METAIRIE, La. – An exciting Jameis Winston fought back tears on Tuesday as he talked about how much it meant working closely with Drew Brees last year. And Winston said he “would love to carry that torch” as the New Orleans Saints’ next quarterback.
Winston is expected to compete for the job with Taysom Hill this summer after Brees announced his retirement and Winston re-signed 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 drowning during a video conference with New Orleans media after being asked about an intimate conversation he saw with Brees. on the sidelines during the final minutes of the New Orleans playoff loss in January.
“For him to put his arm around me (or just give me words of encouragement) after seeing the endurance, the passion, the way he approached me every day; so that it was even a story, that touched me.” said Winston. “Because he doesn’t even know how much it means to me and my family. Really …
“Just like I love football. That’s all I’ve done all my life. And someone I hope, who I admire, who I could actually play, was my teammate and I had a chance to serve him. … man, I’m dumbfounded. That makes me excited. Because I love Drew Brees, like I don’t think he even understands …
“You don’t understand the impact he and many other quarterbacks had on me as a growing quarterback in Bessemer, Alabama. And a lot of people don’t understand that human aspect for an athlete. But you just know I really love Drew Brees. How I really do it. And I was glad I could witness what he did and how he persevered last year. “
Winston, who turned 27 in January, originally signed a one-year deal 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. While Winston played in moderation last season, he had a chance to complete a 56-yard touchdown pass in a trick play in the Saints ’playoff loss to his former team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And he enjoyed enough experience to return to the Saints as a free agent this year in a one-year deal that includes $ 5.5 million guaranteed and could be worth up to $ 12 million depending on playing time and the successes achieved.
Winston acknowledged that replacing someone like Brees carries a “huge responsibility. But I accept myself.”
“You just learn from his methods and you’re the best version of yourself. That’s what Drew Brees would tell me,” Winston said. “” You will be Jameis Winston; it doesn’t have to be Drew Brees. “
“And I would love to carry that torch from him. I would love to be able to provide the excitement, joy and resilience he provided to this city.”
When asked how he thinks Payton’s offense could evolve with him at quarterback, Winston said, “I’m excited to find out the same with you.”
“One thing I know about Coach Payton: He enjoys challenges and he enjoys new beginnings,” Winston said. “And I think you look at that opportunity, as I see it, what it’s like when you got a young San Diego quarterback, right? When you got Drew from the Chargers [in 2006] and they exploded together.
“Just like I love football. That’s all I’ve done all my life. And someone I hope, who I admire, who I could actually play, was my teammate and I had a chance to serve him. … like, man, I’m blown away. That really makes me excited. Because I love Drew Brees so much, like I don’t think he even understands. ”
Jameis Winston
“So I know his arsenal is full of a lot of things. When you see what he was able to do with Taysom last year, how he completely changed our offense and we were very successful. It was amazing to just see a guy work like that. , and that’s why I say, it was that room [of Saints coaches and quarterbacks]. It was all this room creating something to come out as a masterpiece, and that’s what I really loved about Sean, Pete and Taysom and all the guys that were there. “
Winston’s career has been full of highs and lows on the field since he won the Heisman Trophy at Florida State and was selected with the first overall draft pick 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 fought infamously against business losses and has become 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 move on to Tom Brady when Winston became a free agent, and ended up winning the Super Bowl.
Winston made several changes over the past year, including LASIK surgery to correct his vision and improve his diet and fitness. And he said LASIK was “a great idea” because “I like to see things clearly.”
But he said these things were pale compared to the value of being in a room with all the Saints coaches and quarterbacks, whom he listed by name.
When asked what he learned last year and what could help improve with business figures, Winston said, “One of the best things I learned from Drew was, you know,‘ Jameis, we’re taking decisions based on the right decision. We don’t care about the outcome, do we? Because over time the right decision will get us where we want to be. “
“And I bought that,” Winston said.
Winston also stressed that most of all, one of the most important things he learned about himself last year was “how to be a father and a husband to my wife and son … and how we will persevere, let the let it happen “.
“Because me and my wife were in New Orleans and then I was pregnant with a 2-year-old boy during that pandemic,” Winston said. “So it was just us for the first time in our lives and we’re going through that, having a humble part in our lives. She’s my high school sweetheart, so she’s gone through me with high and So I think I learned to be a father and persevere in those difficult times and take advantage of this excellent opportunity that I had in front of me …
“And that’s why I’m in a good mood right now. My coach always said that being a good quarterback won’t make you a better man, but being a better man will make you a great quarterback.”