Winston faces trust issues from fans./CARMEN MANDATO
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Finally, the NFL investigation in the Jameis Winston / Uber driver case is completed and the suspension has been rendered. In many ways, this has become a worst-case scenario for the Bucs. We now know that Winston did what he is accused of, then lied about it and tried to cover it up with a contrived story. We have heard over and over about how Winston is immature and needs to grow up but this goes way beyond that. Do you expect the Glazers will continue to back this guy up and pay him millions of dollars to be their franchise QB? Could how the Glazers handle the fall out be a turning point in the history of the franchise?
Larry Beller
Larry, the suspension -- and how the Glazers react -- will certainly be a key segment in the team's history. I don't know if it qualifies as a turning point, because I'm not sure it marks a significant change in the fortune of the team. (They're not a good team, and releasing a quarterback wouldn't allow them to be.)
It's amusing to me that the "apology" was carefully crafted so not to include an admission of guilt. I really don't know how else a fan is going to take it but a confession.
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The Uber driver didn't accuse him of littering in her car. What else could he be apologizing for? Don't hand me spin here. The league obviously believed the driver more than it believed Winston. What's worse is that Winston's lie made it easier to believe he had lied while at FSU. I'm not sure you can trust a thing he is saying anymore.
Again, I'm sure we'll get spin and dodge-ball. But I think a lot of people see Winston in a clearer light, and it isn't pretty.
How do the Glazers handle it? There is just one way: Win. I know that paints the rest of us as shallow, but that's how Ben Roethlisberger got past his sex scandal. He won. Since Roethlisberger was accused of rape -- the prosecutor could not gather enough evidence to bring the cas to trial -- he has been to the playoffs five times. Winning is a great eraser to the public.
Peyton Manning also had some ugly accusations against him while at Tennessee. That was before the days when the internet was so prevalent, and he won a lot of games, too.
So you're the Glazers, and you're sitting on a multi-million dollar investment. I don't think anyone with a clear head expects the team to come out and cut him (Pittsburgh didn't cut Roethlisberger).
But I think, among themselves, the Glazers need to discuss a strategy going forward. I would certainly consider him on probation, and I'd consider not renewing his contract. Remember all those vows that Winston would never get in trouble again? He lied to the Glaziers most of all. He took their money and kept up the sleaze.
I thought of you when I read that Winston says he isn't going to drink anymore. I hope not. I don't know what good comes from it when a guy can't handle booze.
The tough thing for the rest of us is giving him time. If Winston worked in a shoe store, he'd get fired for lying to his bosses and sexual impropriety. We all want snap judgments and decisive actions. But it didn't help the franchise when it cut Aqib Talib (and I was all for it). It didn't help when it moved a lot of quarterbacks who went on to success.
Eventually, of course, Winston has to be responsible, and his team's owners have to hold him responsible. If they decide to move on now, you can't blame anyone. But the precedent says you ride it out and hope he can outgrow this. I have my doubts.
Jameis Winston's Uber incident in Arizona occurred in April of 2016, but did not become known until November of 2017. How do we know that there are not other shoes to drop regarding his behavior?
Scott Myers
I don't feel sorry for the Bucs because they got what they deserved with Jameis Winston and his three-game suspension for sexual assault. The team should have known this is a dude with a dark side. To recap:
Carlos Ubinas
Bruce Brownlee
Bruce, a columnist with any newspaper is entitled to his opinion, and you're entitled to yours. Neither is more valuable than the other's. Tom's a friend of mine, but we often joke that we agree on very little.
I've had Tom's job, and it isn't easy. All you can do is write your conscience. Not everyone is going to agree with you. It's a very unpopular position at times, and I've ticked off a lot of fans over the years. But I always wrote my heart.
I was disappointed in Winston, too. The guy has a charm to him, and he competes, and I've always liked that. But when he swears the charges are false and then backtracks, well, that was tough for me. No one likes to be lied to. (And don't fall for his spin that he never said what he was apologizing for. We're not stupid.)
Personally, as I've said, I wouldn't cut him...yet. I would continue to consider not giving him a new contract -- depending on his play and his comportment. Some will say that it's too late. But the history of the league punishing quarterbacks doesn't say you cut a guy facing suspension. When has that ever happened? Again: Not with Ben Roethlisbeger. Not with Brett Favre. Not with Peyton Manning.
But I'd let Winston know this. I'm pissed at him. I'm not "disappointed" or "let down." I'm pissed. This franchise is the one you told that you would be a model citizen, and you weren't. You put your future, and the future of the team, in jeopardy. I'd let him know that he's a heartbeat from getting cut. Not this time, maybe, but on the next one. This franchise, which has embraced so manly athletes doing good work, cannot afford to embrace one who is doing bad work.
I'd demand that Winston volunteer at shelters for battered and abused women. I'd demand that he gets counseling. I'd test him for drugs and alcohol. I'd watch the way he conducts himself in the locker room. I'd watch the way he handles the huddle. I'd hire a private investigator to see if there are indeed other victims out there.
Then, after watching him up close, I would decide what to do in the best interests of my franchise.
Just before this broke, Bruce, I did a piece in response to a writer's suggestion that Winston was close to being a bust. He isn't. He's grown steadily, and his numbers compare well with some great quarterbacks after three seasons. To call him a bust on the field is foolish.
But he could be close to being a bust off of it. And he's down to, at most, his last chance. Get good, or get gone.
I loved your column on the Hall of Famers. I understand Shula being at #1. I was a little surprised that Bowden was so much lower considering how long his career was also. Your thinking on that one?
Jim Willson
Let me start with this. I love Bobby Bowden. I walked down the corridor with him at the Gator Bowl after he coached his final game. I enjoyed his interviews more than those of any other coaches. And I can certainly understand anyone who thinks he should be higher.
But the tough thing about rating greatness is this: As people read, they do their own lists. And if you put Bobby higher, you have to put someone else lower. Who would. you demote? Brooks? Selmon? Esposito? I'm serious.
Look, I didn't think of this as a rip on Bowden. He was the top-rated college coach on the list. (And yes, I usually favor players over coaches). I thought Bowden was great. He won two national titles, and he could have won more.
I don't know. Heck, you can move up a few spots if you'd like. None of us is beyond discussing this. Your rankings are as good as mine. So it's just which order you place Marty and Shaq and others).
But I'll say this, too. Someone read that list and decided that Sampras should be higher. Or Chris Evert. Or Danny Wuerffel. And on their lists, they would be. That's cool.
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