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.

It was September 2, 2013 when I saw a lanky 19-year old kid from Bessemer, Alabama throw a football for the first time.

QB Jameis Winston – Photo by: Getty Images

My Florida State Seminoles were kicking off the 2013 season on the road taking on the Pittsburgh Panthers on a Monday night and I really had no idea what to expect. FSU was supposed to win it all the year before in 2012. A fifth-year senior quarterback in E.J. Manuel, a favorable schedule and a roster full of future NFL players – 2012 was supposed to be the year when the Noles would bring their third college football championship trophy to Tallahassee.

But a skinny, kind of goofy-looking quarterback at North Carolina State (Mike Glennon) ruined my dream. That, and then-head coach Jimbo Fisher deciding to sit on a 16-0 lead, calling just five pass plays in the second half with Manuel at the helm resulted in a loss that derailed Florida State in 2012.

I haven’t forgotten that, Jimbo.

But back to 2013.

The lanky Alabama native under center was getting his first start for Florida State.

Hey, he’s a new quarterback, so this may be a rebuild year.

Or so I thought.

That evening Jameis Winston introduced himself to a nation of college football fans with a near flawless performance. Winston finished the night 25-of-27 passing with four touchdowns along with a rushing touchdown in a 41–17 rout over Pitt.

Hmm. This kid might just be alright.

Little did I know this would start a nearly eight-year run of watching Winston play.

Five weeks later, it was a moment-of-truth game when FSU traveled to Clemson to take on the No. 3 Tigers in nationally televised night game. Clemson was on the rise and just didn’t lose many games at home – much less with an electric atmosphere in Death Valley.

“If we’re going to do it then, we do it big then.”

And the rest is history.

FSU demolished Clemson 51-14, and the perfect undefeated season that culminated with the BCS Trophy finding it’s way into the trophy case in the athletic faculty at Doak Campbell was on its way.

My son, Douglas, who is now 19, had never seen an FSU team win a title. In 2013, he turned 13, played football and baseball – like Winston – and we gathered in the living room on that January 6 evening to see the Seminoles take on the Auburn Tigers. It didn’t start well as FSU fell behind early. Auburn seemed one step ahead of the Noles offense. Of course we later learned a former Florida State coach, who was a member of Auburn’s coaching staff, knew what plays were being run ahead of time from the sideline signals.

QB Jameis Winston – Photo by: Getty Images

Auburn scored late to take the lead and FSU got the ball back with 1:19 left in the game, down 31-27. Winston led the Seminoles offense down the field and the legend of the kid from Bessemer was born that night in Pasadena.

Winston’s TD pass to Kelvin Benjamin put Florida State up with 19 seconds left. As Benjamin cradled the ball and fell to the turf, it felt like an eternity before the official signaled touchdown. When the ref’s hands went up my son and I, who where both standing in the middle of the living room at that point, didn’t jump and scream and act like maniacs.

Instead we just embraced and hugged. It was our football moment.

The 2014 campaign saw another undefeated regular season. Winston had in two seasons led FSU to 26 straight wins and a trip to the BCS playoffs to face the Ducks. This time there was no late game heroics. Oregon, led by quarterback Marcus Mariota, beat Florida State and the Noles’ bid to repeat and win back-to-back titles was over.

Winston’s time in Tallahassee was coming to and end and soon after the loss to Oregon, Winston announced he would be declaring for the NFL Draft.

The Buccaneers finished 2-14 in 2014 and just happened to be coming off their worst season since 1986, and had the overall No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft. The debates soon began. Should the Bucs take Winston, Mariota, trade down or select an impact defensive player?

PewterReport.com’s message boards were on fire. Local sports radio stations like WDAE took thousands of calls on the subject in the months leading up to the draft. The national sports television shows were non-stop talking about Winston and Mariota. Jon Gruden had them both in for a special pre-draft show on ESPN.

In March of that year, I traveled to Tallahassee for Florida State’s Pro Day. Tampa Bay’s scouting staff, including GM Jason Licht, was there along with ESPN and the NFL Network, and reps from every NFL team.

