Jameis Winston doesn’t plan out the passionate, sometimes humorous, and always emotional pregame speeches he gives to his teammates. The lively quarterback prefers to let his speeches happen naturally.
“I’m not rehearsing things,” he said. Winston likes to go with the flow. It seems he enjoys playing that way, too.
After giving the Browns a much-needed boost by throwing three touchdown passes in his first start in over two years, Winston will have the chance to do it again on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers (4-3) and their tough defense.
His debut performance in Cleveland’s 29-24 upset over Baltimore was both historic and typical of Winston.
His 334 passing yards were the most by any of the 39 quarterbacks who have started for the Browns (2-6) since the team was re-established in 1999. However, if the Ravens hadn’t dropped several possible interceptions, Winston might not even be starting this week.
Winston’s game, following Deshaun Watson’s season-ending injury, earned him the AFC offensive player of the week award and support from Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, who mentioned that the plan is for the 30-year-old to start for the rest of the season.
“But as you know,” Stefanski said, “in football we’re all day to day.” That’s especially true in Cleveland.
The Browns used five different quarterbacks last season, highlighting the importance of having a solid backup behind Watson. After the team decided not to re-sign Joe Flacco, who led them to the playoffs last year, Winston became the backup plan.
Winston’s talent has never been in doubt. The No. 1 overall draft pick in 2015 has a strong arm and the ability to move in the pocket, which can either keep plays going or end them.
In 2019 with Tampa Bay, Winston led the league in passing yards (5,109), yards per game (319), and interceptions (30). He takes risks, and sometimes those risks don’t pay off.
Even after last week’s win, Winston acknowledged that he’s a “great” quarterback but added a note of caution.
“I am certain when I am making great decisions, one play at a time, I am a great NFL quarterback,” he said.
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh was impressed with Winston’s ability to energize Cleveland’s offense (the Browns scored 20 points for the first time this season) against a Baltimore team coached by his brother, John Harbaugh.
“Played a great game, top-flight quarterback,” said Jim Harbaugh, whose defense allows just 13 points per game. “Have always had a ton of respect for him. I don’t know if the offense changed significantly, but he operated extremely well moving the team and playing the game. I’ve always been a fan of his game.”
Winston has won the respect of his teammates in Cleveland since he joined the team. He is usually the first player to arrive at the facility in the morning and one of the last to leave.
His passionate speeches, whether in the locker room or huddle, have also been well-received.
They take many forms; Winston is just as comfortable reciting Bible verses as he is with rap lyrics. Last week, he left the field after quoting Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” during a TV interview. The message was that “you only get one shot.”
“I encourage everyone to just have that mentality because that’s so true,” Winston said. “In all of our professions, opportunities only come around once, and we have to be grateful and receive them with authority and make the most of them.”
