With The First Pick
Fansided

Can Jameis Winston make the leap in year three?

By Luke Drage

NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 24: Jameis Winston
NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 24: Jameis Winston /
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ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 02: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston. attends the game between. the Florida State Seminoles and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. on September 2, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 02: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston. attends the game between. the Florida State Seminoles and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. on September 2, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Leadership

One aspect of Winston’s game that is already elite is his leadership. The raucous pre game speeches are where that shows up most to the cameras.

But behind the scenes his demeanour and willingness to help others is a huge part of that too.

The most telling moment of Hard Knocks in relation to his leadership was during the team’s first preseason game. Third string QB Ryan Griffin had just left the game with a shoulder injury and Winston spotted offensive linemen James Stone and Jarvis Harrison on the bench talking and joking around.

"He calmly approached them and said: “I’m happy y’all are having fun, but Ryan just hurt his shoulder. So keep having fun,”"

The pair hastily changed their tune. Small things like that embody Winston’s approach to football and the standards he holds himself and his teammates to.

His ability as a leader is fully appreciated by the organisation. This was evident in a conversation held between Bucs GM Jason Licht and Tampa Bay Lightning assistant GM Julien BriseBois on a visit to the Bucs facility.

"Licht said of his young signal caller: “…He’s the best leader I think I’ve ever been around — in anything.” “If you’ve got a guy like Jameis, he’s the reason we got Desean Jackson, because DeSean turned down more money to come here because he wanted to play with him,”"

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