Jameis Winston And Controlling The Story

As we drew closer to the NFL Draft, we knew this story was inevitable. Maybe not necessarily this story, but something with the same sense and feel. Something that built on a prior incident, drawn out in NFL interviews and released to the awaiting public, either openly, or through “sources.”

You probably could have guessed it would involve Jameis. The kid, and yes he is still clearly a kid, just has a way about him.

He claims, and has had his claim verified by the NFL, that he didn’t exactly steal anything from that Publix. He just had a guy there who would hook him up, whether he had the authority to or not. You almost can’t blame Jameis for wanting to take advantage of every opportunity that comes his way, but he doesn’t seem to fully evaluate the possible repercussions of his actions.

Take the predicament he’s put his beloved Florida State in as an example.

I would never accuse any university’s compliance office of malfeasance, mainly because I know too many people that do the thankless job. But if Florida State isn’t covering up systematic acceptance of improper benefits (however petty they may be) the only possible alternative is incompetence.

Maybe Winston never told them the full story though. Maybe they didn’t even ask,just taking the footage and arrest report at face value. Though, it’s not like a compliance officer to accept the first answer dropped on their door step. But maybe the star athlete was deemed too valuable, and the stakes of another potential championship season too high.

Whatever the truth may be, this seems to be the road Florida State intends to take. Rather than appear openly complacent with athletes committing minor NCAA infractions, the Seminoles would prefer to admit to a lack of institutional control.

Maybe that is ultimately what this whole dilemma is about. Control.

Is Florida State in control, or are the star athletes? Or maybe coach Jimbo Fisher has too much control, not that I have any reason to believe he would be behind a cover up.

The last possibility though, is that the NFL really just wants to control the narrative.

Maybe Florida State knew someone had given Jameis the crab legs, but they really weren’t his to give anyway, and Jameis knew that. In the eyes of the compliance department, theft is theft.

So now the league has a potential first overall pick with an arrest record. But it’s okay, because it was all just a misunderstanding. Jameis isn’t bad, just naive. Its alright if you want to root for him.

Maybe Jameis is just taking advantage of an opportunity the NFL is giving him to clear his name in the court of public opinion, and to hell with the repercussions.