ST. PETERSBURG — Even surrounded by his other beloved sport, Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston was thinking about preparing for his first season of professional football.
"I'm anxious," Winston said Sunday afternoon. "I'm just looking forward to getting it started."
That will happen today, when Winston and the other rookies are scheduled to report to training camp. Winston said he had a productive offseason, and he's more focused on improving every day than thinking about the NFL's history of rookie struggles or whether the starting job is his to lose.
Winston spent Sunday watching the Rays at Tropicana Field, where the No. 1 overall pick caught the ceremonial first pitch from Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher.
"I think he'll do well," Fisher said of his former quarterback. "I don't want to put too much pressure on him, but he's going to put pressure on himself. Jameis expects to do well. Again, like I've said before, I think he's everything, and everyone down here will find out what he is, and the people of Tampa will.
"I think hopefully he'll take off."
Winston also visited the Rays clubhouse before the game and met with another high-profile former Seminole, manager Kevin Cash.
"Hopefully he gets off to a good start with the Bucs — our Bucs," Cash said.