From Stacey
Would you want James Winston as your NFL team’s quarterback?
Stacey –
Excellent question and the short answer is no.
In fact, I think when he comes back after the three-game suspension he would be the back-up to Ryan Fitzpatrick.
And when his option comes up, I would decline and let someone else roll the dice on Winston.
Let’s look at the numbers first. He’s 18-27 as a starter in the league and he’s scheduled to make $20 million next year on the team option and would likely be in line for a multi-year deal in excess of $20 million as a starting quarterback. In his career, he’s completed a smudge under 61 percent of his passes and has 69-to-44 TD-to-interception ratio.
There were going to be some serious internal conversations about whether Winston is a franchise guy or not and whether he’s worth a nine-figure extension before he was suspended.
Now, considering his long track record of behavior that has ranged from immature to stupid to allegedly felonious, here’s how SI recapped the NFL investigation and Winston’s subsequent apology:
“After an investigation prompted by a Buzzfeed News report, the NFL determined that Kate, an Uber driver from Scottsdale, Ariz., was “consistent and credible” in her recollection of the incident. She alleged in 2017 that the Buccaneers quarterback was shouting “homophobic slurs at pedestrians” and, in the drive-through of a Mexican restaurant, “reached over and … just grabbed [her] crotch.” The NFL said “the investigation had concluded that Winston violated the personal conduct policy by touching the driver in an inappropriate and sexual manner without her consent and that disciplinary action was necessary and appropriate.”
“Winston, in his own statement, said that he was sorry to the driver “for the position I put you in” but did not apologize specifically for the alleged crime. He also added that “I have eliminated alcohol from my life.” This is after Winston initially called the accusation “false,” saying “I am certain that I did not make any inappropriate contact.”
Wow. Now know that the NFL said in their statement of a three-game suspension for Winston that any future issues could include a potential lifetime ban. This whole ordeal could very well cost Winston $50 million and potentially way more.
Yes, every team needs a quarterback to have a chance to win in today’s NFL.
But beyond having a good quarterback or a great passer or whatever adjective you want to use to describe the most important player on your team, almost every coach I have ever talked too would say you have to have a quarterback you can trust.
And maybe the only thing we know for sure about James Winston is that he is nowhere near trustworthy.
The Terminator was a hit for Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1984.From Mike
True or false: Terminator two was better than the original
Would make for an interesting Rushmore of part two movies that were better than the original.
Mike –
Good to see you at the Lookouts game this week, Mike, and thanks for the kind words about the 5-at-10 and the radio show.
Hmmmmm, we have frequently discussed worst sequels ever. (Hi, Caddyshack II.)
That’s a tough order to fill. We think yes on T2 being better than the original Terminator, and that’s a testament to the greatness of T2, because it’s not like T1 is not excellent.
We are not in the boat of Godfather II being better than the original. Yes, Godfather II is money, but the original is almost perfect.
We’ll put Empire Strikes Back there behind T2. The Road Warrior is better than Mad Max. And before we get to the final entry, we need a ruling:
In the Batman series of films, do we count The Dark Knight as a sequel, even though there were like four Batman movies before “Batman Begins” started the reboot? If the answer is yes, then that rounds out the Rushmore. If no, then we would lean to the Bourne Supremacy slightly over the second Harry Potter and the second old-school Star Trek.
FILE – In this Sept. 20, 2013, file photo, New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez watches his grand slam home run during the seventh inning of an interleague baseball game against the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium in New York. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says Rodriguez’s days as an everyday fielder are over and he hopes A-Rod will be New York’s fulltime designated hitter. Cashman said during a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014, that “I can’t expect Alex to be anything.”(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, File) This week’s Rushmores
Rushmore of movie scenes that make you cringe because you know how bad that would hurt: Scene with Kathy Bates in “Misery” with the sledge-hammer; the curb-stomping scene in “American History X” with Ed Norton; Pulp Fiction needle to the heart; Denzel getting the lashes in Glory.
