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Michael Irvin: Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota are ‘big-timing’ the NFL

By Connor Muldowney

Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston (right) and Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota do an interview on the NFL Network after finishing their workout during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston (right) and Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota do an interview on the NFL Network after finishing their workout during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota have both decided to watch the 2015 NFL Draft at home with their families — and Michael Irvin isn’t happy about it.

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It takes a lot of skill, effort and hard work to become an NFL quarterback and Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston have done everything they can to ensure that they’ll be one in a few months.

The possible No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the draft have worked hard enough to ensure that they will be picked in the first round and they will be watching their live selection from the comfort of their own homes. Legendary wide receiver Michael Irvin isn’t happy about that decision by the young stars, as he thinks they might be slighting the league already.

Irvin gets to talk to the 28 players who accepted the invite to be in Chicago for the NFL Draft, but he’s not happy that Winston and Mariota won’t be among those he will be chatting with in private.

"“I understand you want to be with your family, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, but you’re a quarterback. Nobody profits more from this league than quarterbacks and I do have an issue with them not being there. This is a family. You’re coming into something that is much bigger than you. Don’t big-time it, and that’s what I feel is being done.”"

While Mariota has never had problems off the field, Winston is the player who can’t seem to stay out of the spotlight and it’s mostly because he has put himself there with off-field issues.

Irvin sees that as an opportunity to voice his concerns and get advice from the best.

"“I think Jameis would benefit especially from the opportunity to talk to guys like Cris [Carter] and I, but also just being there and seeing it. He won’t get what he’s getting to be part of. You see [fans] wrapped around the building, sleeping there, to get there. You see what it means to them. I absolutely hate the fact that they’re not coming. Everyone will get on me, oh Michael, they can make this decision. Yeah, they can. But I can make the decision to hate the fact that they made it.”"

While Irvin has a reason to call these players out as they are supposed to represent the best in the draft for their class live at the event, he can’t tell them they’re wrong.

Sure, he can have his own opinion, but the fact that Winston wants to remain out of the spotlight for at least a night is actually a decent idea. He doesn’t want to sit there and quite possibly wait to hear his name with the cameras in his face. He doesn’t want to have to answer questions, again and again, about his off-field issues. He wants to be with all the people he loves in the comfort of his own home.

The same goes for Mariota. Just because he wants to be with his family and extended relatives who he doesn’t see too often, doesn’t mean he’s slighting the NFL or “big-timing” it. All it means is that he loves his family.

Irvin has the right to his own opinion, but these guys are just being kids for one last time with the family who got them to where they are today.

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