QB Jameis Winston at his Pro Day –Photo by: PewterReport.com

It was my first time seeing Winston face-to-face and having an opportunity to speak to him. I had no idea what to expect. Was he cocky? Was he a jerk? Or was he the down-to-earth guy some of my research led me to believe he was?

Fortunately, he was the latter. Now he was a confident guy, but when speaking to reporters and interacting with his teammates and all of those in attendance, he made everyone feel like he genuinely cared about the question or comments. He smiled, was charismatic and I could see from his on-field work that day why Tampa Bay – and a number of other teams – coveted him.

Winston had just the “it” factor.

PewterReport.com was 99.99 percent sure it would be Winston three months later when commissioner Roger Goodell would walk up to the podium to announce the Bucs selections. We had Winston as the Bucs’ No. 1 pick in all five of our mock drafts from January through April.

We were right.

While I pounded the table for Winston to become a Buccaneer, it wasn’t because his wore garnet and gold. It was because after watching every throw he made in college, seeing him in person, interacting with him and spending a lot of time interviewing former teammates and coaches, I felt Winston was the right choice for Tampa Bay.

I felt Winston was exactly the type of football player the Buccaneers needed within the organization.

Fans were still split following the draft, but Winston won many over with the same charisma and “it factor” that I got to know. Even the most anti-Winston fan, if they ever had the chance to spend a few minutes with him in person came away with a different opinion more often than not.

Bucs fans – Photo by: Getty Images

There is no need to re-hash all that happened on the field between 2015 and 2019. It is well documented. Despite rewriting the Bucs’ passing records during his stay in Tampa Bay there were too many turnovers and too many mistakes.

But there were too many things the organization did to let Winston down as well.

That was a bad football team in 2015 he inherited. It only got marginally better over his five years. The offensive line has been extremely inconsistent. The defense, really up until the last six games in 2019, was atrocious for the most part.

Winston was somewhat conditioned to try to be the hero for much of his time in Tampa Bay. He felt the need to take a team on his back and try to make every play.

Then comes a coach in Bruce Arians, whose mantra was, “No risk it, no biscuit.”

Well, Winston risked it alright.

To the tune of 30 interceptions last year.

But also to the tune of 5,109 yards and 33 touchdowns – both franchise records.

“Don’t take off and run Jameis, keep looking down the field for the big plays!”

“Damn it, Jameis why did you hold the ball so long and take a sack?”

Three different head coaches in five seasons, and Arians, offensive coordinator Bryon Leftwich, QBs coach Clyde Christensen and offensive advisor Tom Moore all in his ear while trying to learn a new offense – a complex offense at that.

Bucs OC Byron Leftwich, head coach Bruce Arians and Tom Moore – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Mike Evans missed the last three games.

Chris Godwin missed the last two games.

This team had to re-sign Spencer Schnell to round out a roster the last two weeks of the 2019 season.

Freddie Martino.

Donteea Dye.

Ishmael Hyman.

Codey McElroy.

Who? Say what?

These were the new guys on the field that Winston had to rely on at times over his five seasons in Tampa Bay. Yet, Winston’s name will be tops in the Bucs’ record books for years to come.

Of course his 30-30 season will also stand in the NFL record books for a while as well. Perhaps forever.

I get why the Buccaneers made the move. No NFL team is going to win a Super Bowl with 30 interceptions. I don’t care if a team had a QB that threw for 6,000 yards. Winning football and turnovers just don’t mix.

The opportunity to get the greatest NFL quarterback in Tom Brady was just too much for the Bucs to pass up. Arians and Licht’s job is to win football games and to improve the roster in anyway they can.

Bucs QB Tom Brady – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Loyalty? It doesn’t mean anything in the NFL. Ronde Barber used to say it all the time: “Coaches will keep you until they can find someone better to replace you – and they are always looking.”

Comedian Chris Rock says people in a relationship are only as faithful as their options. That is true in the NFL as well.

While I agree with the organization’s decision to bring in Brady – how can I not? – I will miss covering Winston. His press conferences were the most entertaining part of the week. From his frankness at times, his mischievous smile and his animated facial expressions, you never knew what to expect from Winston when the recorders came on.