Rushmore of most famous movie sunglasses scenes (you guys were excellent on this one gang): Blues Brothers, with the money quote that ends “it’s dark and we’re wearing sunglasses,” makes it money; Maverick in Top Gun, which launched Ray-Ban to the masses; The crew in Reservoir Dogs; Men in Black. And yes, that leaves off some excellent choices like Joel Goodman in Risky Business, Tyler Durden in Fight Club, DeNiro in Taxi Driver, Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Tony Montoya in Scarface and so many more.
Rushmore of shortstops: Honus Wagner, A-Rod, Cal Ripken Jr., Jeter with a slight edge over Ernie Banks.
Rushmore of athletes/games overcoming injury: Willis Reed in the 1970 Finals is for sure there; Jordan’s flu game (allegedly); Isiah Thomas with a shredded ankle in the 1988 NBA Finals against the Lakers (look it up); Jack Youngblood playing in the NFC title game with a broken (bleepin’) leg. And that’s leaving some great ones – Favre playing on MNF after his dad died, Gibson in Game 1 of the ’88 World Series, etc. – off the list.
From Nathan
The Frank Caliendo segment is the far left on the @ESPN1051TheZone Rushmore.
Nathan –
Completely agree Nathan. That was aces. Not sure there was a question here but just wanted to make sure the folks that had not heard the interview with Caliendo, who will be in Chattanooga on July 11, and if you want to go, you better get your tickets ASAP.
Here’s the replay of the podcast.
That is all.
From David
I know you like him but I can’t stand the LeBatard and Stugotz Show.
What are your thoughts on the announced extension?
David –
I am very happy that The LeBatard Show with Stugotz got a four-year deal to continue their silliness on ESPN radio. Here are more details.
I understand David that the LeBatard Crews is not the cup of tea for everyone. And that’s OK.
But I also believe that it is the most unique sports show anywhere to be honest.
And its self-deprecating and irreverent style is magnetic. At least to me.
There’s also this: LeBatard is the best interviewer on sports radio. Period, end of talk. His long-time extreme journalistic chops – dude won about every award possible as a columnist at the Miami Herald – are extremely clear when he’s asking questions.
In fact, one of the most honest radio interviews I’ve ever heard was when LeBatard cut short his talk with actor Christopher Guest because it was dying on the vine.
And one thing I hope we do on Press Row as well as they do on the LeBatard show is offer surprises on a daily basis. No we are never going to be THAT outside the box and filled with THAT many inside jokes, but we do hope that at least some folks find our show as entertaining as I find theirs.
From “A Former Reader”
Why am I even surprised there has not been more World Cup?
Hello?!?!?! It’s only the most popular sporting event in the world!!!
You suck and I will never read your worthless blog again!!!
Does no one edit this thing? I mean come on you have three or four misspelled words every (bleep) day!!!
The only reason I listen to Press Row is because of David and Weels.
I know you won’t use this in your precious little mailbag with all your butt-kissing ‘regulars’ but I don’t care.
A former reader –
Thanks mom.
Seriously, David and Wells are aces, so I can’t fault you for that.
As for the World Cup, well, enjoy that kickball tournament my man.
That said, let’s discuss another simply goofy soccer loophole. Did you see Senegal advanced in this tournament because they got fewer yellow cards than the other team? Yes, that is like Joey Chestnutt winning the hot dog-eating contest because his opponent used the wrong salad fork.
Think that “don’t use your hands” rule is silly? Try that politeness equals points move.
Now buckle up. Time for some World Cup numbers (Alejandro, pass the hummus): There already has been a record for own-goals with 9; there have been the most penalty kicks and penalty-kick goals ever; excluding the USA team matches in prior years, so far this year compared to 2014, Fox’s TV numbers are down 31 percent through 40 matches; and to make that number more painful, through those 40 matches, 22 of them have been on Fox proper rather than FS1 whereas only 6 games of the first 40 in 2014 were on ABC rather than ESPN.
So obviously I am not the only one in our country ignoring the kickball.
And here’s one more: Rice is the most popular food in the world, and I’m not a real big fan of that either.
We’ll take American football, American food, and American fanfare.
