Adam Schefter of ESPN took to his social media channels today to drop a very interesting nugget of news regarding Florida State’s quarterback Jameis Winston. You can read the statement in its entirety below, and do what you will with it.
Florida State’s compliance department is looking into whether Jameis Winston signed more than 340 items for an autograph authentication company linked to suspended Georgia running back Todd Gurley. A source tells ESPN’s Darren Rovell and Mark Schlabach that Winston told Florida State HC Jimbo Fisher he did not sign items for money. But a search of James Spence Authentication’s website revealed more than 340 certified Winston autographs. The same company certified more than 500 of Gurley’s autographs. The source says Florida State is investigating how the company received such a large number of Winston signatures.
Schefty got the story from colleague Darren Rovell, who penned an article with more details over on ESPN. According to Rovell, Winston denied to coach Jimbo Fisher that he signed autographs for money when he was asked after the FSU win over Syracuse on Saturday.
Fisher then told reporters he wasn’t concerned that an autograph authentication business, which recently was linked to suspended Georgia running back Todd Gurley, also was linked to Winston.
James Spence Authentication certified more than 500 autographs of Gurley, who is being investigated for allegedly taking money for signings.
A cursory search on JSA’s website found more than 340 certified Winston autographs.
FSU has not been contacted on the matter by the ACC or the NCAA, but the university’s compliance department has begun to specifically look into how JSA received such a large number of signatures.
