Jameis Winston didn’t talk about how many yards or touchdown passes he plans to throw for the Giants this season, mostly because he knows it might not be his job to do that. He’s currently the backup quarterback behind Russell Wilson, and he could get pushed even further down the depth chart if the team selects a quarterback early enough in the upcoming draft.
His introductory news conference on Monday made it clear, however, that even if Winston never sets foot on the field this season, he can help improve the Giants in categories in which they have long trailed the rest of the league.
“It’s required to start winning for me in the NFL, and it’s required for this organization to start winning so we can have more giggles, more laughter, more fun in this building,” said Winton, 31. “We’re in the biggest city in the world. We should enjoy that, and I think winning does that.”
It’s the “paradigm shift” the ever-grinning Winston wants to be a starter for, not necessarily the football team . . . although he wouldn’t mind both.
The Giants, he said, didn’t give him a “clean” explanation of where he will fit in, and he knew at the time of his signing that they were negotiating with Wilson and still having talks with Aaron Rodgers. All they offered him was an opportunity.
“And I signed up for that,” he said.
So now he is here, the team’s new Ambassador of Glee, its Viceroy of Vibes. The Giants have never officially had cheerleaders, but adding Winston may be the closest they will ever come.
“This team is looking to make a splash, man,” he said. “There is no better place to do it and with no better calling to do it than right here in New York City and being a New York Football Giant.”
“He’s played a lot of ball in this league and can still play,” general manager Joe Schoen said at the league meetings in Florida on Monday. “[We’re] excited about the way the [quarterback] room looks right now.”
Winston said he found he and the Giants had plenty of similarities. He connected with coach Brian Daboll, as both were raised by their grandparents. He has an existing relationship with Wilson, who helped mentor Winston early in both of their careers. The two quarterbacks also shared a friendship with mental conditioning coach Trevor Moawad, who died in 2021.
He also saw parallels between himself and the organization as a whole. The Giants have won eight games in the last two years and are coming off a three-win season. Winston has gone 3-7 as a starter in the last three seasons.
“Any team that has their back against the wall, you know that the coaches, executives, the fans, they are looking for immediate change,” Winston said. “I feel like in my time, in my process of joining a team, I’m looking for immediate change. It’s required.”
Still, the Giants weren’t necessarily on Winston’s wish list until just a few days before the most recent Super Bowl. During a jokey interview with Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, Winston asked which team he should sign with. Barkley immediately offered up the Giants as a landing spot.
“I don’t believe in coincidences, but when he threw the Giants out there, it really gave me and my team a chance to be like, ‘Hmm, what are they doing over there?’ and to pursue the Giants,” Winston said. “I’m not saying I should hire Saquon as my agent, but he makes good decisions . . . I’m happy Saquon put that energy in the air for me to come to the Big Apple and be a G-man.”
If that happiness spreads, Winston will be doing his job.
