NFL Confirms Jameis Suspension And Interview Of Uber Driver, Says Uber Driver’s Account Was “Consistent And Credible”
June 28th, 2018
NFL issues report
Oh, boy.
The NFL has now labeled Jameis Winston a sex offender.
Here’s the key part of the league’s official report confirming the Buccaneers’ franchise QB, America’s Quarterback, is guilty as charged by an Uber driver in March 2018, per the NFL’s internal investigation.
In November 2017, the NFL learned of an incident involving Winston and a shared-ride service driver
that had taken place in March 2016 in Scottsdale, AZ. The incident, which had been immediately
reported by the driver to her employer and which resulted in Winston’s removal from the ride-sharing
platform, was also publicly reported last November.The league promptly initiated a comprehensive investigation that included interviews with several persons, including the driver, Winston and others with relevant information. The league also examined an extensive amount of other evidence, including telephone records, business records, data from electronic devices and other communications. Based on the investigation, the NFL found that Winston had violated the NFL Personal Conduct Policy, which allows for discipline to be imposed even when criminal charges are not presented.
In his letter advising Winston of the suspension, Jones stated after full consideration of the record, including a meeting with Winston and his representatives, and a written submission by his attorneys, that the driver’s account of the incident was consistent and credible. As a result, the investigation had concluded that Winston violated the Personal Conduct Policy by touching the driver in an inappropriate and sexual manner without her consent and that disciplinary action was necessary and appropriate.
As part of the discipline, Winston is also required to obtain a clinical evaluation and fully cooperate in any recommended program of therapeutic intervention. A failure either to obtain the evaluation or to cooperate with treatment will result in further discipline. In addition, a future violation of the Personal Conduct Policy will result in more substantial discipline, including a potential ban from the NFL.
Winston has advised the league office that he accepts this discipline. His suspension therefore will take effect as of the final roster reduction on September 1 and he will be eligible to return on September 25 following the Buccaneers’ game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Winston may participate in all of his club’s preseason activities, including games.
Oh, boy. As Joe wrote earlier, Jameis issued a statement saying he was disappointed in the NFL ruling.
Dark day for the Buccaneers franchise.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:25 pm
How about that GM of ours and his incredible research he did before using the number one overall pick on Winston a few years ago.
Three cheers for All-time NFL GM Jason Licht!!
June 28th, 2018 at 2:25 pm
He is not screaming from the rooftops that he did nothing wrong with the money to hire the best lawyers in the country.
Innocent men don’t take the decision without a fight.
Sad day for the franchise.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:26 pm
He is who we thought he was……
June 28th, 2018 at 2:27 pm
Joe…ready to drop the ridiculous America’s QB nonsense?
June 28th, 2018 at 2:27 pm
WOW! Who could have seen this coming? Well, quite a few people actually, including me for oh, the past 3 years. Stick your head back in the sand, Joe, but don’t forget to come up for air once in a while.
JOE KNOWS QBs
June 28th, 2018 at 2:29 pm
damn disappointing. Brings new meaning to stick carrier.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:29 pm
So, not quite the America’s Quarterback anymore huh?
June 28th, 2018 at 2:30 pm
Oh, boy. As Joe wrote earlier, Jameis issued a statement saying he was disappointed in the NFL ruling”
Half hearted disingenuous “apology”…..and there was another disingenuous sentence in his apology…I am a Buc fan first and foremost….I supported Jameis ,yet criticized his play, nothing personal….this is a hot mess and it is just heating up….just my sense of the situation…..JF’n Christ !
June 28th, 2018 at 2:30 pm
Well this sucks for the teams and the fans. I hope he learns ffrom his mistakes and makes better choices.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:31 pm
When will the Bucs issue a statement? They have to break the silence sooner or later. Will they support him and ask the game and community to do the same?
June 28th, 2018 at 2:31 pm
That is tough to defend. Seems to be the worst case scenario really. And I don’t mean suspension wise. This guy has an issue and those that defend him really need to take a long hard look at themselves…
I really want him to work out but he is not someone I would spend a 100 million on if it was my money. I would franchise tag him in 2020 and 2021. It is more than likely we will be drafting a QB again in the near future…
June 28th, 2018 at 2:31 pm
@ JOE- So is he still “America’s Quarterback”. How long until he’s not even Tampa Bay’s QB and then you will look like a idiot for the ridiculous nickname.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:32 pm
Trade him
June 28th, 2018 at 2:33 pm
Frankly, I’d rather see them unload him. Tired of the on and off-field drama. Will he ever stop giving the ball away? He hasn’t in 3 years. We keep resting our hopes on him improving in the turnovers and in his personal behavior. Both still problems. At what point do we just give up on him? I’m ready.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:33 pm
Meh all to do about nothing. Life goes on.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:34 pm
Three words for Silent_Partner
Kiss my a$$
And I mean that in the nicest way possible
June 28th, 2018 at 2:35 pm
Jason Licht should just go hire a realtor now…list the house, and move on.
