Arians: Jameis “An Unknown Quantity”
February 25th, 2020
Bucs coach Bruce Arians.
Depending on which side of the fence you sit, Jameis Winston is a gunslinger the NFL hasn’t seen since Brett Favre and has put up Peyton Manning-like numbers in his short career; or he is a coach-killing turnover machine that would even make Santa Claus look like Scrooge.
But who would know better if Jameis is the former or the latter than his head coach, Bucco Bruce Arians?
Turns out, after coaching Jameis for a year, Arians admitted today when speaking at the Indiana Convention Center (nee: Hoosier Dome) in downtown Indianapolis, he doesn’t know.
Arians was asked how he can be so adamant he wants to keep Shaq Barrett, who led the NFL in sacks and be so non-committal about Mr. Entertainment, America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, who led the NFL in passing yards and led the NFC in touchdowns thrown.
“One was a sack leader. And they are hard to find,” Arians explained. “And I know [Shaq] wants to be in this defense. The other is an unknown quantity to me still. Five-thousand yards and 3[3] touchdowns is awesome. But then there are 30 interceptions.
“Can we win with Jameis? Hell yeah! I think there is no doubt. But as a coach and a head coach, you have to decide if there is a better option. And go see if there is.”
Arians emphasized he cannot make a fair decision until he knows who is available and at this point in the offseason, he does not know for sure who is or will be available.
“I really don’t know who is available, truly,” Arians said. “We hope we can find out in 36 or 48 hours.”
Arians did not discount a quarterback becoming free in a trade.
“I don’t want to drag it out very long,” Arians said. “That’s one thing I would like to get done sooner. But we will see.”
With all this talk about who is behind Door No. 2, you have to wonder if Jameis or his agent have discussed moving on from the Bucs. After all, if a quarterback isn’t good enough for a team, why would he want to play for it?
This is sort of the football equivalent to taking a date out to dinner and while you are at dinner you are constantly scoping chicks.
February 25th, 2020 at 1:39 pm
This is like Ron Burgundy taking out Wes Mantooth’s mother to a fancy seafood dinner and never calling her again.
-Anchor Man
Love having Shaq back and seeing what is available for QB.
February 25th, 2020 at 1:41 pm
If the Bucs want Jamies back I would think they have blown any chance of it without using the franchise tag.
After reading these quotes it is clear they want a different QB.
You don’t tell a girl “I’d like to take you to homecoming….well unless a better looking girl wants to go with me.”
February 25th, 2020 at 1:42 pm
As long as BA trades/sells/dumps Winston going into 2020 I think 2020 will be a much better year.
February 25th, 2020 at 1:42 pm
Man..I’m so sick and Jam tired of all this drama and suspense with Jameis. Just sign the man and be done with it. The only thing out there better than him is Brady. And if you get Brady, You’d better be Jam skippy your O line has improved. Because Brady cannot take to may more hits before he’s ready for a nursing facility. He can’t run and you’d better protect him like the Secret Service does the White House.
February 25th, 2020 at 1:44 pm
If it is not a smoke screen then it is plain English. And the fanboys are yelling Run Jameis Run!
February 25th, 2020 at 1:47 pm
After 5 years you’d think you’d know what your #1 overall pick and NFL turnover leader since 2015 is or isn’t
Him being an “unknown quantity” shows how little faith Arians has in him
February 25th, 2020 at 1:54 pm
YEAH! He is making it known he is WANTING someone else…
That is NOT the language of a coach confident in his current QB..
So if JW is a Bucs 2020, it will be because they got stuck with him…
February 25th, 2020 at 1:59 pm
“I really don’t know who is available, truly,” So you’re the HC of a NFL with a potential QB change coming and this is what you say? That’s why this guy is joke he lies like crazy. Sorta like his the secondary is fixed quote?? What a joke
February 25th, 2020 at 1:59 pm
“we will re-sign him only if we have too ” – he should just say it, we all know it already…
February 25th, 2020 at 1:59 pm
Ocala Says
“If the Bucs want Jamies back I would think they have blown any chance of it without using the franchise tag. After reading these quotes it is clear they want a different QB.”
