FSU AD: No Information Indicating Jameis Winston Accepted Payment For Autographs

ByPatrick Schmidt|

Oct 11, 2014; Syracuse, NY, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (5) drops back to pass against the Syracuse Orange during the third quarter at the Carrier Dome. Florida State defeated Syracuse 38-20. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Florida State athletic director found no evidence to suggest Jameis Winston was paid for his autograph

The Florida State Seminoles compliance department found no information indicating Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston was paid to sign as many as 2,000 items for a sports memorabilia company that could have jeopardized his playing status for Saturday night’s game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

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Winston’s eligibility came in to question last week when ESPN reported Winston had signed items for an autograph broker who had ties to Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley who is suspended pending an investigation in to whether he was compensated and thus violated NCAA rules.

FSU AD: “We have no information indicating (Winston) accepted payment for items reported to bear his signature"
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 17, 2014

FSU AD: “Fact items appear on Internet site bearing signature of a student-athlete does not singularly determine violation of NCAA rules"
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 17, 2014

It is not against NCAA rules to sign autographs which Winston has done, but it would be against the rules if he was compensated and received improper benefits for profiting on his likeness, which Florida State athletic director Stan Wilcox said they found no evidence of him doing so.

Despite the school finding no evidence to prove Winston was paid to write his name as much as 2,000 times, I’m willing to bet the overwhelming majority of the public will believe the school is protecting their star quarterback and believe he is as guilty as sin, despite the lack of any evidence to suggest that.

Winston continues to have his name bandied about for various off-the-field reasons rather than on-field reasons as he has a looming disciplinary meeting for a potential violation of the school’s code of conduct for a 2012 sexual assault for which no charges were filed during his run toward the Heisman when he led the Seminoles to the BCS Championship last year.

You can read the full statement from Florida State here in this tweet from the AP’s Ralph Russo:

Florida State: it has received no info indicating Winston received payment for items reported to bear his signature. pic.twitter.com/KLwarjRKXL
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) October 17, 2014

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