The buccaneers will soon put Ryan Fitzpatrick on the bench, play Jameis Winston

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Good idea, because Winston returned to work Tuesday – which means that Tampa Bay (now in a three-way tie at the top of the South NFC) faces a major decision.

A possible decision – inevitable.

Fitzpatrick was incredibly sublime, sailing the Bucs through a glove of opponents who made 37-11 in 2017 and who are 5-3-1 this year. The Saints and Eagles suffered their only setback against Tampa Bay. Most of the experts (this one included) were among the Buccaneers for a 0-3 hole once Winston resurfaced.

So, Fitzpatrick deserves to keep driving the highest ranked NFL attack. For the moment.

But this will end only in one way, even if head coach Dirk Koetter was not ready to admit him into defeat.

"Let's see what happens," he said. "I mean, I'd like to have a chance to talk to Jameis face to face before telling the rest of the world."

Here is a story for Koetter and the rest of the world.

In 2011, Fitzpatrick got a 5-2 start on the Woebegone Bills. Perhaps you remember his 369-yard heroines in a 34-31 surprise against Tom Brady's Patriots, giving Buffalo fans hope that their miserable sequence of playoff absences would end.

It has not been the case. The Bills have lost eight of their last nine games, and Fitzpatrick has 23 points.

Four years later, the Fitzmagic was (temporarily) back. He had his best statistical season, leading what appeared to be a disappointing 10-6 Jets team with a record high of 3,905 yards and 31 touchdowns. As with these Bucs, starring receiver Mike Evans and tight end O.J. Howard, Fitzpatrick thrived with the power of the target-sized Jets against Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, who could mask his sometimes stray ducks.

Needing only to beat under-500 tickets in the last game of the 2015 regular season to reach the playoffs, Fitzpatrick threw three interceptions and completed just 16 of his 37 assists in a 22-17 crush. . The Steelers have gotten the latest wild card from the AFC, not the New York one.

Fitzpatrick claimed a big contract from the Jets a few months later and did not join them until the start of the training camp even though he did not have any other serious contenders. He would lose eight of his 11 games in 2016 and end up in front of a ticket before leaving the city.

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At 122 NFL starts, Fitzpatrick is 50-71-1. He is a career passer of 60% with 184 TD and 140 INT. He will show irrational confidence in his arm strength limited to the worst moments, which will lead to horrible decisions, not suited to the pedigree of Harvard that everyone loves to reference (there, I just do it) .

Fitzpatrick played for seven teams. His next playoff start will be his first.

You can see where this is going.

Winston did not lead Tampa Bay after his first three seasons. His errors of judgment on the field (44 career interceptions) are not as troubling as those of other players, although apparently his behavior was blank since he would have fumbled a Uber driver in 2016 – the incident which earned him a ban of three games.

But Bucs' confidence must make a determination at their most important position, and that means reevaluate Winston – the man they took with the first pick of the 2015 draft in the hope of solving the long-awaited dilemma of the franchise in the center – on the ground. He is currently the only quarter on the contract list in 2019, assuming Tampa Bay does not cancel the fifth year option of his rookie contract.

"We love Jameis," said Koetter. "He is a member of our team and can not wait to come back, he will be great in our locker room.

"And I know Jameis – no matter what role he's in – I know Jameis will take on that role and give him everything he has."

Can Winston play? He has all the physical and mental tools and more of Pro Bowls (one) on his brief summary than Fitzpatrick. Can he overcome adversity, especially given the fast pace that Fitzpatrick has established and be a model citizen in the community? Is it worthy of the $ 100 million contract that the Bucs have to consider giving him in the off season or in 2020?

Or is he not the guy and the Pewter Pirates are they forced to move on?

The Glazer family, the general manager Jason Licht and Koetter must know it.

And, overall, it is much more logical to get this answer as quickly as possible.

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