Not even. This is all part of the negotiation process. Arians and Licht have to claim they are willing to move on in order to cut the price.
Also, obviously Arians is waiting to see what happens with the CBA. The NFL and NFLPA have already pushed back the date to apply tags, so Arians is being honest…a better QB might become available without expecting it.
Jerry Jones might surprise everyone and let Dak go. He would be an upgrade for sure. It probably won’t happen, but you never know.
Or he might suspect another high quality QB to be up for grabs.
It won’t be Tom Brady though. Brady will end up back at the Patriots after gauging the market.
February 25th, 2020 at 2:01 pm
Maybe they should have asked Adam Schein!!!!!!!!! He knew before that Bucs 2015 draft!!!!!!!!
From the JBF article back in Feburary 2015!!!!!!!!!!
Adam Schein Eviscerates Bucs
February 13th, 2015
“I am mesmerized by this: A lot of people in the NFL believe that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the overall No. 1 pick in the NFL draft are taking Jameis Winston.
“Oh, good! Jameis Winston. You remember Jameis Winston? Jameis Winston: The underachieving, pathetic, rudderless Buccaneers are going to turn their lonely eyes to a person who was investigated for sexual assault. Who was suspended by the Florida State baseball team for stealing crab legs. Who was suspended by the football team – the football team! – for shouting obscenities on campus. Then he showed up to the game when he was suspended, on the sidelines – remember this? – in full uniform. Jimbo Fisher had to tell him – I mean, the whole thing, is an embarrassment.
“Flipped out in the college football playoff, started chewing out his coach. That’s the guy you want? The Bucs are in utter disarray. And you are going to turn your eyes, your attention to Jameis Winston? Let me say this again on the record: I think Jameis Winston on the field can play in the NFL. I think what Jameis Winston did in the fourth quarter of competitive football games in his career at Florida State was absolutely awesome. Tough, clutch, he can make every single throw.
“If you make Jameis Winston your overall No. 1 pick in the draft and you make him the CEO of your franchise, you should fold the team. You are basically saying you care more about buzz and getting all the tickets sold for every game. And we don’t give a damn about winning.
“And I don’t want to hear about Lovie is going to be good for Jameis Winston. ‘You know, cause Lovie is a good guy, the players love him.’ How’d that work out for Tampa Bay last year? Riddle me that.
“My goodness, Jameis Winston can’t be the guy. Jameis Winston is not someone you can trust. How is Jameis Winston going to practice and study film and prepare and walk into the Buccaneers huddle? Week One, hypothetically, I don’t know, on the road in New Orleans? How is he going to get ready for the Atlanta Falcons? The guy is immature. Give me one reason to believe why Jameis Winston is going to mature?
“So he will be the No. 1 overall pick? He will get all of this money? And then he is going to mature? Then he is going to get it? Wow. This stinks. This smells bad. “
February 25th, 2020 at 2:02 pm
I believe the plan is to franchise or transition tag Winston, but on the off chance someone impressive isn’t tagged, Arians is not going to commit.
I don’t know why this surprises anyone. Whether they want Jameis or not, they are going to pretend to be willing to move on in order to try to get a cheaper deal.
February 25th, 2020 at 2:03 pm
Screw the ATM. Move the Buc on. Hooray! Go Bucs!
February 25th, 2020 at 2:04 pm
Buddy Says
“I really don’t know who is available, truly,” So you’re the HC of a NFL with a potential QB change coming and this is what you say?
Given the situation with the CBA, it’s understandable. Everything will change if it is agreed to.
For example: Teams will get to place only one tag instead of 2 (transitional or Franchise).
Or Teams might be able to designate their highest paid player to not count against the cap like the NBA.
