'Hard Knocks' helps show Winston is everything Bucs wanted
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced a colossal decision: Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston?
Two years ago, the Bucs owned the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, and vowed never to put themselves in that position again. First, though, they needed to make a franchise-altering choice between polar opposites: a mild-mannered, soft-spoken, dual-threat quarterback and a pro-style passer with a checkered past.
General manager Jason Licht promised he left no stone unturned in researching the latter and confidently selected Winston first overall. In the two seasons since, Winston has not disappointed.
He finished 2016 as the first quarterback to ever begin a career by throwing for more than 4,000 yards in his first two seasons. He set team passing records and broke franchise marks that have stood for years. He's the team's record-holder for most passing yards and touchdowns in a single season. And he had the Buccaneers in playoff contention into the final week of last year.
Yet, for all he's done on the field, what's really important to both the Buccaneers and their fan base is the fact Winston has stayed out of trouble off it. After a two-year college career stained by off-field antics and controversy, he's making positive headlines in the NFL.
Winston is one of a select group of young pros expected to make the leap into superstardom this upcoming season, and that coincides with the camera time he got on the reality training-camp series "Hard Knocks." The show began with the 23-year-old bringing a camera crew to his hometown of Bessemer, Ala., a city of just 27,000 residents.
Aside from giving viewers a glimpse of his background, the five-episode series also showcased Winston's leadership skills, outgoing personality, and enthusiasm. Those are among the characteristics that made Winston the obvious choice for the Bucs in the 2015 NFL Draft.
"He's the best leader I think I've ever been around - in anything," Licht told front-office execs from the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning in one episode.
"If you've got a guy like Jameis, he's the reason we got DeSean Jackson, because DeSean turned down more money to come here because he wanted to play with him."
The list of former Buccaneers who never wanted to play for Tampa Bay is a long one, headlined by Steve Young and Bo Jackson. So imagine the franchise's good fortune when, despite their league-worst record of 2-14, the top draft prospect actually wanted to be selected by the Bucs.
The team was confident in his physical abilities. But would he stay out of trouble?
During his time at Florida State, Winston was accused of sexual assault (though he was never charged and the case was settled in 2016); issued a citation for shoplifting crab legs; and disciplined for yelling an obscene phrase on campus. A franchise hoping to reinvigorate its fan base could ill afford such negative press following its marquee player.
In his two seasons in the pros, Winston's only slipup came this February when he told a group of school children that men are supposed to be strong but "ladies, they're supposed to be silent, polite, gentle."
He called the statement "poor word choice" and has not shied away from visiting with students since. The player and team quickly moved past the matter and toward a season in which the Buccaneers are expected to end their nine-year playoff drought.
If they do so, it will be because Winston led them there. All-Pro defensive tackle and five-time Pro Bowler Gerald McCoy has ceded control of the team to the ascendant quarterback. He's confident the youngster is capable of taking the reins.
"(I'm) passing the torch," McCoy said ahead of last season. "Ronde (Barber) gave me the torch. I didn't ask him for it. He passed it to me. So, here you go, Jameis. Go take us to the Super Bowl."
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)