PASADENA, Calif., Dec. 20 (UPI) — {link:Jameis Winston: “http://www.upi.com/News_Photos/view/b09f2092166685cd8f1bd47ed9588d7b/?ilink=1″,nw, t: “Florida State vs. Auburn BCS national title game held in Pasadena, California”} is grabbing headlines again, but this time the sophomore is getting positive press.
On Wednesday, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay released his {link:first mock draft: “http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/mock/?season=2015&version=1&source=Todd-McShay-Mock-Draft”,nw, t: “Todd McShay mock draft”} for the 2015 NFL Draft. McShay had the Tennessee Titans taking the Florida State quarterback with the No. 2 selection.
On Friday, New York Jets {link:quarterback Michael Vick: “http://www.upi.com/News_Photos/view/f2acc4063cd2d55de771dc14a8401dcf/?ilink=1″,nw, t: “New York Jets vs Pittsburgh Steelers”} told NJ.com’s Darryl Slater that the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner
is {link:”the future of the NFL.”: “http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/12/jets_michael_vick_says_jameis_winston_is_the_future_of_the_nfl_but_will_find_it_hard_to_thrive_in_ne.html”,nw, t: “NJ.com’s Darryl Slater”}
Still, some NFL minds believe Winston has red flags.
In September, former NFL coach Tony Dungy told the Dan Patrick Show that he would not draft Winston, if he had the chance, citing his {link:”off the field issues.”: “http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nbc-yahoo-sports/tony-dungy-on-drafting-jameis-winston—as-of-now–i-wouldn-t-154128768-nfl.html”,nw, t: “Tony Dungy on Dan Patrick Show”}
Winston has a 26-0 career record, including last year’s 34-31 national championship victory over Auburn. In 2013, Winston threw for 4,057 yards, 40 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. This season, the sophormore has throw for 3,559 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions.
On Thursday, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Burke had Winston being {link:selected sixth overall: “http://www.si.com/nfl/2014/12/17/2015-nfl-mock-draft-jameis-winston-marcus-mariota-randy-gregory”,nw, t: “Jameis Winston drafted sixth overall”} by the Jets, with Oregon’s Marcus Mariota being taken first by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Winston has drawn public criticism for several off-field incidents in a young college career.
In October, Florida State’s compliance department investigated if Winston took money in exchange for autographs but found “no information indicating that he accepted payment for items reported to bear his signature, thereby compromising his athletics eligibility,” {link:as reported by ESPN.: “http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11718216/florida-state-says-reviewing-jameis-winston-autographs”,nw, t: “Winston autographs”}
In September, Winston was seen jumping on a table on campus and screaming a sexually charged expletive-laced phrase. {link:Winston was suspended: “http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2014/09/19/jameis-winston-suspended-florida-state-seminoles-football-clemson-tigers/15930703/”,nw, t: “Winston suspended”} for the Clemson game by coach Jimbo Fisher following the incident.
In April, Winston was {link:accused of stealing crab legs: “http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/30/us/florida-winston-shoplifting-allegation/”,nw, t: “Winston accused of stealing crab legs”} from a supermarket in Talahassee and was giving a citation, suspended from the baseball team, and required to do community service.
In December 2012, Winson was accused of raping a woman at his off-campus apartment. This month, a state attorney’s investigation found that there was not enough evidence to bring criminal charges against Winston, {link:according to USA Today.: “http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2014/04/17/jameis-winston-florida-state-rape-allegation-title-ix/7815023/”,nw, t: “USA Today”}
At an Oct. 13 {link:press conference: “http://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/college/fsu/football/2014/10/13/fisher-fires-back-media/17204335/”,nw, t: “Jimbo Fisher press conference”}, Seminoles head coach {link:Jimbo Fisher: “http://www.upi.com/News_Photos/view/8a9f6d32b3860b0c4b353381caf3a8ff/?ilink=1″,nw, t: “UPI Pictures of the Year 2014 — SPORTS”} defended his quarterback.
“The facts of the case,” Fisher said. “Read the reports. Read what’s there. The facts are the facts. That’s what they are. And when I see stories written that don’t have all the facts — that paint them towards their side of public opinion.
“This country is based on being innocent until proven guilty. Not guilty until proven innocent. There are two sides to that. I don’t want a victim for anything, but there is no victim because there was no crime. We’re convicting a guy over things that are not true, based on evidence.”
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