Welcome to The Hook, my weekly column that hooks you into a different Tampa Bay Buccaneers topic each Thursday, as well as some of my thoughts on the Bucs and the NFL at the end in a section called Cannon Blast.

I invite you to offer me some feedback on The Hook below in the article comments section.

Six years later and Tampa Bay’s great quarterback debate continues.

Six years ago at this time it was the Jameis Winston vs. Marcus Mariota split among Bucs fans, the media and even the organization. Inside the building there was a divide, as offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter wanted Mariota and head coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jason Licht wanted Winston. PewterReport.com readers were divided. There was lots of passion – and sometimes anger – between those who made a case for either quarterback.

Six years later it is clearly Winston, who has had the best career. And it isn’t even close statistically (except for Mariota’s fewer turnovers). But with the Buccaneers possibly moving on from Winston, did they really win the debate?

Five seasons of mediocrity as a team, zero playoff appearances and now an organization that is still struggling to determine what it has in Winston and if it even really wants him anymore.

There have been plenty of rumors regarding Tampa Bay. First it was Philip Rivers coming to the Bucs. Then it was Tom Brady. In between names like Andy Dalton, Ryan Tannehill and Derek Carr have been thrown around in the speculation.

Tom Brady : Photo by: Getty Images

The latest name to emerge from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis is former Vikings and current Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

Will it be any of the above?

Or has the internal organization debate all been a big mirage trying to lower the price to keep Winston around on the cheap?

I have covered the Buccaneers as a beat writer for going on 10 seasons, and I have never seen an organization so tight-lipped about a personnel decision. Normally I can get a wink or a nod. I might even get used and led down the wrong path on purpose for the betterment of the team.

But this year?

Crickets.

I’ve got hand it to Bruce Arians, Jason Licht and the organization for keeping their plans under lock and key. And maybe the deafening silence is because they still have no idea what they are going to do because they are unsure which QBs will actually be available in free agency or via trade.

I have gone on record a number of times saying I believe Tampa Bay needs to bring Winston back for another season. There is no way he throws 30 interceptions again next season, right?

In his first year of Arians’ offense, Carson Palmer threw a career-high 22 interceptions in 2013. He never threw more than 14 following that.

If Winston were to get his number under 15 the Buccaneers can win a lot of football games. Maybe even make a deep run in the playoffs.

But the bottom line is, there is no way this football team can go very far with 35 turnovers, including five Winston fumbles. The problem for Arians and the Bucs’ brass is trying to figure out if those numbers will come down and if so, by how many?

Are we talking about 20 interceptions?

Maybe 18?

Under 12?

No one really knows. And that is the predicament the organizations find themselves in.

All offseason I have seen pro-Winston Bucs fans try and rationalize his 30 interceptions. Receivers ran the wrong routes. Receivers had the ball bounce off of their hands. Arians’ offense requires high-risk throws.

All true.

But guess what? Other quarterbacks had receivers run incorrect routes. Other quarterbacks had balls go off of their receivers hands. It happens.

Bucs QB Jameis Winston – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But 30 times? C’mon now.

You know who has never tried to rationalize the turnovers?

Jameis Winston.

Since his rookie season one of the most common themes after nearly every loss has been turnovers. And nearly every one of those games Winston has said the same thing.

“I have to protect the football.”

“I have to be better.”

“I have to bounce back and not turn the ball over.”

If you give it away to the other team more than you take it away, you normally lose. Winning the turnover battle in football isn’t rocket science. Winston knows this, yet hasn’t been able to change it.

Can he? Will he?

Pro-Winston fans point to Brett Favre and the 336 interceptions he threw in his career, which is an NFL record. But when Favre won his one and only Super Bowl in 1996, he threw just 13 picks. Winston has only thrown less than 13 once in one of his five season and that was in 2017 when he threw 11 and played in just 13 games.

I remember the day of Arians’ initial press conference at One Buc Place when he was introduced as the new head coach. After all the press conferences for television were wrapped up Arians came into the media room at One Buc and he had an informal chat with the Bucs beat writers.

I said to Arians: “We all know turnovers have been an issue with Winston going back to his final season at Florida State, so how many interceptions can you live with Winston throwing the ball?”

He looked at me and put up one finger.

“One,” Arians said.

One per game. Anymore than that and he said that the quarterback is hurting the team’s chances for winning.

He wasn’t wrong.

Sixteen interceptions per season is something that Arians can live with. Winston threw nearly double that amount in an all-important contract year.

It seems like Rivers is headed for Indianapolis. Brady could end up back in New England, Tennessee or maybe even Las Vegas. Tannehill may stick in Tennessee, and if Brady stays in New England then Carr is probably back with the Raiders under Jon Gruden.

So who does that leave for Tampa Bay?

Dalton? No thanks.

A rookie? I’ll pass. No one in the organization wants to hit reset at the QB position and start a rookie in 2020, and I feel the same way.

Nick Foles? I’d rather have Nick Nolte.

Bridgewater? Well.

The first time I heard that Bridgwater’s name was connected to Tampa Bay I hated the idea. I still don’t love it. Can he stay healthy? Does he fit Arians’ offense? Is his arm strong enough?

All legitimate questions. But I don’t know if that is for us to necessarily answer.

“Hey Mark, it’s Bruce here. What do you think we should do for a quarterback this year? Oh, you like the idea of having Winston back? Okay man, thanks, we will get on the phone with his agent tomorrow and get a deal wrapped up. Appreciate it. Catch you at rookie mini-camp.”