Take Blameless Wins-some with him….
June 28th, 2018 at 2:37 pm
JW is a Liar and the whole situation is hipocritical………..And i am far from being a JW hater!!!!
June 28th, 2018 at 2:37 pm
Unbelievable that the “Americas QB” crap is still being used after all of this coming out. I guess this action is OK since the guy in the white house practices the same moves? I’ll have to reconsider my involvement in this site. You can block me if you want, who cares 🙁
June 28th, 2018 at 2:38 pm
I still don’t think he did that, I think the nfl had him fall on the sword and if he would have fought it they would have him 6 games if he lost.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:38 pm
20-28 as a starter….league screwed this up. Should have held to the 6 game suspension. If this was isolated I can understand the organization trying to be lit. As a Father to a 20 year old daughter, I would endorse the guy losing his job today.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:39 pm
I’ve withhold it until now: I rest my case.
He is lucky there is no civil suit but just to be clear, the State of Arizona could stil press charges IF they think there is enough evidence. WE haven’t seen it, but the NFL clearly thinks it happened. Either way, the NFL indeed thinks Jameis is a sex offender.
Thank you NFL for the timely results. You got no help from the accused for sure. Now Bucs, let’s go after Foles and get this season moving in realistic fashion.
Let BS artist and conman sex offender, Jameis Winston get his counseling and rehap somewhere else.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
He shouldn’t even be near the building anymore. Just a distraction to the team. CUT THE CORD!
June 28th, 2018 at 2:40 pm
Bad day but really expected day for Bucs fans, but since this was 2.5 years ago its entirely possible Jameis has changed already..
But he needs to show contrition, explain his POV of the incident, maybe do a national interview to help his image, take his medicine and play good football when he returns, i would def franchise him for the next two years after the contract is up- assuming his play is worthy of it, 100+ million is still out there, he has to work and earn it now.
also zero tolerance from now on. next mistake outside of something super minor, then he needs to go.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:41 pm
Well said DB 55
Except this is mainly about NFL is covering their ass
and Jameis recognizing he has a problem with alcohol
June 28th, 2018 at 2:41 pm
This goes beyond football, I think the Bucs should take a hard look in the mirror and cut him.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:42 pm
OK, so now we know. Lets move forward and get this TEAM ready for week #1.
There are those camps that are simply not going to back down from the “trade him” stance and that’s their prerogative. His time as a Buc will highly depend on his production this year.
There are no excuses for not being ready in week #1. We know, so now we move on. We’re bigger than ONE player.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:42 pm
The sad part was that the “real” fans believed the guy doing 15 years in prison and had the common sense to send Jw3 home for being out of control over the “America’s Franchise QB”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 28th, 2018 at 2:43 pm
Bad day but really expected day for Bucs fans, but since this was 2.5 years ago its entirely possible Jameis has changed already..
But he needs to show contrition, explain his POV of the incident, maybe do a national interview to help his image, take his medicine and play good football when he returns, i would def franchise him for the next two years after the contract is up- assuming his play is worthy of it, 100+ million is still out there, he has to work and earn it now.
also zero tolerance from now on. next mistake outside of something super minor, then he needs to go.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:46 pm
do not forget that when the news came out JW completely denied it, and now he is apologizing ….. and surely there was a private economic arrangement … which makes him a liar and a hypocrite ….. Personally, I am more interested in the player than in the person ….. clearly now the franchise is in a complicated area like the coach and the GM ….. incredible !!!!!
June 28th, 2018 at 2:46 pm
Cut him.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:47 pm
He is and has been and their driver don’t support this neither should this site
June 28th, 2018 at 2:48 pm
I hate to say I told anyone so. Mostly because we missed out on the other guy
June 28th, 2018 at 2:48 pm
Totally confident, right guys?
