EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Jameis Winston experience. The New York Giants are living it full-throttle right now, with Winston starting in place of the injured Jaxson Dart as quarterback of the NFC East-leading Giants.
What, though, is the Jameis Winston experience?
To some, it is the wildly entertaining, erratic, up-and-down play Winston has been famous for throughout his 12-year career. No other quarterback has a 30-touchdown, 30-interception, 5,000 passing yards season on his resume. Winston is must-watch
TV.
To some, it is the larger-than-life personality that came through the TV screen when he worked as a correspondent during the World Cup, or shows up whenever Winston has a microphone or camera in front of his face.
To his Giants teammates, though, the Jameis Winston experience is something different.
‘A man of increase’
We should start with how Winston himself views the Jameis Winston experience. He was asked on Wednesday what the phrase means to him.
“My take on the Jameis Winston experience is that I am called to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, right? Every time that I’m around someone, I am driven to increase that man or that woman with every action that I take,” Winston said. “So, if you’re defining that as the Jameis Winston experience, I’m telling you that is the Jameis Winston experience that I intend to give.
“Now, all the other perceptions, again, (former Washington quarterback) Joe Theismann, man, he told me once perception is reality. So, people can say whatever they want to say. But my intention is to be a man of increase. Increase in every man, every woman that I come in contact with, doing onto them as I would want them to do onto me.”
‘I love talking about him’
Backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy is one of Winston’s newest teammates. He arrived via trade from the Minnesota Vikings just three weeks ago.
“I love talking about him,” McCarthy said when I asked McCarthy for a couple minutes of his time on Thursday. “My experience with Jameis has been something I’m extremely grateful for because he leads by example as well as leads vocally.
“When he talks about wanting to increase the next man or woman beside him, that is so real. He wants to do everything he can to help. Extremely unselfish. Has this unique way of thinking and talking about football that is such a well-rounded, polished version of somebody that’s been around so many great minds and has had so many great experiences.
“Just being able to watch him prep, watch his routine throughout the week, be with him while he’s doing his routine. I’m already picking up so many things that I’m adding to mine.”
McCarthy gave ‘Kudos’ to Winston for going above and beyond to help him learn the Giants’ offense as quickly as possible. I asked him for an example.
“Just going over front structure and linebacker identification. I had no idea,” McCarthy said. “Everyone talks about how they see the defense in different ways. We’re going into Week 5. He’s starting. He doesn’t have to be walking me through all that stuff where it’s just basic, general information about our offense.
“But, he gets up on the board and talks me through everything, like 30-40 minutes.”
McCarthy has also noticed how Winston interacts with teammates. He told a story from his first day with the Giants, calling it “a beautiful tonesetter.”
“My first day here in the unit meeting we were watching the Tennessee game and him and Isaiah Likely just had this unbelievable, mature conversation that I’ve never been a part of, where everyone is talking about I saw it this way, I saw it this way, and then just being able to get on the same page,” McCarthy said.
The Winston fans don’t see
Likely calls the phrase Jameis Winston experience “kind of insulting in a way.”
“Jameis is a great quarterback,” Likely said. “I mean, I feel like in the second half [vs. Washington], you guys [saw] exactly what Jameis is capable of doing in this league, and the offense is capable of doing as well.”
Winston remained out on the field while Likely was speaking to media on Thursday doing extra work post-practice. Likely spoke about the Winston that fans and casual observers don’t see.
“They don’t see Jameis after practice, throwing with whoever needs extra work catching the football. They don’t see him talking about each and every route when the defense is out there for their rack of plays. They don’t see when Leek [Malik Nabers] obviously is tired, him bend down and tie Leek’s cleat in the middle of the game, when he’s tired as well, he has to look at the protections, everything about that,” Likely said. “They don’t see how hard he is practicing in OTAs, training camp and everything, et cetera. I mean, obviously, they’re going to see what he posts, what the world posts about him, trying to be a goofy guy. But, at the end of the day, he’s a quarterback in National Football League. He’s there for a reason.”
Cam Skattebo also lauded Winston’s work ethic.
“He works hard. He works his ass off,” Skattebo said. “He’s probably still on the field right now. It’s been 30 minutes, 20 minutes after practice. He’s just a guy that works hard, continues to put everything on the table for us. When you have somebody like that at quarterback you can stand behind it and give it your best shot and give it everything you have because you know he’s gonna give that to you.”
‘Unbelievable teammate’
One of those players Winston has gone out of his way to help is wide receiver/kick returner Charlie Jones, who was claimed on waivers by the Giants just before the start of the season.
“I think the Jameis Winston experience, you’re gonna get everything, but you’re gonna get a guy who comes in here every day giving his very best,” Jones said. “He’s an unbelievable teammate. He’s just genuine. You see him on social media is exactly how he is in person.
“Before I got here all I knew was his social media clips, and he’s just like that.”
Jones, though, has also learned how Winston leads and how serious he is about football.
“He’s someone that holds you accountable. Just a great teammate. Someone you learn from every day as a player and as a man,” Jones said.
Like McCarthy, Jones is a player who has benefitted from Winston’s willingness to give teammates his time.
“I’m out there every day with him,” Jones said. “Making sure he gets what he needs, then if I need something at the end I ask him for that, too.
“Consistent. So consistent every day. And will hold people accountable if he sees someone not being consistent. Not just to say something, but because he genuinely cares about the guys in the room, and the guys in the building.”
‘All business’
Veteran tight end Chris Manhertz said the Jameis Winston experience is “pretty damn good to me.”
“The football player is all business,” Manhertz said. “The football player is extremely detailed, he’s diligent in his process. More importantly the way that he communicates with us as an offensive individually is somebody that wants to be aligned in everything we do collectively as an offense.
“Off the field is off the field, but once we come in this building it’s all business to try to get a win.”
In the Giants locker room, that is all they can ask for.
