Could the Dallas Cowboys sign Jameis Winston as a backup?

After missing the playoffs in 2019, the Dallas Cowboys have been intent on upgrading every position on their roster. They’d be wise to keep QB2 in mind, as well

After losing several players to free agency, the Dallas Cowboys are tasked with both replacing key players and upgrading the roster. Even with draft picks and free agent money available, this is no easy task.

The Dallas Cowboys own the 17th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and everyone is making educated guesses on who the Cowboys will select. Will the Cowboys select a wide receiver? A defensive back? A defensive lineman? Or will the Cowboys shock everyone and draft an unknown player like they did in 2018 when they drafted Leighton Vander Esch out of Boise St?

Who knows!

So basically, the Cowboys have all bases covered in terms of drafting and addressing their needs on both sides of the ball. However, there’s still one position the Cowboys need to address, and no one seems to be talking about it. That position is the backup quarterback position.

I’m proposing, instead of relying on current backup Cooper Rush, the Cowboys should seriously consider signing Jameis Winston as their QB2.

Don’t look at me like that! I haven’t lost mind or anything, but it’s a legitimate question the Cowboys organization needs to answer. Are you satisfied with Dallas’ current backup situation? Be honest,who feels good about Cooper Rush as the QB2 this season?

And with Dak Prescott receiving the franchise tag, there are rumors that Dak might not show up to training camp if his contract demands aren’t met. My goodness! Let’s pray that doesn’t happen! But if Dak doesn’t show up to training camp, then Dallas is left with Rush as their primary signal caller.

If you’ve watched Rush struggle in preseason games, then you know Dallas isn’t winning games with Rush at the helm. It’s the truth and nothing but the truth.

However, if Dallas were to sign Winston as their backup quarterback, then at least Dallas has a fighting chance. Head coach Mike McCarthy will have a seasoned veteran that knows how to throw touchdowns….to both teams! Yikes!

Yes, I’m well aware of Winston belonging to the NFL’s infamous version of the 30 for 30 club! I hope ESPN does a 30 for 30 documentary on Winston’s infamous feat.

For you all who are not in the know, Winston’s 30 for 30 stands for Winston throwing 33 touchdowns and 30 interceptions while playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.

The Case for Jameis Winston

For good measure, Winston threw for 5,109 yards, averaged 319.3 passing yards a game, averaged 13.4 yards per pass completion, completed 60.7 percent of his passes, had a 84.3 quarterback rating, and engineered two game-winning drives for the Buccaneers in 2019.

Despite the 30 interceptions, Winston put up gaudy numbers on a Bucs team that ranked third in the league in scoring (28.6). It was a poor defense that ranked 29th (giving up 28.1 points a game) that really tanked the Bucs. Tampa Bay finished the season 7-9, but lost eight games by a touchdown or less.

Further, Winston had a four game stretch where he threw for seven touchdowns against one interception, but the Bucs anemic defense allowed opposing teams to come back and win those games. If not for an anemic defense and losing games in the waning moments, the Bucs could have easily won 10 or 11 games.

Jameis Winston’s interceptions

In the end, an awful defense and untimely interceptions created the 7-9 team. Speaking of interceptions…

Just like quarterbacks, all interceptions aren’t created equal. All of Winston’s 30 interceptions weren’t his fault. In his situation, you can make a case that about half of those picks were because of wide receivers running the wrong route and the receivers tipping the ball. Current Bucs receiver Chris Godwin stated blaming Winston for his INT totals was a bad read on someone else’s part. Godwin even praised Winston as talented and did admit some of those interceptions were Winston’s fault.

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If Winston cut his interceptions in half, the Bucs make the playoffs and there’s a strong possibility that Winston is the Bucs starting quarterback and not Tom Brady. Also, Winston had Lasik surgery to correct his nearsightedness. I’m nearsighted and wear glasses, so I’m confident the Lasik surgery will allow Winston see the field better versus squinting his eyes looking for his receivers downfield. Nearsighted is when you can’t see far away. Another reason for Winston’s interceptions.

If Dallas had a better backup quarterback, Dallas could have sat Dak and played their backup against an injury-prone Philadelphia Eagles team. That’s exactly why an injured Dak played with a bum shoulder because Rush wasn’t good enough.

That alone should scare any Dallas fan about Rush’s capabilities as a backup.

To put this in perspective, if Dallas has Winston as a backup, this team can win a few games or a a must win game like the one against the Eagles with Winston behind center. Sure, he threw 30 interceptions, but he threw 33 touchdowns passes, and was second in the league in touchdown passes.

Next. April Fools or Springtime Savvy?. dark

I’d rather have Winston as the back up quarterback that can throw 33 touchdowns versus having a pedestrian quarterback that throws for 10 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. With good coaching for Big Mac and Lasik surgery, Winston will be a better quarterback and definitely good enough to beat a downtrodden Eagles team.

Published on 04/02/2020 at 11:01 AM
Last updated at 04/02/2020 at 12:03 PM

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