Stick a fork in him and the Buccaneers season. Pull down his image off of the Den of Depression. It’s time to move on. I’m sure he’ll find success somewhere else but the Glazers can’t possibly give him the big money contract, nor should they.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:50 pm
When you have a serial sexual predator and pathological liar as president, King CHeeto, you might as well have a lying sexual predator as America’s QB.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:51 pm
well yes, dark days indeed, it’s easy to paint a portrait of jameis, being any label that one would place on him, and whether that would be sexual offender, alcoholic, immature, unworthy, dishonest, and so forth, and yes he has earned this reputation, when choosing to describe him as such, one could not be rebuffed or scoffed at as purely a bitter hater, because the evidence is of the contrary. jameis has put his self into this situation, himself his team, and his family, his fans, saying this there are still people out there who believe in this man-child and think that better days are coming, i am one of them. jameis has for the most part of his life been coddled, and held unaccountable for his actions, now according to his statement realizes that those day’s are over, i am willing to forgive, i think this team is better off with him than without him, big ben, peyton, favre, they all were given their chance to make things right let’s do the same for jameis
June 28th, 2018 at 2:53 pm
Super – As long as you bring politics into this, don’t forger Slick Willie with his sexual indiscretions while in the white house. And a credible charge of rape prior to that time.
June 28th, 2018 at 2:56 pm
Wow, what a waste the bucs are worse than Cleveland, scrap the whole thing and start over get rid of Licht, Koetter, Jameis… licht is a dunderbox, he HAD to have known by the draft amd trade season that this happened he did his USUAL… NOTHING… licht needs to go for being a poor GM
June 28th, 2018 at 2:57 pm
How is going to set with the Joe is crazy about suspension, fake news, it’s Joe’s articles that’s going to do him in, there’s no proof, she’s a gold digging slain, on and on…..the table is now set for some to offer apologies to those they attacked as again fill in the blank, others may just refuse to deal and hopefully their heads will explode. Rational people will deal with the reality with out excuses or buts and denials. Because the idiot cleat worshippers made such a stink about this it’s almost impossible not to be a bit satisfied with the sh-# sandwich they just ate….
Phuc cultists and sycophants, this is bad for jw. It could get worse real fast . I hope the Bucs step up and state he is our guy and we stick with him or fire him but it’s time for ownership to actually f ing lead and show direction for once in their miserable tenure as the league’s best worst franchise
June 28th, 2018 at 2:58 pm
I would had said I was a blackout alcoholic and don’t remember anything, everyone forgives an alcoholic. his apologie sucked.
June 28th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
Dudes a loser
June 28th, 2018 at 3:01 pm
Joe, this is only a “dark day” for the Buccaneer franchise IF THEY DON’T DUMP A SEX OFFENDER IMMEDIATELY!!! Do it NOW Bucs!!! It will be a fresh new day!!! Fans can once again GET BEHIND THIS TEAM!!!
June 28th, 2018 at 3:05 pm
If you think the Glazers, other owners and the NFL care about morals, I have a bridge to sell you. The coach the “employees” on how to act in front of cameras. They are actors. You are getting ripped off. They don’t give a damn about you.
June 28th, 2018 at 3:08 pm
I gotta say this hurts. My Jameis jersey and T-shirts are gone. No way I can wear that in public now. I’ve had to take plenty of crud over the years, as a Bucs Fan, living in Denver. Usually it was just good natured ribbing over the losing seasons but this is right out of the park. I can’t look at the guy the same way again. He’s making it very hard to root for him and by extension my favorite sports team of all time. I don’t see how he recovers from a PR disaster like this in Tampa. Hate to say it but probably best for everyone if he moves on somewhere else.
June 28th, 2018 at 3:12 pm
If grabbing women by the P doesn’t preclude you from being president of the United States of America, why again can he not be the quarterback of an NFL team?
June 28th, 2018 at 3:16 pm
Casual. You don’t really want to go there. Anyone who voted for him would be a real hypocrite condemning Winston. I think it’s a fair point.
June 28th, 2018 at 3:18 pm
Well Pete Mitchell the president of the USA hasn’t ever don anything to a woman that she wasn’t ok with. Sanford and son q.v. not so much
June 28th, 2018 at 3:21 pm
Love conquers hate without even trying
I forsee that within 6 months or less – the majority of Bucs Nation will once again be in Love with Jameis Winston – the football player.
Everybody makes mistakes.
Every one of you posters bashing and piling on at the moment of your Quarterback’s darkest public hour should reflect for just a moment on what it would feel like for everybody in the world to know all about your deepest, darkest mistake in life…
Let the healing begin.
