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Arians: Bucs ‘can definitely win’ with QB other than Winston

Field Level Media

December 30, 2019 at 8:19 pm.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians was direct on Monday when asked whether he thought his team could win with someone other than Jameis Winston at quarterback.

“With another quarterback? Oh yeah,” Arians said, via the Tampa Bay Times. “If we can win with this one, we can definitely win with another one, too.”

Arians’ response, while comical, doesn’t provide an answer for the decision ahead of the Buccaneers.

Winston has now completed the fifth-year option of his contract. Tampa Bay has to decide whether to hitch its wagon to Winston — via the franchise tag or the transition tag — or attempt to find a replacement.

Winston led the NFL with 5,109 yards and became the first player in league history to throw for at least 30 touchdowns (33, in fact) and 30 interceptions. The 25-year-old also set a record for most picks returned for a touchdown after his seventh came in overtime on Sunday to lift the Atlanta Falcons to a 28-22 victory over Tampa Bay.

Winston has thrown for 121 touchdowns and 88 interceptions in 72 career games since being selected by the Buccaneers with the top overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Winston will become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year commences in March.

“I would think in a few weeks, we’ll have a decision on which way we want to head,” Arians said of Winston, according to the Athletic. “Will we let it out? Probably not. You lose your leverage on that one, too.”