Everything is relative.
February 25th, 2020 at 2:07 pm
Remember how arians talked about mccoy and then mccoy was gone ?
Not saying jameis is gone but he sure sounds like option C or D?
Even licht talked proudly about defense and the positions the defense was Put in by offense turnovers. Not good
——-
Hey joes
New name to add to your jameis winston collage : “Mr unknown quantity”
Its fair.
February 25th, 2020 at 2:08 pm
As proof they want Winston back, per PFT:
[Bucs have] continued to negotiate since the end of the season.”
Why would they bother to negotiate if they did not want him back?
Common sense.
February 25th, 2020 at 2:10 pm
“I really don’t know who is available, truly,” Arians said. “We hope we can find out in 36 or 48 hours.”
When are these 36-48 hours? Is this the legal tampering period? If so, isn’t it too late to apply the franchise tag at that point?
February 25th, 2020 at 2:11 pm
@Thisisouryear!!
Because the NFL and NFLPA are close to agreement on a new CBA, the Transitional and Franchise tag date has been pushed back for now. Currently, only until that time passes. It might be pushed back again.
February 25th, 2020 at 2:14 pm
Bonzai- Thank you.
February 25th, 2020 at 2:19 pm
The late, great Malcolm Glazer went all-in when he sent a bundle of picks and $8 million in cold hard cash to Al Davis to secure Jon Gruden and a chance at a Super Bowl.
We all know how that went. SUPER BOWL CHAMPS, BABY!
I say the Glazer son’s need to throw every damn thing they can at Tom Brady to get him to come to Tampa for two guaranteed years ($80M guaranteed because why the hell not!) and work to be the first home team to play in the Super Bowl.
Reinvigorate the franchise by bringing the G.O.A.T. to town and showing the league that as owners, they’ll do whatever it takes to bring a championship to Tampa.
February 25th, 2020 at 2:19 pm
Np problem.
On topic, if the Raiders land Brady (unlikely), Derek Carr will be available for trade or outright released. Carr might be an upgrade.
February 25th, 2020 at 2:20 pm
I just took a “unknown quantity” dump
What does that mean?
I am seriously starting to freak out
😂
February 25th, 2020 at 2:21 pm
who cares what jameis thinks. we control his rights either way with the tag. joe you say i will tolerate you until i can replace you. who cares we are looking into better options. accountability on jameis – something this organization has lacked since it gave him the starting job right out of being drafted.
February 25th, 2020 at 2:29 pm
With this franchise they will tag Jameis, he won’t sign it cause their continued disrespectful comments, then they flirt with these other QBs who sign elsewhere, then we are left to trade valuable draft capital for the great Andy Dalton. So we downgrade at QB AND miss out on a potential starter in the draft. Well played Bucs well played.
Freaking idiots.
February 25th, 2020 at 2:42 pm
The Bucs should low-ball Jameis with the transition tag, then, maybe, someone else will make the decision easier for the Bucs.
If he does make it back and can make his game work everyone will get pissed because of the five wasted years, before Lasik.
February 25th, 2020 at 2:44 pm
We need to sign Winston please I think he will take us to the playoffs this year and he will be a pro bowler watch
February 25th, 2020 at 2:50 pm
4,400 yards passing 28 touchdowns 200 yards rushing 4 touchdowns 15 interceptions. We get Taylor or Dobbins in the 2nd 800 yards Jones 1100 yards.
Winston, Evans, Godwin, two lineman, White, David, SB pro Bowl next year
February 25th, 2020 at 2:51 pm
Sign Jameis!
February 25th, 2020 at 2:56 pm
Report: Bucs set to meet with Jameis Winston’s agents
Expectation is that the young quarterback will be returning.
February 25th, 2020 at 3:07 pm
In Farve’s gunslinging early days he also had HEROIC comeback wins….something Jamyth has never done
February 25th, 2020 at 3:14 pm
testing
February 25th, 2020 at 3:16 pm
My take on BA’s press conference is Winston is our starting QB.
