Ugh! The talking heads get on my nerves with the continuous Jameis Winston mistakes narrative. If he is cautious, he is too slow! If he takes a chance, he is too risky! If he runs, he is not fast enough! If he fails to slide, he is playing dangerously! If he doesn’t throw to a perceived open receiver, he is not aware or he is afraid to throw! If he throws, he is being reckless! It is so easy to criticize from the sidelines, behind a sports desk, or while wearing a set of headphones in front of a microphone!
The sports podcasters blame the national media for constantly bashing Jameis, yet they do it while supposedly “knowing all about the New Orleans Saints football.” These so-called “homers” and “fans,” in the beginning, just wanted Jameis to manage the offense, which is the primary job of the quarterback, protect the ball, and help the Saints win. Now, they complain about the yardage being too low even though, if they took the time to look at Drew’s performance back when he started in 2006, over 14 years ago, his passing yards were low, and he had receivers to throw it to. When we revisit Drew’s play from the past, it is comparable to Jameis’ play now, 14 plus years later. (facts) Regardless, it was and is a process and it appears Payton, the “coach,” is keeping to the process. But if we listen to the sports media, you would think Payton told them that he does not trust Jameis.
How fast we forget! Jameis told us during the off season that he would be managing the game because he is being result-oriented. Back then, there was a whole lot of that-a-boy Jameis, but now that we have seen him sling the ball effortlessly for over 50 feet, we want him to play for flash, not be result-oriented, and not just win and let the defense hold it. How ridiculous does that sound? A win is a win. Just throw it, Jameis, to that receiver that you practiced with and, with a lead, take the chance of him dropping it, deflecting, or causing an interception like the other 32 plus quarterbacks do on any given Sunday! Throw it to any of those undrafted players who fail to separate and trust that they will catch it while we are playing against Bill and the Patriots. Again, ridiculous.
Last year, the Saints’ record for the first three games were 1 and 2. This year, it’s 2 and 1, so what in the heck are you complaining about? It’s way better than you had predicted. So what if the defense is leading? It is a team effort! You can rack up high scores, but without a defense playing lights out, the other team can score high too! Offense wins games, but the defense wins championships. Shouldn’t we be striving for the championship?
The other thing that irks my nerves is the narrative around how Sean and Drew are making Jameis as if his talent is not at the forefront of his performance. He is not a mindless bot. He is a skilled athlete who unfortunately was drafted by a losing team and all the consequences that followed. And the double standards! Mahomes can throw erratic balls and it is okay because he is on a winning team. If it is Rogers, Drew, or Brady it’s okay because they are hall-of-famers. Max Jones can dangerously throw a ball and it’s okay because he is trying to make a play. What the other quarterbacks named Jameis do is all okay. They are given a pass because they have not been tagged as the ridiculed pinata for the sports media on all platforms.
Is Jameis a character? Yes, he is. But anyone who knows him likes his character, including his teammates! His honesty is laughable. He did not lie. He didn’t say he saw Calloway and was giving him a chance to make a play. Instead, he told his coach and the media that he was throwing the ball away, which is where it would have been if his receiver, that he practiced with off season, didn’t go up and grab it because he thought his QB was giving him the opportunity to make a play. Pundits and critics laugh because Jameis says it was all God (the results). Of course, Jameis is not Tebow, so it is a ridiculous reference, correct?
One more thought. After 14 years in the same offense, Drew should know the playbook. It is called a career. Jameis is less than half of Drew’s age and has only been under center for the Saints a few weeks (stepped up play calling against the Patriots to help Ruiz). Have we forgotten his reps were shared with Taysom during camp QB competition? Some of the things these football savvy media types say are inaccurate and nonsensical. “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.” Facts don’t always get you the clicks or views that waving an unsubstantiated statement about Jameis does, but FACTS for the fans. We deserve the facts!