Florida State University issued a statement Friday which seemingly absolves quarterback Jameis Winston of any wrongdoing as it pertains to signing over 2,000 pieces of memorabilia authenticated by the James Spence Authentication website.
The school is still conducting an investigation into a possible code of conduct violation, but those tasked with the search have yet to find any indication Winston received payment for his signature or likeness.
Below is the full statement released Florida State:FSU issues statement on Jameis Winston & autographs pic.twitter.com/fsmM0VOdLs
— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) October 17, 2014
The school’s statement lessens the burden on the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, who is already facing a code of conduct hearing for an alleged sexual assault of an FSU student in December of 2012.
Whether or not Winston is found to have violated the school’s code of conduct in either case, his national perception continues to take a beating.
In recent days, former Heisman Trophy winners Bo Jackson and Herschel Walker have spoken out against Winston. Jackson intimated on the Jim Rome Show that Winston didn’t heed his advice when the Auburn great attempted to mentor the young star. Walker publicly stated he didn’t vote for Winston for the Heisman Trophy last year and he wouldn’t this year if the quarterback didn’t clean up his act.
Former Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden is the latest to take a shot at Winston.
“Jameis has got to grow up,” Bowden told ESPN.com. “He does things that kids in grammar school would do, or kids in junior high would do, you know it? I think once he draws the line, and says ‘I’m not going to step below this another time,’ I think he can do that. But if he don’t, he’s going to make it mighty tough on himself.”
While all this continues to swirl around Winston, there are only 195 days until the 2015 NFL draft.