Jameis Winston’s heartfelt farewell to the Cleveland Browns has sparked a strong reaction among New York Giants fans, with some already calling for his release before he even steps onto the field for training camp.
After a season with the Browns, Winston signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the Giants. On Thursday, he posted an emotional goodbye message on social media, thanking the Browns and their fans for the support he received during his time there.
“Dear Cleveland, I’m so happy and grateful for everything we experienced together this past year,” Winston wrote on Instagram. “From day one, you welcomed my family and me with open arms, and for that, I’m forever thankful. To the Dawg Pound: you were electric. Snow or shine, highs or lows, your energy never wavered.”
However, one part of Winston’s message stood out to Giants fans. He referred to a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers as a key highlight of his Browns tenure. The Steelers’ quarterback in that game was Russell Wilson, the very player Winston is now competing with for the starting job in New York.
“One moment I’ll never forget — beating the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football in what turned out to be the most iconic snow game in NFL history,” Winston wrote. “The energy, the emotion, the unity — we all felt it. That night was Cleveland at its finest.”
This statement triggered a strong reaction from WFAN radio host Shaun Morash, who called for the Giants to cut Winston before he becomes a distraction in the locker room. “Jameis Winston stinks. He’s in unintentional cancer. Cut him today,” Morash said. “He’s not better than Russell Wilson, the team should be taking a quarterback in the draft, and Tommy DeVito still exists. Why is he here? He’s here to throw interceptions and pick-sixes? I’m tired of being a joke, and Jameis Winston is causing this team to be more of a joke.”
Despite the criticism, Winston remains confident in his abilities and is prepared to take on any role with the Giants. “I knew a free-agent signing was going to come or maybe even a draft pick was going to come,” he said at his introductory press conference. “But that’s their business. My business is today, and today I have the privilege of finally becoming a Giant.”
Winston’s performance with the Browns last season included 2,121 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
