2015 NFL Draft: Jameis Winston Continues to Raise Red Flags
Sep 6, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (5) scrambles away from Citadel Bulldogs defensive lineman Mitchell Jeter (62) during the first half at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Jameis Winston is still just a kid. That’s not an excuse, or the reason why it’s okay for him to make the mistakes he’s made throughout his collegiate career, it’s just a state of where he’s at in his level of maturity.
To be an NFL quarterback, to be a top pick in the draft, you have to be someone that NFL teams can trust off the field. Jameis Winston does not fit that criteria.
It’s upsetting, because Winston is a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback who is only a redshirt sophomore that seemingly has all the talent in the world but has been doing his darndest to throw all that away.
Luckily for him, he’s come away from this all unscathed, largely. He has avoided sexual assault charges, he’s stolen crab legs from a grocery store, yelled obscenities at his peers on campus, and has a few other things that just raise up a few too many red flags for comfort.
It’s not that Winston is messing up, it’s that he’s repeatedly messing up. That’s not a quality you want in your quarterback especially, but for a guy that everyone assumes is going to be a huge investment for some team, it’s certainly not what you want to see.
Winston will be suspended for the first half of Florida State’s game against Clemson this weekend, but his history indicates it should probably be more. He knows how to say all the right things in the public eye and probably to coaches to own up to his mistakes. He’s not afraid or unwilling to take all the blame for something he’s done, which is a sign of maturity, but he’s also the one making these dumb mistakes.
Nobody’s perfect, certainly not me. But I’m not trying to be an NFL quarterback. I know the pressure on Winston is immense. He said in the moment, he made a ‘me’ decision. There will be more moments, with more at stake. How many more of those moments can NFL teams expect from Winston before he even gets out of Florida State?
What happens when you give this kid an NFL contract?
If Winston wants to be picked first overall in the draft, or in the first round at all, he needs to consciously make better choices in all situations. We know he’s a great football player. Heck, he’s possibly the most talented player in all of college football. But with so many gifts and abilities comes great responsibility.
Jameis Winston is just a kid, and kids don’t play in the NFL.