METAIRIE, La. – An emotional Jameis Winston fought back tears on Tuesday as he shared how much it meant working closely with Drew Brees last year. And Winston said he would “love to carry that torch of his” as the next New Orleans Saints quarterback.
Winston is expected to compete for the job at Taysom Hill this summer after Brees announced his retirement and Winston re-signed a one-year contract with the Saints last week.
“It was a dream of mine to have an entire season with Drew Brees,” said Winston, who became confused during a video conference with the media in New Orleans after being asked about an intimate conversation he had with Brees. . the sideline during the closing minutes of the New Orleans playoff loss in January.
‘That he put his arm around me – or just gave me words of encouragement – after seeing the resilience, the passion, the way he approached every day; for that to be even a story, I was moved by that, ”said Winston. ‘Because he doesn’t even know how much he means to me and my family. Really …
“I love football. That’s all I’ve done all my life. And someone I look up to, who I admire, who I could really touch, was my teammate and I had the chance to serve him … like Man I’m speechless That makes me really emotional Because I really love Drew Brees, like I think he doesn’t even understand …
“You don’t understand the impact he and a lot of other quarterbacks had on me as a quarterback growing up in Bessemer, Alabama. And a lot of people don’t understand that human aspect of an athlete. But just know. I really like Drew Brees. Like me. really do. And I was just glad I could see what he was doing and how he persisted last year. ”
Winston, who turned 27 in January, originally signed a one-year contract with the Saints last summer to try to revive his career and get a ‘Harvard quarterback school education’ under the direction of the likes of Brees. , coach Sean Payton and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. Although Winston played sparingly last season, he got the chance to complete a 56-meter touchdown pass on a trick play in the Saints’ playoff defeat to his former team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And he enjoyed the experience enough to return to the Saints this year as a free agent for a one-year deal of $ 5.5 million guaranteed and worth up to $ 12 million based on playtime and performance.
Winston acknowledged that replacing someone like Brees comes with a “tremendous amount of responsibility. But I embrace that.”
‘You just learn from his methods and you are the best version of yourself. Drew Brees would tell me that, ”said Winston. “” You’re Jameis Winston; you don’t have to be Drew Brees. “
“And I would love to carry that torch from him. I would love to be able to bring the excitement, joy and resilience he has given this city. ‘
When asked how he thinks Payton’s offense could evolve with him as a quarterback, Winston said, “I’m excited to find out the same with you.”
“One thing I know about Coach Payton, he likes challenges and he enjoys new beginnings,” said Winston. And I think he’s looking at this opportunity, kind of the way I see it, how when he got a young quarterback from San Diego, right? When he got Drew from the Chargers [in 2006] and they exploded together.
“I love football. That’s all I’ve done all my life. And someone I look up to, who I admire, who I could really touch, was my teammate and I had the chance to serve him … like “Man, I’m speechless. That makes me really emotional. Because I really love Drew Brees, like I think he doesn’t even understand.”
Jameis Winston
So I know his arsenal is filled with a lot of things. When you see what he was able to do with Taysom last year, how he completely changed our attack and we had a lot of success. It was incredible to look at a man. and that’s why I say it was that room [of Saints coaches and quarterbacks]It was that whole room that created something to come out like a masterpiece, and that’s what I really liked about Sean and Pete and Taysom and all the guys that were in that room. “
Winston’s career has been filled with highs and lows on the field since he won the Heisman Trophy in Florida State and was selected with the Buccaneers’ first overall draft pick in 2015. He went 28-42 as a starter and led the NFL with 5,109 passing yards in 2019. But he has notoriously struggled with sales, becoming the first player in NFL history to throw at least 30 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions in the same season in 2019.
The Buccaneers decided to turn to Tom Brady when Winston became a free agent, and they ended up winning the Super Bowl.
Winston has made several changes in the past year, including LASIK surgery to correct his vision and improve his diet and fitness. And he said the LASIK was “an excellent idea” as “I like to see things clearly.”
But he said those things pale in comparison to the value of being in a room with all the Saints’ coaches and quarterbacks, whom he mentioned by name.
When asked what he learned last year that could help improve sales, Winston said, “One of the biggest things I learned from Drew was, you know, ‘Jameis, we make decisions based on The fact that it’s the right decision. We’re not worried about the outcome, right? Because over time, the right decision will get us where we want to be. “
“And I bought it for that,” said Winston.
Winston also stressed that one of the greatest things he learned about himself last year was, above all, “how to be a father and a man to my wife and my son … and how we will endure no matter what.”
‘Because me and my wife were in New Orleans and were pregnant at the time [and] having a 2-year-old during this pandemic, ”said Winston. So we were in our life for the first time and we are going through this, we have a humble role in our life. She’s my high school sweetheart so she’s been through the ups and downs with me. So I think I’m learning how to be a dad and persevere in those tough times, and I’m also taking this excellent opportunity that was before me …
And that’s why I’m really in a good mood now. My trainer always said that a good quarterback won’t make you a better man, but if you’re a better man, you’re going to be a great quarterback. ”