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TAMPA, Fla. – It could be the most complicated dilemma on the field in the NFL. And it will become a lot more complicated.
Jameis Winston, former No. 1 pick in the repechage, is back from his three-game suspension and by his appearance he was Wally Pipp-ed by veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. Rather than flicker to 0-3 without Winston, Fitzpatrick became the only quarterback in NFL history to win 400 yards in three straight games. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 2-1 and Winston was relegated to the scrum with old Bucs and FSU teammates in a local high school.
Head Coach Dirk Koetter met with both players on Tuesday. He does not reveal what will happen at the start of the Bucs at QB, citing a competitive advantage, but it is not an act of imagination to believe that he will ride with the vet on a short week with Khalil Mack in Chicago.
"We have a plan," Koetter said Tuesday, "and both guys are aware."
Jameis Winston returned to the Bucs this week after serving a three-game suspension for an incident involving an Uber driver. (AP)
If the Bucs continue to win, why sinking a good thing?
But that's where it's difficult: the short-term thinking of the Bucs may be at odds with their long-term vision. They have a quarter winner and a quarter winner (at least that's the hope).
When becomes now later?
Exhibit A: Monday night Fitzpatrick made three choices in a short time in the second quarter, and he looked confused at a Steelers defense. If Winston was available, that could have been the starting point. The team needed a spark.
But Winston was not available. Fitzpatrick rallied and almost won the match.
So what happens when Fitzpatrick struggles again, what could happen on Sunday?
The best scenario is a transition to Winston can be made without sacrificing the season or the dressing room that seems to like Fitzpatrick. Winston is ideally the closest that comes in after the non-batter is broken. But this scenario could lead to a brutal outcome if Winston misses FitzMagic and then Tampa who has a talented guy who can not finally measure himself.
It's easy to imagine bringing Winston back at some point, if not Sunday. But if Winston struggles, there will be a whole fan base with Fitzpatrick's T-shirts and fake beards, and memories of what it was at the time when the Harvard defender was in throw everything into the garden. Now, take a look at the likelihood that the defenses will put additional pressure on Winston. It's not as if the Bucs had a stellar racing game. A 200-yard, two-interception game will not seem to stand next to the 400-yard magic. Keep in mind that the Bucs have never really managed to stop a quarter, even for a few games. The first smuggler in the history of the franchise is Vinny Testaverde.
In places like Cleveland, Buffalo and Arizona, the old man was simply on the road to the promised land. The choice of high draft could be based on hopes and expectations. In Tampa, it is almost the opposite: the choice of the draw has gutted more than a few fans and patience with him may be rather thin.
That's why Koetter can not hurry. Before making sure that Winston is the future, he must make sure that Fitzpatrick is the past.
In other words, stay with FitzMagic a little longer than he would otherwise. Expect for a few extra sets, and maybe an extra week.
Will he do that? Nobody knows it, but maybe not even him. On Tuesday, Koetter said he was still not 100% sure of his plan because he had not seen Winston train after the suspension. This will happen from Wednesday. For his part, Winston simulated exercises and even games.
While Fitzpatrick played out of this world, Winston played in an alternate universe. It's to his credit – Winston has always been a hard worker – but the hardest thing is to be in a situation that has been more than satisfactory without him. Winston has had years to show what Fitzpatrick could show in a few weeks: he knows how to lead this team.
Now Winston has to win it. That's a good thing – if he really wins it.
Bucs fans hope that the short term will last for a while and hope the long term will happen quickly.
Pretty easy, right?
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