of March when they have made a decision on Jay-Miss.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:59 am
can’t miss football….lol
not if you’re a Bucs fan and have to pay to watch like someone in south FL. Forget about it, paying for your team to lose….
I can’t even imagine someone who pays for season tickets. They must have to give them away.
winning, not crabman would fix that.
January 3rd, 2020 at 10:19 am
buc15 Says:
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:18 am
Posey99 blacked out games are no longer a thing & due to the NFL revenue sharing, the half empty seats don’t really matter to the Glazers. It did matter to their dad, however the Glazer kids just care about the bottom line.”
I live in cape coral and had at least 2 games this season blacked out in my area. With profit sharing it doesn’t apply to everything. If they care about the bottom line, they will make more money with fans in the seats.
January 3rd, 2020 at 10:23 am
He’s my hero for sure. It takes so b@lls to make the amount of mistakes as this dude makes, lose as many games as this dude loses, throw a pick six to end the season, set a record for most interceptions in a season, and look your boss straight in the face and say “I want a raise.”
I know I couldn’t do it. In fact, I’m pretty sure if I was as crappy at my job as Winston is at his, I’d be fired.
January 3rd, 2020 at 10:28 am
He’s deff entertaining to watch. We watch to be entertained right ? I want wins tho so if it has to cost entertainment for wins then I’m going with wins
January 3rd, 2020 at 10:38 am
RELEVANCY??? Joe, do you REALLY believe the Bucs are currently “relevant” on the national stage??? I want what you’re drinking.
January 3rd, 2020 at 10:58 am
“Entertainment” gets coaches fired – see Michael Vick – they want ball security above anything else.
If you continue with Jameis, watch how quickly the locker room turns on him. Imagine busting your ass, game after game, only to see one guy through it away over & over again.
Now, will people watch Jameis play? Of course, its like watching Nascar and waiting for the big car accident. It’s good TV.
BUT… will people pay for tickets to watch this mess? Obviously not. Football fans want solid play and wins. Jameis brings neither of those on a regular basis. He will not sell tickets, period.
Build the defense, upgrade the OL and backs, find a decent QB that can operate in a run-first offense and go win some football games.
Ball security
Time of possession
Smothering defense
That is how you win in the NFL
January 3rd, 2020 at 11:21 am
Watching for a possible car wreck is not a cult hero it’s a freak show, cut bait.
January 3rd, 2020 at 11:41 am
Yes Winston is very entertaining. Especially if you dont like things that matter. Like winning, playing meaningful games in January. Choking under pressure. But who needs those types of things anyways…
January 3rd, 2020 at 11:50 am
LOL at people asking for Bridgewater.
The dude threw like 5 TDs total in 6 games besides the playing against the Bucs pitiful defense.
He would also be in a body bag before preseason even ended playing behind our o-line, so what’s your backup plan?
January 3rd, 2020 at 11:52 am
this team will slip back into irrelevancy once again.
When has this team been relevant? Winston hasn’t changed that and Simms is right the interceptions did wipe out the yardage.
I dont get why people dont think an accurate veteran wouldn’t be an upgrade. We have weapons and all you have to do is get the ball to them, why is winston the only one who can do that?
Theres a difference between being a rookie and being inaccurate. Rookies lack experience it doesnt mean they cant throw the ball.
What makes a rookie of 2020 different than Winston of 2015? Because we had the first overall pick? Obviously that is not a reason a rookie will succeed otherwise winston would already have the fat contract. Bring him back but I assure you there are more than 2 quarterbacks that can and will be drafted first that will be successful especially with the number of late round picks at least being serviceable this year.
January 3rd, 2020 at 12:19 pm
He’s in the right place to be a side show freak. They could do pregame stuff over in Gibtown with the bearded ladies and lobster boys.
I’ll pass on that flavor of Kool-Aid. The thing is, about half of the d-backs and WRs can make all of the throws that Jameis can. They got moved over because of ball security.
Somehow Jameis has gotten a pass ever since second grade. He ain’t gonna get no better, what he does has been ingrained into him since before he could walk, he will always revert.