I will also miss the behind the scenes things that fans rarely got to see.

One day a couple years back, just standing around in open locker room, Winston asked me how my son’s football season was going. He knew my son played high school football and would often ask how he was doing. But Winston also wanted to know how he was doing with his grades – maybe more so than his stats on the field.

I told him the season was over and we chatted for a while, and I mentioned Douglas was coming to the next home game for his birthday. He told me, bring him by the locker room after the game.

A couple of weeks later after his post-game press conference, Winston was outside the locker room greeting military members and his family. As I passed by heading back to the elevator to go to the press box to work on my stories, Winston called out, “Mark, where is Douglas?”

“I’m not sure,” I replied. “Maybe heading back to the car, or outside the stadium waiting around.”

“Go find him and bring him in like I said,” Winston said.

He actually seemed a little miffed I didn’t remember to do that like we discussed in open locker room a couple weeks before.

I rounded Douglas up and he and Winston spent five minutes or so talking football, talking about that game and a few other things. I gave them some time together, but I did overhear Winston telling my son, “Don’t forget what student-athlete means. Student first. Athlete second.”

Douglas Cook and Jameis Winston – Photo by: PewterReport.com

Those are the little things that made Winston special.

And it wasn’t just me. Winston knew the names of every person in the building. From the owners to the janitors. Literally, he called the janitors by their first name.

Heck, I can’t remember Taylor Jenkins name on the podcast on a regular basis, and I’ve worked with the guy every day for over two years.

I saw Winston, after a grueling two-and-half hour full-padded practice in training camp spend 40 minutes with the Special Olympic athletes every single summer outside in the blazing sun until they opened the new indoor facility two years ago.

I’ve sat in the classroom after Jameis Winston’s Dream Forever Foundation unveiled a new technology room and watched Winston sit at a tiny elementary desk working with the students. He wasn’t just showing his face or lending his name. He genuinely engaged with the children in those settings.

I’ve watched Winston play a game of pickup football at his Christmas Jameis Jamboree, being chased and tackled by 20 kids. I would cringe seeing it sometimes thinking, “Oh my, that’s an Achilles or ACL injury just waiting to happen.”

QB Jameis Winston

I’ve witnessed Winston spend the entire length of his two-day youth football camps working with kids, participating in the drills. Again, he isn’t just ending his name and face. He was participating and making all of the kids feel special. That was his passion.

Sometimes I think Winston would rather spend his time working with kids over talking football with the media.

Actually I know he would.

Since Winston was drafted I have dealt with the perception that I was biased towards him because of our Seminoles connection. That’s just not the case. I loved what Winston did in Tallahassee, but when he arrived in Tampa Bay, my FSU fan hat went into the closet when it came to covering him.

In fact, during my time reporting on Winston I may have been a little too hard on him. There were times when Winston probably could have been left off of the Most Disappointing List PewterReport.com does after each game. There were times he probably deserved to be on the Most Impressive List, but knowing the fallout I would get, I tended to err on the side of caution. I praised Winston, but could also hammer him for his mistakes.

Go back and listen to the Pewter Nation Podcast following his awful performance late in the late season against Houston. I actually had people text me wanting to know if I was okay after my epic meltdown following Winston’s four interceptions during the loss to the Texans.

At the end of the day, I wanted Winston to succeed in Tampa Bay. Not because he played football in Tallahassee, but because I got to know the real Winston. Or at least as much as I could while not crossing the professional line of reporter. I saw Winston the person and not just the athlete.

In all honesty it was exhausting covering Winston at times. The ups and downs on the field. The wrong perceptions of Winston as a person that I spent a lot of time defending over five years. It wore me out. There won’t be any of that with Brady.

But I wonder what else we will miss.

QB Jameis Winston and cancer survivor Josh Fisher – Photo by: Mark Cook/PR

I doubt Brady will find the time to give my son a pep talk about his grades and his future. I’m not sure what involvement Brady will have in the Tampa Bay community. Does he perceive his signing with Tampa Bay as just being a hired gun for two seasons? Will Brady volunteer with the Pediatric Cancer Foundation and let a young cancer survivor use the clippers on his golden locks as Winston would often do?

