TAMPA, Fla -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers four-game win streak has reignited their fan base, including one of their most famous fans -- Backstreet Boy and Tampa native Nick Carter, who was approached by a TMZ reporter and immediately started talking about Jameis Winston and the Bucs.
When asked if he thought they could reach the playoffs, he responded, "All I know is that the chemistry between the team, the way they're playing right now, it's unlike any other team in the NFL," Carter said. "A lot of people want to talk a lot of junk about them, for whatever reason, but that's fine. We'll stay under the radar. We'll creep up on everybody."
Carter's fandom is no joke. He once rocked a Hardy Nickerson jersey in concert, got a video from former head coach Lovie Smith congratulating him and his wife, Lauren, on the birth of their baby boy and even campaigned on Twitter for the Bucs to draft a quarterback in 2014. He was even wearing a Bucs tank top and hat when he posted bail after a rough night in Key West earlier this year.
As far as Winston, Carter said, "He needs recognition. Jameis Winston, he's the truth down in Tampa. We've never had a franchise quarterback. Never. Even when we won the Super Bowl, it was with Brad Johnson. We struck out with Vinny Testaverde. We struck out with so many quarterbacks. It's a good day down in Tampa Bay right now. I'm really excited. It's bringing a lot of spirit to them."
Carter said that he and his bandmates would love to do a halftime show. They performed the national anthem during Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa during the 2001 season. He also said that if they go to a playoff game, he'll be right there with them.
"All I know is that I'm happy right now because my team is finally winning," he said.