And you want to know why as we head into July?
‘Merica my man. ‘Merica.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady can’t catch a pass during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)From Spy
Have y’all delved into the NFL Network’s Top 100 players for the past season, as voted on by NFL players?
Yes, TB12 was number one (no argument here). But they threw out this stat – Brady has more wins than Aaron Rodgers and Troy Aikman. Combined.
Holly crap.
Spy –
Wow, that’s a fat daddy stat. (And while we are here we are contractually obligated to admit that Troy Aikman is criminally underrated in the all-time great discussion. Emmitt Smith, not so much.)
I do not think Tom Brady is the best player in the NFL. I think he is the most important – consider he takes less than market value and the consistent excellence he provides to the best current franchise in North America team sports. I think Rodgers is better, and it would be very interesting to see where TB12 ranks in the trade simulator, meaning which teams would trade their current QB for a couple more years of Brady’s excellence.
But who’s going to argue with the players, right?
Well, I will, considering that Carson Bleepin’ Wentz is No. 3 on their list. Say what?
Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James (23) celebrates with Tristan Thompson after a 111-102 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals, Monday, May 21, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) From Steve
“Should Lebron leave $30 mil on the table” made me think. At what point does the amount of money not matter anymore? And not just for Lebron, but for professional athletes in general? If Lebron is already worth half a billion, and no matter where he plays next season he will make $50 mil in endorsements, at this point should he not chase after more rings, even if it costs him some coin? Let’s all be honest, it’s a lot more fun playing on a winning team than it is a losing team. I guess it’s different for everyone, based on variables such as situation, greed, pride…would be nice to have that problem though huh?
Steve
It would definitely be nice to have those type of decisions to make, sir.
Definitely.
And I concur that James putting together a super team by taking less and moving pieces and resources for more help than J.R. Smith and George Hill is very intriguing. And we’d love to see it.
You mentioned pride and greed and other motivating personal motives. Here’s another one, playing a little devil’s advocate.
If you are superstar player X like a LeBron James, and you make a $30 million sacrifice to allow the team to put together a much better roster, what exactly is the team sacrificing?
If the Lakers figure out how to stack a James-George-Leonard roster with other parts around them, are they going to charge less? Of course not.
They likely will charge more. It’s one of the things that’s crazy about the salary cap. It’s a fluctuating salary ceiling put in by the owners to protect the owners from the owners.
Yes, it’s that confusing.
So LeBron almost assuredly will opt out today and who knows where he’s headed. Heck, we’re not even sure if LeBron 100-percent knows where he’s going.
From Todd
Hi Jay,
Love the 5-at-10 and the radio show. You, David, and Wells keep me in stitches most days and that is most appreciated.
By some miracle, you have just been given a $5million bonus. What is the first thing that current Jay buys for himself?
What about 18-21 year old Jay? Are you still employed by the TFP and ESPN radio after this bonus?
Keep up the great work.
Todd –
Such an excellent question. Excellent.
The first thing I am buying is the peace of mind of having my kids’ education paid for, so I am buying a couple of 528 tax-free monsters.
As for material possessions, we’re taking the Mrs. 5-at-10 wherever she wants to go. And I’m buying a new vehicle. But not a brand new vehicle, a new vehicle for me.
We’d find a duded-up old-school Bronco. (Not an O.J. and A.C. Bronco; more of the these monsters.)
As for the rest, well, the millions would create a whole lot of freedom. But we’re the first to admit, the Lord has blessed us with a couple of jobs that a lot of people would love to have.
There are a huge number of folks who would gladly swap gigs with me. It’s not like we’re digging ditches or cleaning out port-o-potties at a job site.
Yes we would continue to work, primarily because of how good my co-workers are and how great you regulars are.
Man, that’s fun to think about.
Not exactly fan mail
From an A2 reader
Am I missing something with your article this morning?
There were about 40,000 traffic deaths in US last year. Not even close to the one million you state. I really thought you had some credibility
(We’re getting close.)
Man you SUCK!
(Good talk gang. Enjoy the weekend.)