Nothing is being handed to Jameis Winston despite him being taken with the first overall pick. It was Mike Glennon, instead of Winston taking reps at quarterback with the first team offense, while the rookie worked with the second team.
Winston is taking it all in stride though, and intends to earn the spot as the team’s signal caller.
Here are some quotes from Lovie Smith and Jameis via ESPN:
“Jameis and everybody else, you’ve got to earn your position. Jameis is getting his first-team reps,” Smith said. “You guys are here on Thursday. There’s Wednesday, and he was with the first group then, so don’t look too much into that. We just want the guys that we think can play to get reps, and we want them to work with a lot of different combinations. Jameis is right on schedule. We’re not disappointed or anything like that.”
Winston said he doesn’t expect anything to be handed to him.
“I never was given anything in my life,” Winston said. “The way I was brought up, I always had to earn everything. The main thing is to earn the respect of all these players out here.”
Winston said working behind Glennon is helping him develop.
“Just watching Mike and seeing the things he does, I’m trying to peek at everything that he has because he’s been doing great,” Winston said. “I look up to him, and the things he does are magnificent. It’s always good to have a great guy in front of you, and it just helps you push yourself.”
Although Winston was known for his gregarious personality at Florida State, veteran wide receiver Vincent Jackson said the rookie has been keeping a low profile in the locker room.
“When you’re a rookie, you’re supposed to be in the background until it’s time to step up,” Smith said. “It’s not Jameis’ time yet. It will come, though, soon.”
While everyone is expecting Jameis Winston to be the starting quarterback when Week 1 rolls around, it is good to see that the organization isn’t handing him anything and is making sure he earns everything from the get go.
It is also a positive sign that Jameis is saying and doing all the right things despite working with the second team offense to start out with. For some that could be a bit of a bruise to the ego, but with Jameis that is clearly not the case.
