BEREA, Ohio (AP) – Buccaneers rookie quarterback Jameis Winston knows he’ll never escape scrutiny following multiple off-field incidents in college, but he’s trying to “be a better person” as he embarks on his NFL career.
The No. 1 overall pick says he’s not looking back at his days at Florida State. The former Heisman Trophy winner had a string of problems in school, including a rape accusation that was dismissed after prosecutors cited problems with a police investigation.
Winston is choosing to focus on the positive. He doesn’t think he has anything to prove, that “people make mistakes, but I also believe that you bounce back from those.”
Winston and the NFC’s other drafted rookies got a break from their four-day symposium to play football with school-aged children on Friday. The 21-year-old Winston was the biggest kid on the field, encouraging the youngsters and giving them tips on how to throw.