QB OF THE FUTURE
There is no question that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a ruin.
They hold the first pick in the NFL draft by virtue of a 2-14 record, having found a way to get worse from the 4-12 mark they posted in the 2013 season. They are 17-47 over the last four seasons and last made the playoffs following the 2007 campaign.
Being the worst team in the league carries the privilege and curse of picking first in the draft, and it’s even more treacherous when such a team needs a quarterback and the top two prospects represent such stark polarities.
Florida State’s Jameis Winston is equipped to play in the NFL right now. Though his stats were not as good last season as they were during the previous national championship run, neither was his supporting cast. But with Winston’s skills come, well, Winston.
He was alleged to have committed a sexual assault but cleared when the state district attorney wouldn’t bring charges and the school blew away violations of the student conduct code. He pilfered crab legs from a grocery store (and did community service for it), drew a one-game suspension for shouting obscenities at a campus venue and is viewed by some as only likely to get worse when given more privilege and money.
Oregon’s Marcus Mariota, like Winston a Heisman Trophy winner, has no character issues (and you can’t believe how big that suddenly is in the NFL). But Mariota played in an offensive system unlike most in the NFL and questions abound as to how well he (or the team that chooses him) can adapt.
The guess: Tampa Bay takes Winston. He’s the better prospect. Maybe he will outgrow the foolishness of youth. This is some choice for the Bucs – a player with seemingly no common sense but the appropriate skills or a solid citizen who may not fit a NFL scheme.
It’s good to not be the Bucs.
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .
-
The game has been moved out of New York due to an encroaching snowstorm. This weekend, the Buffalo Bills...
-
Negative pushback prompted the team to give the role to someone else. Recently, the Brooklyn Nets have been in...
-
The Bears got Claypool in exchange for a 2023 second-round pick. This week, the Pittsburgh Steelers cut a deal...
-
Belichick has cycled through several players in search of the right one. Recently, the New England Patriots have been...
-
The field needs new posts after overzealous fans dumped the old ones in the river. Over the weekend, the...
-
Hutchinson grew up idolizing the Patriots and Tom Brady. This Sunday, the Detroit Lions are scheduled to take on...
-
Judge has broken Babe Ruth’s record and tied with Roger Maris. Last week, New York Yankees center fielder and...
-
Judge is one homer away from beating the Bambino’s record. Babe Ruth, AKA The Great Bambino, AKA The Sultan...
-
Trout is one homer off from an MLB record. Last night, the Los Angeles Angels played the Cleveland Guardians....
-
Jones spoke about the new offense at their training camp. The New England Patriots are currently in the midst...
-
A fight broke out on the last day of joint practice. Thursday was the last day of joint practice...
-
Donaldson clinched the game for his team in extra innings. Wednesday night saw a major nail-biter game between the...