From a Yahoo article I read .. I just love the reaction to the statement.
"I went to the supermarket with the intent to purchase dinner but made a terrible mistake for which I'm taking full responsibility," a statement attributed to Winston read.
Seriously, that's how the statement was actually worded.
"In a moment of youthful ignorance," it continued, "I walked out of the store without paying for one of my items."
Youthful ignorance? Who wrote this thing? No one really cared about an explanation or an excuse but when you offer up "youthful ignorance", it's got to be asked: because he is youthful (20 years old), he was ignorant that grocery stores require payment for, um, groceries? Don't most five-year-olds know this?
No one wants to make much over a $32.72 act of "youthful ignorance" but at some point, like now, it would behoove
Winston and his professional future if he stopped finding himself in the middle of things, big and small.
Since arriving at FSU in 2012, there was an incident where police spoke to him about windows being shot out with BB guns and another where a local Burger King accused him of stealing soda ā he kept refilling his cup even though employees told him to stop.
Then there was the
sexual assault case which resulted in no prosecution, but saw the local state's attorney blast the police for botching the investigation. The New York Times last month reported that another FSU student sought counseling, but did not pursue charges, after a sexual encounter with Winston.
Individually each is explainable, Winston either dodging serious allegations or being involved in immature behavior (who hasn't "stolen" some extra soda from Burger King?). He's never been charged with a crime and that's worth remembering.
In totality, though, it says Winston needs to grow up because he's eligible for the NFL draft next spring and despite his success last season, he lacks the kind of pro-style throwing motion or velocity to assure anything about his future. He isn't good enough that this stuff doesn't matter.
The NFL isn't going to run from an athlete based on this laundry list of "incidents" ā it'll pretty much take anyone who can play ā but teams will examine each one thoroughly. And then they'll repeatedly question Winston about his maturity and decision-making process. He has way too much ability and potential to allow that to overshadow him.
A citation for crab legs is pretty comical, unless you're the guy getting the citation, who not long ago you had the state's attorney spend weeks determining whether to charge you with a crime that carried a 15-year prison term. He should've learned then that it's best to walk a very straight line.
Winston, for his part, says he understands that. Or at least his statement says that.
