Gerald McCoy praises Jameis Winston’s leadership

Jameis Winston has taken major steps forward in his rookie season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Apparently that comes as no surprise for some of his teammates.

Bucs DT Gerald McCoy praised Winston for his leadership abilities, saying he really doesn’t look or act like a rookie.

“He is as advertised — a great leader,” Bucs captain Gerald McCoy told NFL Media’s Albert Breer. “We tried to slow him down, let him just be a rookie, just be our quarterback. We tried. It didn’t work. He takes over. He can’t help it, it’s in his blood to lead — and to win. You see what he’s done over the last couple weeks. … He’s really starting to understand how to play this game. And being a leader, that’s in his blood. He can’t help it.”

That’s true. Back in June, McCoy was quoted as saying he gave advice to Winston to just be a rookie and not try to do too much. Winston wouldn’t settle for just being a rookie.

Winston entered Week 11 having led the Bucs to four wins in nine games and then broke out with a career-best touchdown passes mark on the road at Philadelphia. He is well on his way to justifying the No. 1 overall pick the Bucs used on him.

When you hear comments from a teammate like this, it makes you wonder what was going through Winston’s mind all those times he got in trouble. Here’s his long list of idiocy and worse from college:

– Accused of raping Florida State student in Dec. 2012
– Cited in April for stealing crab legs at a grocery store
– Suspended for Clemson game because he yelled obscene in middle of campus
– Stole soda and acted disrespectfully at a Burger King in July, 2013.
– Investigated in 2012 for his involvement in a BB gun fight that resulted in broken windows at an apartment complex.