Another day, yet another story that doesn’t cast Jameis Winston in the most favorable of lights.
Bo Jackson and the Florida State quarterback are both Heisman Trophy winners. Both also hail from the state of Alabama, and were even both raised in the city of Bessemer. As such, and given the off-field drama that seems to be an ever-present cloud hanging over Winston’s head, Jackson felt like he should impart to the young man some of his wisdom on how to handle fame.
During an interview on the Jim Rome Show Tuesday, Jackson claimed he did just that at some point in the offseason. He also intimated that Winston failed to heed the advice, which has caused Jackson to essentially wash his hands of the star player.
From al.com‘s transcription of the interview:“I really don’t know who is giving this young man guidance. I have attempted, I have communicated with him and I just talked to him like I was his dad. If I told you what I told him, it’ll probably singe the hairs in your ears.”
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“I’m the type of person, I will go out of my way to help anybody. Normally, I don’t like giving people advice if I haven’t been down that road myself. But if I give you advice on something that I know more about than you by just falling out of bed in the morning, if you can’t take that advice and learn from it, then I’ve got nothing else to do with the situation. You’re on your own.
“Jameis Winston needs to make some changes in his life, because it’s affecting him now and it’s definitely going to affect him down the road.”
That’s a far cry from Jackson’s comments this past offseason about Winston and his status as a two-sport star.
“I just wish him luck. He’s from my hometown, so he’s a homeboy. I wish him luck,” the Hall of Famer said in April.
Winston was notified last week that he will be required to attend a university disciplinary hearing connected to the alleged sexual assault of an FSU student in December of 2012, a hearing that prompted the player’s attorney to question the school’s motives and tactics. The athletic department is also looking into hundreds of items autographed by Winston in the possession of a single authentication company.
The latest controversies swirling around Winston have also created headaches for those who set the wagering lines, as seen in the video below.