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Bucs’ Lovie Smith: Jameis Winston has matured

By Mike Dyce

Nov 29, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (5) looks to throw during the first quarter against the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (5) looks to throw during the first quarter against the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith thinks Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston has matured.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the first overall draft pick and are tirelessly deciding which player they’d like to select. Many think they’ll choose a quarterback, most likely Oregon’s Marcus Mariota or Florida State’s Jameis Winston.

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Unless they do something completely crazy and pick someone like Bryce Petty or something.

There are a lot of factors to consider when deciding on a player to be a franchise quarterback. From a marketing standpoint, Winston presents an intriguing option since he played his college ball in state. That didn’t motivate the Houston Texans to take Vince Young years ago and that decision seemed to pay off for them.

Of course there is also that little matter of Winston’s off-field issues. From allegations of sexual assault to shoplifting crab legs to showing up at a game in full gear despite being suspended, he has some maturity issues to say the least. Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith doesn’t seem to think those maturity problems are an issue anymore.

“He’s admitted the mistakes that he’s made,” Smith said, via the Associated Press. “I’m one that believes in second chances, especially young people. You can’t indict young people for some stupid things that they do early on. We all clean up.”

Smith added: “Jameis would be the first guy to tell you that he has made some of those same mistakes over and over again. My experience has shown me that young people do make mistakes and you have to do your research to see if that’s a pattern that will continue, or a situation where you think a young man is ready to mature and not make those same decisions.”

Admitting mistakes isn’t necessarily indicative of the fact that you will stop making them. He has admitted to mistakes before only to make new ones.

The real question is whether this is indicative of Smith’s preference for the draft. He likely wouldn’t tip his cards so easily, and will praise both players leading up to the time they need to make a selection to keep everyone guessing.

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