Rookie QB will be face of Bucs' franchise2h agoPat Yasinskas, ESPN Tampa Bay Buccaneers reporter 
TAMPA, Fla. -- With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers expected to take a quarterback (either Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota) with the first overall pick in the draft, the team has used the phrase "face of the franchise" a lot.That’s why what general manager Jason Licht had to say Monday was surprising."I think that term 'face of the franchise' is a title that’s earned," Licht said. "I don’t think any player walks in here and is the face of the franchise. Right now Gerald McCoy is the face of the franchise, and we have several. Vincent Jackson, Logan Mankins will have a big part this year, and Mike Evans."I get Licht’s point. McCoy, Jackson, Mankins and Evans already are established. Evans is entering his second season, but he’s coming off a huge rookie year. McCoy, Jackson and Mankins are veterans who are viewed as team leaders.But let’s be real honest here. If the Bucs draft a quarterback -- and all indications are that they will -- that player immediately will become the face of the franchise. It’s inevitable because quarterback is like no other position in all of sports.The quarterback lives under a microscope and often gets too much credit when a team wins and too much blame when it loses. That will be true if Mariota is the pick.But it will be even more true if the Bucs select Winston. He’s a polarizing figure among Tampa Bay fans. Some like that he played at Florida State. Others are opposed to drafting Winston, who has a history of off-field incidents, including an allegation of sexual assault (although no criminal charges were filed).Back in 1987, the Bucs held the first overall pick. They used it on quarterback Vinny Testaverde. For better or worse, he immediately became the face of the franchise. Winston or Mariota will be viewed the same way.
