While he’s not the most vocal player, Tampa Bay wide receiver Vincent Jackson is known for being a professional both on and off the field, leading his teammates by example. And with the Buccaneers poised to start a rookie quarterback next season – likely one with past off-field issues in Florida State’s Jameis Winston – that type of direction from a veteran Pro Bowler becomes even more crucial to the team’s success.
“I think the biggest thing is just communication,” Jackson said at his press conference on Tuesday. “Being out there on the field, being available to these guys, telling them what we’re seeing and asking what they’re seeing and expecting of us. That’s the biggest thing, just having an open book and keeping those doorways open.”
Many credited Jackson with helping to speed up Mike Evan’s development last year, serving as a mentor to the unproven rookie. This upcoming season he’ll be expected to do the same, however it will involve a different process given that the No. 1 overall pick won’t be playing wide receiver. But according to Jackson, that won’t be an issue.
“Well, obviously we spend a lot of time with our quarterback, so we’ll have a lot of hands on interaction with him, on the field and in the meeting rooms and things like that,” Jackson said. “I’ll definitely try to tutor him and help him with his learning curve as much as I can … whomever it is that comes in.”
This is the first time during his 11-year career that his team has held the No. 1 overall pick. And although that’s never an intended goal, Jackson says he’s excited for his team’s rare opportunity Thursday night, and what it will add to an already improved organization.
“Yeah, it’s always an exciting time,” Jackson said. “I mean it’s going to change a lot in our franchise, and there’s going to be a lot of buzz going around. Having that first pick is rare; you don’t get a lot of those. I think it’s going to be exciting.
“Whoever it is and however it works out, we’re going to get him in here and get it rolling. We’re excited about who we have in this building already, but again adding good talent throughout the draft, not just the first pick but throughout the draft and even free agency, is going to be important for us.”
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About the Author: Zach Shapiro
Jackson doesn’t use the word “mentor” here. He said tutor on the field and in the meeting room, which sounds more like helping him in football than helping him not so say or do something stupid.
Vincent Jackson would be a perfect mentor for Winston, for he too has repeatedly done some stupid things as you like to call them before becoming a well respected man in the Tampa bay community. Youth has it’s indiscretions. Go ahead Pink, throw stones at V-Jax!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4938646
I never said he didn’t do anything stupid himself. I said he didn’t say in this interview that he would mentor Winston. Mentor and tutor are two different things.
I see 6 guys that should be first round picks if they did not have an issue (or 2). These are guys we should target in rounds 2 or 3. The first 2 I have no problem using our 2nd round pick on.
Shane Ray
Cedric Ogbuehi
Randy Gregory
Dorial Green-Beckham
Marcus Peters
Arik Armstead
That’s how we ended up with B. Price and D. Bowers. I want guys with no issues and lots of production. In rounds 2 and after that may mean sacrificing a bit in terms of athleticism, but if they were that close to perfect they’d be going in the top of the 1st round, like Mariota.
I think that list is a lot longer pinkstob – sadly – but as every Buc fan knows, that’s also how we got Mr Sapp….now that’s not me in favour of doing this, please don’t get me wrong, I just wanted to point out the one home run we did have to be fair.
You’re right. However, Sapp still went in the 1st round. I was just trying to make a point of guys that slipped to the 2nd round or lower due to injury or off field issues.
Not Bucs but others, Randy Moss, Aaron Rogers, Dez Bryant.
Do not talent mistakes with poor coaching.
This draft is driving me crazy, BUT I have started thinking of it this way; whoever the Bucs pick for a QB, we will be better! That’s it.
They need to hire an outsider to help Winston with his daily life. A person paid by the Bucs to help him to focus daily. Put it in his contract.
If Winston requires that (which I think he does) he’s not the best available player in this draft, thus not worth the #1 overall pick.
Well guys and Gals. A few hours ago it was mention of a trade possible .That Chicago Bears would swing a deal with the bucs @#7 for Chicago Bears Qb and Rb Matte Forte plus a#1 & #2 next year. I think it is possible. Chicago wants to get a new Qb, And Culter knows Lovie. I see at #7 picking that big OT @#7 Brandon Scherff from Iowa. Then it shows that Tampa could get a top corner at #34 and get Tre Jackson at #65. And pick a qb in rd#4. I think I could lived with that.… Read more »
well George, I appreciate the ideas, but I think such a trade would effectively be Winston for Scherff, given that Cutler is terrible and one concussion away from a life-time of hospital care, and Forte is as over the hill as AP but not nearly as good…and therefore, I for one would call immediately for L&L’s firing if they made such a deal…
So, I know the Bucs are taking Winston or maybe even Mariota first overall, but what if they don’t do that? What if they trade with the Jets? What if they trade the top pick which is worth 3000 points on the chart for the Jets 1st(1600), 2nd(540), 3rd(240), 4th(98) and 2nd(approx 500) next year. They might still be able to get Winston if they do that. Even if they don’t get Winston at 6, they could trade for a veteran. Heck, they could draft a young guy to back up Glennon. If they did that, they would have the… Read more »
Who would take Winston in the first 5 picks if the Bucs traded out with the Jets? Tennessee – Maybe, Jacksonville – NO, Raiders – No, Washington – Maybe. Both Tennessee and Washington are on record as liking their young QB’s and Washintong just picked up the 5th year option on RGIII.
BucWild02; neither one of these QB’s are worth for other teams to give up so much including the Eagles. Whatever happens, happens. My guess is we draft Winston based on a hope and a prayer; Of all the times to have the No/ 1 Spot and neither QB is worthy of the their selection. JMHO
WInston would be gone in a heartbeat to Tennessee if we moved down.
@Bucwild, either the Jets would take him, or Tenn, or Tenn would trade their pick to a team that wanted him (e.g., Houston, St. Louis, etc). Also, I think if the Bucs trade the pick they would need to be getting back multiple 1st rounders, not the Ditka-Saints deal of 1,2,3,4….those mid round picks just aren’t that valuable in that point system (it’s one of the flaws of that table….one of the many flaws). I do appreciate the thought on trading the pick though…my new ideal scenario is trading down with someone like the Jets, then trading back up with… Read more »
This just struck me I think I would rather have Gerald McCoy tutoring Leonard Williams more.
My goodness you folks sure interpret things to suit your perceptions. All rookies need someone to show them the ropes…..not just Winston. It doesn’t mean they need some life coach to follow them around at Publix. It’s is absolutely “hysterical” as JonnyG would say, when people continue to dig up 2-1/2 year old ill-advised acts as if this is some daily routine for the young man. I guess it’s like a high school sophomore who hangs a “Kick Me” sign on a classmate, gets blank report cards from his girlfriend who is a teacher’s aid, shoots a spitball, drops his… Read more »
Bad analogy, unless of course you were a potential first pick candidate for the NFL in recent years. Everyone’s excited and vary in opinion..like that some people are throwing around trading down for more picks…my wish. Like you Scubog, I done things too and turned out well. I can make an educated guess and say if I was a first pick with girls throwing themselves at me and all that money at such an early age I’d probably screw it up…Go Bucs!!!!!!!
Watched path to draft last night, the segment with Winston was enlightening. It showed him with his girl friend of 3 years. They went to a Japanese steak house for her 21 st birthday. They sat with strangers at a group table, and interacted with the folks they were seated with. They had a driver take them to, and from. No pot in the car Ray. If you watched the show, and still hate the kid, well you just might hate life. On a side note, if these two decide to marry, and have kids, we might be drafting Jameis… Read more »
all the trade down guys, so we end up with 9-10 rookies they’re just ROOKIES! How many rookies make a impact?