I just don’t know.

But I know Winston would.

And those are the things I’ll miss most about Jameis Winston.

Winston’s time in Tampa has come to an end. Maybe it’s best for the team and for Winston’s future. Maybe even for the media had to cover his roller coaster career with the Bucs.

I do believe the Tampa Bay community will take a loss without Winston in it.

The good news is that with Winston elsewhere in 2020 I can cheer for him once again now that I don’t have to cover him.

Good luck in your future endeavors, Jameis. It’s been a heck of a ride.

And as always, Go Noles!

CANNON BLAST

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

• I recently tweeted after the loss of Breshad Perriman to the Jets how the Bucs need to find a veteran receiver to go with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. I got a lot of folks disagreeing with my comments, with many saying the draft is deep at wide receiver – and it is. But how many Day 3 receivers are coming in and making an impact?

Look at the last few drafted receivers like Justin Watson and Scotty Miller. Sure, they will be better this year, but they struggled as rookies. Unless the Bucs go get a guy in the first couple of rounds I don’t know how much you can count on them. We saw how tough things were after Evans and Godwin missed games late last year. I tweeted you aren’t going to the playoffs throwing to Ishmael Hyman.

😂😂😂 https://t.co/9feom7RLlV

— Ish Hyman (@HollyWood_Ish13) March 25, 2020

Well somehow Hyman saw the tweet and didn’t agree. For the record, it wasn’t a shot at Hyman. My point being was, if you lose your two 1,000 yard Pro Bowl receivers you need guys you aren’t signing off the street to throw the ball to.

Sorry Ish, don’t hate me. Good luck in Carolina. Say hello to Trevor Sikkema for us.

• Part what makes this job so amazing is the perks that come with it. Now I am not much for traveling and complain the whole time leading up to the trip to the airport, but this past season I was blessed to visit Los Angeles, London, Tennessee and Detroit.

Detroit? Blessed? Yes, I know what you are thinking, but going to Detroit granted me the chance to visit the world famous Motown recording studio. From Smoky Robinson, to The Supremes, to The Jackson Five and Marvin Gaye and hundreds of other great artists, Berry Gordy Jr.’s former garage turned magical recording studio has produced some of the greatest songs ever recorded. If you get the chance it is well worth the price of admission if you’re a music fan like myself.

Just plan your trip when its not snowing. This Florida boy was not a fan of the weather at all and it took me a week to stop belching icicles.

• I’m getting nervous. Not so much about getting sick, but the upcoming football season. This COVID-19 virus has already cost my Noles a chance to play in the NCAA college basketball tournament with one of the best FSU teams we’ve had since 1972.

The NHL, NBA and MLB have all been put on hold. Could it affect the NFL and the college football season? You bet.

Seriously folks, stay well, stay safe and stay healthy. Times are tough out there and we are facing an unprecedented crisis that most haven’t seen before in a long time. You’ll never find me getting into politics. No one cares what I think and at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter. All we can do at this point is be smart and pray a little harder. And let’s hope we can get back to some sense of normalcy in the near future.

• This is where you guys tell me how awesome my Bucs Battle Plan was. Adding Tom Brady, bringing back Shaquil Barrett, Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul. Only thing missing is Tampa Bay signing free agent safety Tony Jefferson. But I am working on that also.

14 days? That would put you in Tampa to sign your contract with the #Bucs on April 6. Got it. See you then TJ. https://t.co/uDp74yLECl

— Mark Cook (@MarkCook1970) March 24, 2020

Hey, Jason and Bruce – you’re welcome for the Bucs Battle Plan. Glad y’all followed along.

THE LAST BLAST

Usually with the last part of Cannon Blast I try and find something humorous to end with but looking a Twitter I saw something that was too perfect not to share. It’s not funny, but it’s incredibly cool. Caution – make sure your allergies aren’t bad before you watch this one.

#SomeGoodNews my daughter, Coco, finished her final chemo treatment yesterday and our friends had a surprise social distancing welcome home parade for her! pic.twitter.com/CI2um08ird

— April Danz (@momuses) March 25, 2020