This is the biggest season of Jameis Winston's career to date. And if his new coach's appraisal of his current work ethic is any indication, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback could be poised for a long-awaited breakout season.
First-year Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians lauded Winston's preparation for the upcoming season on Thursday, calling him a “workaholic,” according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
Arians called Jameis Winston “a workaholic.”
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) July 25, 2019
Suspended for the first three games of after being accused of groping a female Uber driver, Winston threw for 2,992 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions last season, splitting time as the Buccaneers’ starter with journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick. But Fitzpatrick signed with the Miami Dolphins in free agency, and Tampa Bay's new coaching regime has gone out of its way to ensure Winston is put in the best position succeed.
The presence of Arians, hired in January to replace the fired Dirk Koetter, and rookie offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, oft hailed as football's next great quarterback guru, has apparently made quite a difference for Winston already.
“[Him] seeing things how I see it, [his] understanding from being in that pocket and not all from a strategic standpoint — it’s [been] excellent,” Winston said of Leftwich last month, per ESPN’s Jenna Laine.
The Buccaneers selected Winston with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. He lived up to the hype for most part during his first two years in the league, even making the Pro Bowl as a rookie, but his progress has been beset in the interim by off-field troubles and resulting suspensions.
Winston's rookie contract expires at the conclusion of the season, making him a free agent.
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