The reason the best QBs are late rounders is because they are more cerebral, less about the glitter. Jameis is all glitter with noting underneath.
January 3rd, 2020 at 12:21 pm
Jamie’s is a legend in his own mind
January 3rd, 2020 at 12:36 pm
“Stupid” indeed !!!
January 3rd, 2020 at 12:38 pm
“Irevelency” like the five seasons with him at the helm? Yes he passed for 19000 yards, and how many NFC south division titles? Playoff games? Chances at postseason play? Yeah with all the Irevelency like that it is sure looks like time to move on.
January 3rd, 2020 at 12:46 pm
offense may not be as explosive but with those wideouts and a revamped and stronger defense, who knows? i am more concerned with the future of this team than just next year. we need sustained success not one year of playoffs.
January 3rd, 2020 at 2:17 pm
But wait, if we make every other part of the team strong, we can compensate for his frequently terrible play! Isn’t that the sort of QB we want? Oh, and don’t worry that he is asking for a raise that makes it unlikely that we can build a strong team that compensates for his deficiencies….look at the shiny yards!
Fitzpatrick was every bit as good as Winston with this supporting cast. He got benched for a typical Winston performance. Moreover, they got rid of him so Winston wouldn’t be afraid of competition (great trait in a professional athlete). We can find better than Winston if we just agree that winning is better than losing with a bazillion yards.
January 3rd, 2020 at 2:19 pm
BRETT FAVRE
TONY DUNGY
DEION SANDERS
ALL think the Bucs would be stupid to let Jameis go … but yeah, let’s listen to loser talking heads like Peter Schrager and the morons on this forum who want to run Jameis out of town, LOL
JAMEIS WILL GET PAID $$$$$$$$$$$$$
January 3rd, 2020 at 6:03 pm
And what do members of a cult do? Why they drink the kool aid.
See it everyday here at JBF.y
@Joe
“Joe just knows this:”
NO…you don’t know that at all..it’s simply your opinion! NOBODY knows what will happen NEXT year…Its ALL speculation.
But JW is NOT a cult figure in Tampa Bay. Anybody who thinks he is needs to get out more. Its like watching a NASCAR race at Daytona or Talladega…sooner or later it will get very exciting…two drivers get together…spin and take out twenty cars in the wreck. Really exciting….unless it’s your favorite driver who was taken out.
JW is easily cheered from afar because it’s not them who have lived through all of JW’s losses, ints…suspensions and moronic comments like walking off the field and claiming he be ballin’. 7 DASH 9 is not ballin!!!
January 3rd, 2020 at 6:14 pm
If the Bucs cave and are so scared of interceptions they get a Mike Glennon-type and don’t upgrade the running game, this offense will be miserable just like it was before Jameis came to town.
Anyone who knows a lick about football knows that.
January 3rd, 2020 at 8:04 pm
Our off-season has just begun and I don’t think that we will slip into irrelevancy if Jameis leaves. To most big market media pundits our team will always be irrelevant no matter what happens and their opinions are worthless to me. It’s early yet and we may have a top young QB fall into our laps in the draft. Hell, how nice would it be to get Matt Stafford in here somehow? The Glazers have made bold moves in the past so what if they make the Lions an offer they can’t refuse? I feel that only the most ardent Jameis supporters wouldn’t take Stafford over him. To think that it’s mostly doom and gloom if Jameis leaves is utter madness.
January 3rd, 2020 at 9:34 pm
Evel Knievel
January 4th, 2020 at 7:03 pm
Exciting because you never know where the ball is going?
Definitely right about that
30 ints
And 7 pick sixes
He should get credit for those tds as well that defenses are scoring on us
January 9th, 2020 at 1:22 pm
I can think of other things that are far more exciting. Winning, for one. Cult hero? Are we really so desperate for national attention that we get excited no matter what is said? That any talk about our QB is entertaining? They’re mocking us, guys. Making fun. It will never be about how hard your try, it’s how you close.