June 28th, 2018 at 3:22 pm
@Schlomie your damn right. They don’t care about none of us. They use all these reporters as well just to get to us, but don’t fool yourself they could give a rats A$$ about y’all to… they just wanna make sure they keep JW away from Joe Redner
June 28th, 2018 at 3:22 pm
Superslacker,
I guess you doubted down w your vote and went for the trailer park trash rap-!=
, pedo and proven…I had no classified emails..liars…. Kinda funny your trying to be judgmental and moralizing. Manson disapproved of Unabomber on moral grounds…..left still equals stupid.
June 28th, 2018 at 3:27 pm
I’d be more inclined to forgive a drunk 22 year old who’s been a model citizen for the last 2 1/2 years. Before I forgave, much less put him in charge of the most important job in the world, a 60 year old who we all heard him say he does it all the time because it’s his right because he is a ‘star’.
June 28th, 2018 at 3:27 pm
THERE IS DOUBT WINTSON IS GUILTY OF THIS , HE IS A KID IN A MAN BODY , AND IF HE CAN’T GROW UP THAN LET HIM GO.. HAE IS A TROUBLE MAKER AND VERY BAD FOR THE TEAM !!!
June 28th, 2018 at 3:27 pm
Pete,
You ignorant turf burglar, QB is a qualified position. The president can be as unqualified as a junior senator and activist…..and get the job.
QB is a qualified position with lots of vetting. No body votes you QB because you’re blk or a woman. Skillz boetch
June 28th, 2018 at 3:29 pm
damn Winston……
you really let me down…..as a gator fan, I couldn’t stand you for years but once you became a buc, all that changed…..you were my QB….
hate to say this but I think he’s done after this year in the nfl period….no one will take a chance on a player that is 1 mistake away from being banned…..
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
June 28th, 2018 at 3:34 pm
Stan,
Triangulation is the Clinton way……try dealing w one thing at time. Your whitty comments are as welcome today as a man at the DNC. Show some respect for the situation or spout off your oh so clever original thoughts on a site for political originality…There’s plenty good leftist sites that….oh wait..No there isn’t..that’s why you bring your lame takes here…Go away troll, Mexico is looking for quality immigrants…..find your home…it ain’t here.
June 28th, 2018 at 3:58 pm
Our GM may not be responsible for drafting JW, I would say ownership trying to put buts in the stadium.
They took a gamble and lost, there is no one to blame except team Glazer
June 28th, 2018 at 4:25 pm
Willie G, no one is going to touch Winston in a trade this year.
I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he has grown a bit since this incident happened over 2 years ago. I’d keep him for this year but be prepared to draft a QB next year regardless on how he plays. Yeah, his behavior is unacceptable but you didn’t see Big Ben being run out of town.
June 28th, 2018 at 4:26 pm
And for those arguing that they didn’t think he committed sexual assault…this is the league statement and a legal definition from Arizona family law right next to each other. I think it is pretty clear what the league thinks…
“As a result, the investigation had concluded that Winston violated the Personal Conduct Policy by touching the driver in an inappropriate and sexual manner without her consent.”
And here is the legal definition again…sounds like they almost lifted it from the law book of what legal assault is…
“Sexual assault can describe a range of criminal acts that are sexual in nature, from unwanted touching and kissing, to rubbing, groping or forcing the victim to touch the perpetrator in sexual ways.”
June 28th, 2018 at 4:29 pm
HOLY SMOKES…did you read the entire thing…this is mind blowing….
A failure either to obtain the evaluation or to cooperate with treatment will result in further discipline. In addition, a future violation of the Personal Conduct Policy will result in more substantial discipline, including a potential ban from the NFL.
June 28th, 2018 at 4:30 pm
You guys think we will get a high pick trading Winston, when one more violation of the personal conduct policy and he might be banned from the NFL? Sheet man…unbelievable.
June 28th, 2018 at 4:39 pm
Duke aka snowflake. I was replying to others comments. Good point if I was the one who 1st dragged politics into this discussion despite the obvious simulatarites. If you feel like a hypocrite maybe there’s a reason.
June 28th, 2018 at 5:05 pm
Sorry, where is his apology for lying for 8 months? Did I miss that? In fact has Winston admitted to anything beyond letting people down?
