METAIRIE, Louisiana. – An emotional Jameis Winston fought back tears on Tuesday as he talked about how much it meant to work closely with Drew Brees last year. And Winston said he “would love to carry that torch from him” as the next quarterback for the New Orleans Saints.
Winston is expected to run for office with Taysom Hill this summer after Brees announced his retirement and Winston resumed a one-year contract with the Saints last week.
“Being able to have an entire season with Drew Brees was a dream of mine,” said Winston, who began to get emotional during a video conference with the New Orleans media after being asked about an intimate conversation he had with Brees on the sideline during the final minutes of the New Orleans playoff defeat in January.
“For him to put his arm around me – or just give me a few words of encouragement – after I saw the resilience, the passion, the way he got close every day; so that was really a story, I was touched that, “said Winston. “Because he doesn’t even know how much it means to me and my family. Really. …
“Like, I love football. That’s all I’ve done in my entire life. And someone I admire, that I admire, that I could really play with, was my teammate and I had a chance to serve him. … how, man, I’m at a loss for words. It really thrills me. Because I really love Drew Brees, like I don’t think he even understands. …
“You don’t understand the impact that he and many other defenders have had on me as a defender growing up in Bessemer, Alabama. And many people don’t understand that human aspect of an athlete. But just know I really love Drew Brees. As I really do. And I was very happy to be able to witness what he did and how he persevered 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 education at quarterback school” with people like Brees, coach Sean Payton and offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr Although Winston played moderately last season, he had the chance to complete a 56-yard touchdown pass in a trick play in the playoff defeat of Saints for his former team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And he enjoyed the experience enough to return to Saints as a free agent this year on a one-year contract that includes a guaranteed $ 5.5 million and can be worth up to $ 12 million based on playing time and achievements.
Winston acknowledged that replacing someone like Brees involves “tremendous responsibility. But I accept that.”
“You just learn from his methods and you’re the best version of yourself. That’s what Drew Brees would tell me,” said Winston. “’You are Jameis Winston; it doesn’t have to be Drew Brees. ‘
“And I would love to take that torch from him. I would love to be able to provide the emotion, the joy and the resilience that he has provided to this city.”
When asked how he thinks Payton’s attack could evolve with him as a quarterback, Winston said, “I’m excited to discover the same thing with you.”
“One thing I know about Coach Payton, he likes challenges and new beginnings,” said Winston. “And I think he’s looking at this opportunity, more or less as I see it, it’s like when he won a young San Diego quarterback, right? When he won Drew from Chargers [in 2006] and they exploded together.
“Like, I love football. That’s all I’ve done in my entire life. And someone I admire, that I admire, that I could really play with, was my teammate and I had a chance to serve him. … like, man, I’m at a loss for words. It really thrills me. Because I really love Drew Brees, as I don’t think he even understands. ”
Jameis Winston
“So, I know that his arsenal is full of many things. When you see what he was able to do with Taysom last year, how he completely changed our attack and we had a huge success. It was amazing just watching a guy work like that, and that’s why I say, it was that room [of Saints coaches and quarterbacks]. It was that whole room creating something to come out as a masterpiece, and that’s what I really loved about Sean and Pete and Taysom and all the guys that were in that room. “
Winston’s career has been full of ups and downs on the field since he won the Heisman Trophy in the state of Florida and was selected with the first overall draft chosen by the Buccaneers in 2015. He was 28-42 as a starter and led the NFL with 5,109 passing yards in 2019. But he has struggled infamously with turns and became the first player in NFL history to launch at least 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in the same season in 2019.
The Buccaneers decided to switch to Tom Brady when Winston became a free agent, and they ended up winning the Super Bowl.
Winston made several changes in the past year, including LASIK surgery to correct his eyesight and improve his diet and fitness. And he said that LASIK was “an excellent idea”, because “I like to see things clearly”.
But he said these things paled in comparison to the value of being in a room with all the Saints’ coaches and defenders, which he listed by name.
When asked what he learned last year that could help improve with the rotations, Winston said: “One of the best things I learned from Drew was, you know, ‘Jameis, we are making decisions based on the fact that it is the decision We ‘are not concerned with the outcome, right? Because over time, the right decision will get us where we want to be.’ “
“And I believed that,” said Winston.
Winston also emphasized that, above all, one of the biggest things he learned about himself last year was “how to be a father and a man to my wife and son … and how we’re going to persevere, whatever happens”.
“Because my wife and I were in New Orleans and she was pregnant with a 2-year-old son during this pandemic,” said Winston. “So it was just us for the first time in our life and we are going through this, having a humiliating part in our life. She is my high school sweetheart, so she went through ups and downs with me. So I think learning to be a father and a persevere in these difficult times, and also seizing this excellent opportunity that was before me …
“And that’s why I’m in a good mood now. My coach always said that being a good defender won’t make you a better man, but being a better man will make you a great defender.”