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UPDATE: Reports have been confirmed that Jameis Winston will be suspended for the first three games of the 2018 NFL regular season. After the news was made official, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback issued a lengthy statement on the league’s decision while apologizing for his behavior in the Uber nearly two years ago. Winston’s full statement can be read below.
“The NFL informed me today that I will be suspended for the first three games of the season.
First and foremost, I would like to say I’m sorry to the Uber driver for the position I put you in. It is uncharacteristic of me and I genuinely apologize. In the past 2 1/2 years my life has been filled with experiences, opportunities and events that have helped me grow, mature and learn, including the fact that I have eliminated alcohol from my life.
I know I have to hold myself to a higher standard on and off the field and that I have a responsibility to my family, community, and teammates to live above the platform with which God has blessed me. I apologize to my teammates, the Buccaneers organization and fans for letting them down and for not being able to be out there for the first three games of the season. Although I am disappointed in the NFL’s decision, I understand the NFL’s process, and I embrace this as an opportunity to take advantage of the resources available to help me achieve the goals that I have for myself.
I now look forward to putting this behind me and I will continue to work hard every day to be a positive influence in my community and be the best person, teammate and leader I can be.”
Jameis Winston has been suspended for the first three games of the 2017-18 NFL regular season. On Thursday, June 21, the National Football League announced that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers star quarterback will miss the first three games of the year for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
Adam Schefter of ESPN was first to report the news.
“The Winston camp is prepared for the NFL to levy a suspension of some kind,” ESPN Tallahassee radio host Jeff Cameron said earlier in the week. “The thought from the Winston camp is that would be a maximum of three games. I do not know at this time whether or not they plan to appeal, and I do not know that three games is an accurate number. I’ve been told that would seem to be the maximum number of games that the suspension could be. It’s also likely that it’s less than that and it’s one game.”
Schefter adds:
Jameis Winston would lose $124,000 in base salary for 3-game suspension with 2017 salary at $705,000; salary for next season scheduled to be $20.9 million, reducing the chance that Winston would consider appealing this suspension and dragging it out.
The suspension stems from an Uber incident that occurred nearly two years ago. The reports indicated that Winston grabbed an Uber driver’s crotch while waiting to pick up food from the drive-thru of a Mexican restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Winston has adamantly denied the accusations.
This is a developing story. More information will be added as it becomes available.