February 25th, 2020 at 3:18 pm
Tremendous news…sounds like WinSTUNNED will be riding the bench elsewhere or messing up some other franchise…all good!
February 25th, 2020 at 3:34 pm
UNLESS the Bucs are working out a contract there is NO reason to not publicly announce we are moving on.
February 25th, 2020 at 4:05 pm
TexBuc Says
“UNLESS the Bucs are working out a contract there is NO reason to not publicly announce we are moving on.”
According to PFT, they have been negotiating since the season ended.
February 25th, 2020 at 4:07 pm
Bonzai That is my point!
February 25th, 2020 at 4:08 pm
In regard to the tagging statement I made:
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/02/23/shift-in-tag-window-show-that-nfl-has-flexibility-on-cba-talk
“The shifting of the opening of the tag window from February 25 to February 27”
February 25th, 2020 at 4:09 pm
@Joe … “This is sort of the football equivalent to taking a date out to dinner and while you are at dinner you are constantly scoping chicks.”
Wow Joe, you make it sound like that’s a bad thing. And I’m sure that YOU’VE never done that. Well, come to think of it, I guess it is bad, if you get caught.
February 25th, 2020 at 4:12 pm
@TexBuc
Okay! lol
February 25th, 2020 at 4:20 pm
BA … “Can we win with Jameis? Hell yeah! I think there is no doubt. But as a coach and a head coach, you have to decide if there is a better option. And go see if there is.”
That is SUCH a great line. Smart coach … keep your options open. Also interesting that BA didn’t discount the notion that a QB might become available in a trade. Interesting that Derek Carr wears #4, and so does Ryan Griffin. Just sayin …
February 25th, 2020 at 4:24 pm
Greg Auman twitter quote is just what a read in BA’s book. This is what he was saying about not wanting Jameis looking over his shoulder last season. NOT what people repeat over and over that Jameis is afraid of Qb competition.
Whether it’s Jameis Winston or a new starter, don’t expect much in QB competition for Bucs in 2020. Said Arians: “If you have competition at quarterback, you probably don’t have one. That’s always been my philosophy. Whoever’s our quarterback is our quarterback.”
Now that is is cleared up I’m sure people will just continue to repeat that Jameis Is to fragile to have a good Qb behind him and other nonsense.
February 25th, 2020 at 4:50 pm
I think some “fans” will be in extreme Winston Derangement Syndrome in a few a days.
February 25th, 2020 at 5:25 pm
The Bucs are going to be royally screwed if they back themselves into a corner with Winston and then he holds out…..which could happen. Then what? Gabbert?
February 25th, 2020 at 6:12 pm
It’s funny everyone’s take on the comments. My take, especially after the second Arians interview, is that they will keep jameis unless they find one or two qbs they like better are truely available to them in FA. Speculate on who that is. I doubt it is Brady.
That being said, I think they have a value on jameis, and aren’t afraid to let him test the market. At best I think they use the transition tag. But I bet they get an idea of the cost for dalton or car, and won’t pay jameis significantly more if they know they can acquire one of them. 17 to 22. But if tags start flying, they may transition him
February 25th, 2020 at 6:16 pm
Agree these comments sound similar to the ones before GMC was replaced with Suh. Sounds like there is a lot of moving pieces between JW cost and potential replacements. I’ve said all along I’d hold my nose and take JW back at $20 even though I’d vastly prefer an upgrade (immediate and/or longer term). I’m beginning to think BA feels the same way… although his “hold your nose” fallback is probably the transition tag at $24ish.
February 25th, 2020 at 6:18 pm
Jameis…..can…..be…..replaced!!!
THAT is the message!
February 25th, 2020 at 6:34 pm
Sounds like Jameis will be gone.
Or this is just part of negotiating his price down through public comments.