June 28th, 2018 at 5:15 pm
You guys talking trade JW3, do you really think another organization would give big money for a guy that grabs crotches and lies about it? Hey it’s going to be tough for Jamies to face his own teammates and regain their trust. I still say go get a QB because Fitz isn’t the Band Aid. And upon return you know what your getting with Jamies!!! Bad decisions and Interceptions!!!!!!
June 28th, 2018 at 5:16 pm
BTW Duke…Clintons act was shameful…but she was of age and never accused Willy of sexual assault. Donnie did say he just walked up and grabbed women’s parts because he was rich and famous. Though the Willy C. part is shameful and adulterous, the second Trump act is sexual assault…unless every woman he ever did that to consented to it. And based upon the dozen or so women that said it was unwanted, I believe he does exactly what he said he does. But this is about Jameis, not Willy or Donnie.
June 28th, 2018 at 5:19 pm
Tandyman…an organization that would give big money. Glad you prefaced that with “another”…. But who knows? As someone said about FA’s, it only takes on organization that will pay you want you want.
June 28th, 2018 at 5:47 pm
My heart is broken. I took my seven year old daughter to see him play. I am done. I’ll go 0-16 rather than support this guy.
June 28th, 2018 at 5:55 pm
It’s funny that people hold a 22 year old football player to higher standards than the “leader” of our country…
June 28th, 2018 at 6:19 pm
Agree with Damien Woody and the guys on “Sport Center”
Time for accountability.
The Bucs knew that Jameis had behavior problems, and maturity issues
And they still picked him to be the face of the franchise.
After all of this, legal charges are a good possibility.
And Walterfootball stated on their site- that Jameis has been up to shady behavior this fall.
The team needs to admit their mistake, take accountability.
And Cut Jameis Winston.
He has lied. Schemed with a buddy to concoct a lie.
Lied to the Commissioner. The Glazers. His GM. His teammates.
The fans.
And he sexually assaulted a 20 yeat girl- who was just trying to earn a little money.
His millionaire ass seuly assualted her- the lied about it,,and tried to discredit her- to cover his perverted, sick behavior.
If hes the face of the franchise- the I want nothing to do with that franchise.
Cut him, trade him, whatever we have to do to get him off the team
Before they find something else.
There are enough Ex bucs making the news for criminal behavior
June 28th, 2018 at 7:10 pm
Oh yea… I drank the koolaid…It is called plea bargaining…if you can’t absolutely prove your innocence…you better plead guilty because in this case the woman will automatically be considered she’s telling the truth. So being intoxicated if she says you touched, you touched!
And the NFL can not afford the backlash it will cause if Jameis tried to deny the incident…he is guilty by being intoxicated, alone, with a past and a female! So he has to take the ramification that the NFL imposes thus that’s why he is disappointed, because he is submitting to their will to protect his job and family!
Don’t gloat it could happen to you, oh snap, you are not rich!
I myself wasn’t a drinker so when I did drink it would waste me and my partners were still walking!
Oh well, it is what it is!
June 28th, 2018 at 7:42 pm
Why do u people even give a crap. All i care about is wins. The guy was drunk and flirted with a chick and grabbed her crotch. He would be in jail if he forced himself on her. Think about it, 1.5 years goes by before we hear about it?? Bitch cried wolf. So i agree winston ness to control his impulses, hes stupid. Hes a young male athelete doing what young male atheletes do: they party andget their freak on. I dont care his only purpose in my life is to win not throw ints. If he does that i want him, if ge sucks on fiels ten cut him.
June 28th, 2018 at 8:20 pm
DB55 Says: “Meh all to do about nothing. Life goes on.”
———————
Is that all you can come up with after accusing most of the commenters on this site of being racist rednecks for demanding accountability from the Buccaneer players?
The person who blindly defends poor behavior from anybody just because he shares your skin color is actually the racist. I don’t expect you (or Webster) to understand that concept, though.
June 29th, 2018 at 10:28 am
Mark 2001……Unfortunately you are right!!!! I’m just saying if I were in an authority position on pulling the trigger on signing Jameis my weapon would be on Safety. Maybe down the road after he has paid his dues and proven himself of being worthy I might again take a chance on him for reasonable pay. Look at Ole Kapernick, in hindsight I bet you he wishes he had never knelt for anything but prayer!!!!! We live and we learn. Sometimes it cost us things we don’t want to give up but that is where the lesson is learned.!!!! Maybe Jamies will learn from this and move on like all of us should now that it is out in the open and over!!!! He knows what he has to face to play football again!!!~!