Florida State qb Jameis Winston has been cleared in his Student Conduct hearing. He now can turn his focus to the field, as he prepares to put his undefeated streak on the line against the high powered Oregon Ducks in next week's Rose Bowl. However his season ends, it seems to be a forgone conclusion that Winston will declare for the upcoming NFL draft.
Last week, on a sports radio talk show in Nashville, the question was raised if the Tennessee Titans should draft him. After all, they will have a top five pick and are in desperate need of a franchise qb.
The callers went ballistic.
"Hell no!" proclaimed one fan. Another pleaded to the host to "put down the pipe". Immediate comparisons were drawn to Adam "Pac Man" Jones and Vince Young, two high profile first round picks that embarrassed the city of Nashville more than it helped it.
As a Titans fan, I couldn't totally dismiss their claims. Both of those situations ended bad....real bad. But lets not act like we didn't look the other way when we were winning games with them and making playoff runs. Because the majority of us did. It ended bad mostly because of losing.
Ok, I'll digress.
Yes Jameis Winston has done enough stupid things off the field to be labeled immature at this point in his life. And yes, potential NFL suitors should do their due diligence before investing in a kid with a recent track record of questionable decision making off the field. But that doesn't mean that he's doomed when it comes to his professional career.
In fact, the NFL qb that Winston resembles the most (at this point of his career) is the reason that teams should take a real close look at him.
His name? Cam Newton.
It wasn't that long ago. Cam Newton was in the same position as Winston. Super talented collegiate qb with a history of questionable life decisions. Like Winston, Newton played his final year of college football with his eligibility hanging over his head the entire time. And like Winston, Newton led his team to an undefeated season, conference title, and chance at a national title.
To perform and win at the highest level when everyone is rooting for you to lose is a trait that cannot be developed with tackling drills. You have to have that inside of you. Some players do, and some don't. Vince Young's downfall in Tennessee was his inability to push through adversity. Prior to his arrival, he had only known praise and adulation. Once VY was booed at home he complete unraveled.
Winston will enter the league with his thick skin armor on, as did Newton.
After being drafted number 1 overall by the Carolina Panthers in 2011, Newton has been a model citizen. And most of all, a winner. Carolina was a league doormat prior to Newton's arrival, now they are in position to secure their second straight NFC South division crown with a win over Atlanta this Sunday.
Were there growing pains for Newton early on? Sure. We can all remember the poor body language, the towel over the head late in games, the aloofness with the media as the losses mounted his rookie year. But he acknowledged it, he worked on it, he matured. Today, no one is questioning Carolina's pick.
Newton and Winston both share a unique and undervalued quality. The ability to compartmentalize and thrive under pressure. You can't teach size and you can't teach confidence.
All I'm saying is...we all mature at different stages in life. Comparisons go both ways.
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