Jameis Winston has a career 19,737 yards and has already surpassed the career totals of “The Mad Bomber “Daryle Lamonica (19,154), “The Ruston Rifle” Bert Jones (18,190), and “The Punky QB” Jim McMahon (18,148). Numbers don’t mean as much as the eras of football have changed significantly. Winston’s 5,109 yards in 2019 are the 8th highest single-season total in NFL history. His 33 TD and 30 INT was a roller coaster ride for the Buccaneers. Winston set an NFL record with 7 interceptions that were returned for touchdowns in 2019. If memory serves me correctly 2 of Winston’s first 3 passes vs. the Texans interceptions with the first one being returned to the house. I received multiple texts from upset friends that I recommended to play Winston. The 84.3 Passer rating made Winston the 27th rated passer. Bruce Arians is a solid offensive coach that couldn’t reign in Winston. Teams passed on Winston in favor of other free agents and or draft choices. Reportedly Winston had more lucrative offers on the table, but took the 1-year cheap deal with the Saints.
The Quarterback carousel is full of lost causes that turned it around with a change of scenery.
There’s a myriad of reasons why QB’s find success elsewhere, development as a player, better coaching, better scheme, better surrounding players and so on and so forth. Here’s a few Quarterbacks that went from Heroes to Zeroes and back to Heroes.
Before the draft in 2019, Ryan Tannehill was traded with a 6th rd pick in 2019 from the Dolphins to the Titans for a 4th 2020 and 7th 2019. The Dolphins had decided to move on from their former first round pick and hit the reset button. Tannehill far outperformed expectations, led the Titans to the AFC Championship Game, and won the Comeback Player of the Year award in the process. Jim Plunkett flamed out in New England and San Francisco before winning a pair of Super Bowls with the Raiders. Randall Cunningham sat out a year before returning to the Vikings and leading the team to an NFC Championship Game appearance. Steve Young was discarded for Vinny Testaverde in Tampa Bay. Young was traded away for a 2nd and a 4th in 1987 to the 49ers. The rest is history in a Hall Of Fame career. Testaverde flamed out in Tampa as well and went on to have a lengthy NFL career that included 2 Pro Bowl appearances.
After 5 seasons in the league, the book is out on Winston. Bad decision making far outweighs the rocket arm. The Saints are a great landing spot for the 26-year-old Winston to rehab his career. The Saints have played Winston twice a year for 5 years. Their coaching staff knows his strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies. Working with Sean Payton, Joe Lombardi, and Drew Brees in theory should assist in Winston cleaning up some of the bad decision making in his game. Winston has the opportunity to put together good tape in the preseason and get considered for another job. Winston also has the opportunity to force his way into the Saints Post-Brees plans.