Bucs GM Jason Licht and head coach Bruce Arians – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

That phone call isn’t coming. Not to me. Not to Scott Reynolds. Not to any of us in the media.

If Arians and Licht decide Bridgewater is a better option than Winston, well so be it. Arians has a pretty good track record on these types of decisions. And let’s face it. It is his job and Licht’s job on the line.

I am not getting fired based on the Bucs’ personnel decisions. I was here when Mark Dominik and Raheem Morris were fired. I saw Greg Schiano, Smith and Koetter all come and go. I survived all of them. And I will be here if Arians and Licht are shown the door if this team goes 4-12 next year – whether it is Winston throwing the ball or some other QB.

The bottom line is, I trust Arians’ decision-making more than my own when it comes to knowing what he wants and needs to win in the NFL. He’s done it. I have only written about it. That doesn’t necessarily mean Arians will make the right call. But he is heck of a lot more qualified than you or I to make that decision.

I’ve used this cliché often, but it still is true, the 68-year old Arians has forgotten more about football than most of us will ever know. This is his job, his livelihood and professional reputation.

If he wants Bridgewater he isn’t bringing him in so he can fail. If Winston is shown the door and Bridgewater is under center next September at Raymond James Stadium then it is because he believes he can win with him and he is a good fit for his offense.

The good news is that in just a couple weeks the water will be less murky and all of the social media bitterness, anger and back and forth will cease. Well, slow down some I hope.

At least we will have an answer at the Bucs’ QB position, and after going on six years I am ready for the great quarterback debate in Tampa Bay to come to an end – one way or another.

Of course if the Bucs surprise us and use the franchise tag on Winston, then get ready for another 12 months of the same debate raging on.

Oh man, someone please pass me the Tums.

CANNON BLAST

Cook’s musings and ramblings about the Buccaneers and the NFL. Good stuff. Check it out.

• If Tom Brady were to somehow sign with Tampa Bay the Bucs would instantly become nationally relevant again. Games would sell out, primetime games would be frequent, and national media members like Jeff Darlington, Sal Paolantonio and others would be in Tampa on a weekly basis. The NFL Network, ESPN, FOX Sports and other outlets would head south and be camped out here often.

Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen – Photo by: Getty Images

But maybe even more exciting than that would be the arrival of Gisele Bündchen. I mean she is a former Victoria’s Secret model. And Boston pals Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will probably be hanging down in the south Tampa hot spots, too.

But seeing Gisele at Bucs games and maybe around the AdventHealth Training Center? Hey, we can only dream, right?

All of as sudden I’m pulling for Brady to come to Tampa Bay now. Hey, Bruce and Jason, let’s make it happen.

• One of writing heroes, the late great author and columnist Lewis Grizzard told one of the best and relatable stories about being a columnist I’ve ever heard.

Grizzard said he was once on vacation in Costa Rica or somewhere like that and one night at the hotel bar and one of the “ladies of the night” approached him.

“For $100 I’ll do anything you want,” she purred.

Grizzard said, “Anything?”

“That’s right,” she said.

Grizzard thought about it and reached in his wallet and peeled off not one, but two $100 bills and handed it to the scantily dressed young lady and told her, “Here’s my room key, now go upstairs and write my next two columns.”

Lol!

• On a serious note, the Arians Family Foundation has a terrific event coming up that I hope you will consider supporting.

Below is part of press release for the event:

“Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Bruce Arians and several Buccaneers team members will join Christine to be part of The Power of One Luncheon on May 11 at Raymond James Stadium to support foster children in the Tampa area. The event is hosted by and benefits Voices for Children, the non-profit partner of the Hillsborough Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program.

Each year, Voices for Children (VFC) hosts an Awareness Luncheon to share their vision with individuals who might be interested in making a difference for foster children in our community. This year, those attending can join Bruce Arians for a Q&A, as he shares his personal journey as a coach and a child advocate. Many years ago, Bruce and his wife, Chris, started the Arians Family Foundation to support local child advocate programs.  Through the years, they have raised millions of dollars to support children in foster care.  Attendees can hear Bruce’s message as he shares his passion for this important mission.

Erin, Mark and Douglas Cook

Bruce and Chris Arians began advocating on behalf of children in the foster care system many years ago. They immediately saw what a difference they could make in a child’s life. Together they established their Foundation to support and develop programs to prevent the abuse and neglect of children. Today, their entire family is involved.  Their efforts span across the nation, and NFL players are wanting to help as well. “To see the look on the faces of children when they realize someone cares, is amazing,” says Coach Arians. “That’s why we want to help raise awareness.”

This is a cause very near and dear to my family’s heart, as we adopted our son, Douglas, through foster care back in 2004. Thanks Coach Arians and Chris for giving your time and raising awareness for a great program.

To learn more about the Voices for Children Power of One Luncheon, go to vfcgal.org. For more information about The Arians Family Foundation, go to AriansFamilyFoundation.com. To learn more about the Hillsborough County Guardian ad Litem program, visit galtampa.org or call (813) 272-5110.

• Another great Grizzard quote about being a columnist, “Being a columnist is like being married to a nymphomaniac – the first two weeks are great.”

So true.

LAST LAUGH

Our own Taylor Jenkins had a great tweet this week, proving even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.

Brady would have to change his number if he came to Tampa, considering he’d be the second-best #12 on the team. https://t.co/7z1RnQ92p2

— Taylor Jenkins (@TJenkinsTampa) March 3, 2020

Chris Godwin better than Tom Brady? Okay, Griz.