Jameis Winston's in front two months before Bucs pick 
Jameis Winston, left, and Marcus Mariota both put on impressive shows last weekend at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. THE ASSOCIATED PRESSBy Martin Fennelly | Tribune Staff Published: February 25, 2015 TAMPA — As shocking as this sounds, it appears that how Jameis Winston throws the football might be the determining factor in why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers seem poised to draft him.Who would have thought?Yes, it looks like it’s all over but where Derrick Brooks adds onto his Tampa home for Jameis’ bedroom.What a drag.But maybe it’s not over.It shouldn’t be.Winston wowed the discerning crowd at the NFL combine, the Bucs included. He was exceptional on the field and carried the day in interviews. By the way, Marcus Mariota was good at both those things, too.Play on, I say, play on!I’m not surprised Jameis kicked tail in interviews. Just last year, Johnny Manziel recast himself and at least one team, the Cleveland Browns, bought it. Then they blinked and Johnny was partying at Justin Bieber’s crib.Heading into this offseason, I’m convinced the Bucs wanted to convince themselves on Winston the person because they were already convinced about Winston the player.They have been leaning toward “immaturity” over “bad guy” for a while, even before Bucs GM Jason Licht said as much to Peter King’s Monday Morning Quarterback last week in Indy.They’ve apparently reached the promised land on Jameis, even before spending loads more time with either Winston or Mariota, which they are sure to do anyway leading up to the draft.You heard Lovie Smith at the combine, talking about being “comfortable” with Jameis.I’m not sure he should be this comfortable this soon.Then again, I don’t know if I trust all of what Lovie says. First, what’s the advantage of going all in on Jameis this early? Second, isn’t this the same Lovie who said he loves Mike Glennon, quarterback of the future?Still, as talented as this organization is at secrecy, it’s hard to believe this could be misdirection.Mind you, I’d love misdirection.Let’s keep this ball in the air!Lovie also praised Mariota at the combine. It just didn’t get nearly as much play. Face it: We’ve all become slightly Jameis-centric. Where’s the news value in Mariota being a good guy? We all knew that. But, Jameis coming off as a good guy is JAMEIS IS A GOOD GUY.We need to be on guard here.So do the Bucs.Licht told the Monday Morning Quarterback, “I’d be lying if I said I don’t spend a whole lot of time thinking about the off-field stuff.” Good. Keep thinking. I hope there is ongoing homework. The Bucs better have wheeled in pros, outsiders, to get to the bottom of all things Jameis. Because this is the whole ball game. You’ve got two months. Use every day.But I can’t forget that it always starts with this:Can the guy play?I think the Bucs were there on Winston even before their or his season ended. It will take a lot to overcome all the “NFL ready” that he possesses, even with Mariota throwing well and being his usual straight-A person at the combine. It might already be over.And it might have come down to the football.Shocking.
