Bruce Arians about moving on from Jameis Winston: 'Have to set the personal aside'

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did something difficult following the 2019 NFL season, parting ways with their franchise's all-time leader in every major passing category following a 5,000-yard season.

Jameis Winston had just become only the eighth player in NFL history to throw for that many yards in a single season, leading the league with 5,109 yards and finishing second with 33 touchdown passes.

He was also still just 26 years old, finishing his rookie contract after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.

But despite entering his prime and being the most prolific passer in team history, Winston was allowed to walk in free agency.

Appearing on the National Football Show, Bucs head coach Bruce Arians recently opened up about that decision.

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"Yeah, it was (hard)," Arians said. "I wanted to see him succeed. But like you said, there's 52 other guys on the roster. You know, you look and see what's behind Door No. 2 at every position in the offseason. Does it make you better? Then you have to set the personal aside. I mean our players, our locker room still loves Jameis, (the guys) that played with him, and have all the respect in the world and wish him well. But when Tom (Brady) became available, it was the missing ingredient for us to win a Super Bowl."

That decision obviously paid off in a big way for Arians and the Bucs.

Brady helped take a Bucs team that went 7-9 in that 2019 season with Winston and lead them to a Super Bowl victory in 2020. Winston signed a one-year deal with the division-rival New Orleans Saints, backing up Drew Brees. The Saints swept the Bucs in the regular season, but Tampa Bay got revenge in the divisional playoff round with a 30-20 victory in New Orleans, despite a trick-play touchdown pass from Winston himself.

Winston will now battle with Taysom Hill for the starting job in New Orleans following Brees' retirement this offseason.