Bucs fans at forum make it clear: They want Winston By Roy Cummings | Tribune Staff Published: April 9, 2015 
TAMPA — If the crowd of Stadium Club members who took part Thursday in an exclusive Q&A session with coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jason Licht are any indication, Buccaneers fans can’t wait to see Jameis Winston become the team’s new quarterback.Winston’s mere appearance in the brief video clip that kicked off the team-sponsored Front Office Forum in the East Club of Raymond James Stadium sparked a raucous round of applause, the first and perhaps loudest of the evening.“He’s a winner, he has swagger. I think he’s the best quarterback in the draft and I’d love to see him as a Buc,” said Shawnesia Bryant, a Tampa resident who led the cheers while wearing a garnet Florida State University jersey with Winston’s name and number on the back.The appearance of Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota in the same video a moment after Winston appeared sparked some mild applause from the crowd, but it didn’t compare to the response that was generated by Winston’s on-screen image.“Definitely, I want Jameis to be the guy,” added Brandon’s Jamal Sanders, who, like Bryant, cheered loudly when Winston appeared in the video. “It’s time for us to draft a franchise quarterback, and I really believe his skill set is what we need for our franchise.”The Bucs have a chance to make fans on both sides of the debate happy. They own the first pick in the 2015 draft and are expected to use it on either Winston or Mariota. If that is indeed the plan, though, the Bucs aren’t letting on.When asked to assess the two quarterbacks, Licht said, “They’re both winners, they’re both smart, they’ve both won a Heisman Trophy and they’re both respected by their teammates and coaches. That’s what’s going to make it tough (to decide) — if we go that route.”Roman Diaz was among the few in attendance who hope the Bucs don’t take the route that results in Winston becoming their next quarterback. He said he has been scared off by the penchant for throwing interceptions that Winston displayed during the 2014 season.“It all boils down to all his stats decreasing drastically last year except the interceptions,” Diaz said. “What we need is a franchise quarterback and someone who can take us to the promised land and make us a dynasty. I don’t think he’s the man for that.”Bryant disagreed, and the fact Winston would come with a checkered past that includes a sexual assault allegation, a shoplifting citation and a suspension for making obscene utterances in public at school doesn’t dissuade her.“As a woman, I look at it like this,” Bryant said of Winston’s string of misdeeds.“We all make mistakes. And we don’t know the full story. He’s a kid. He made mistakes, and I don’t condone them, but he’s the best candidate and you have to take the best candidate.”[email protected](813) 259-7979Twitter: @RCummingsTBO
