Jameis Winston: New Orleans Saints’ pursuit of Deshaun Watson led to ‘robust conversations’ – New Orleans Saints Weblog

METAIRIE, La. — Quarterback Jameis Winston’s NFL future was in limbo whereas the New Orleans Saints pursued Deshaun Watson two weeks in the past. However Winston stated that finally changed into a optimistic due to the “robust conversations” he had with the Saints earlier than agreeing to a two-year deal with a base value of $28 million.

“I do know if their pursuit of Deshaun didn’t occur, I’d not have been capable of have that progress and people conversations with individuals in vital roles,” Winston, 28, stated Monday. “It was nice to get an understanding of the place I stood on this group, and the way the enterprise facet and the teaching facet view me as a participant, and the place did they imagine that I might take this group?”

Winston stated the tip consequence was a “compromise.” He did not get the blockbuster long-term contract he hoped to earn earlier than he tore an ACL in Week 8, however his new deal cements him as New Orleans’ starter beneath new coach Dennis Allen as a substitute of the scenario he confronted final summer time, in an open competitors with Taysom Hill all through coaching camp.

“Now, it’s simply the motion,” Winston stated. “It’s simply going on the market, it’s me getting wholesome, and it’s us going on the market and profitable video games. And making all people glad. As a result of that’s what it’s about. That’s how they preserve their jobs on the enterprise facet. That’s how DA stays the pinnacle coach. And that’s how I keep the quarterback.

“You’ve got been round me, I am a really optimistic dude. Every part occurs for a cause in my e-book. It is all part of God’s plan for me, and I embrace that.”

Allen echoed Winston’s feedback on Tuesday morning.

“Jameis understands how our enterprise operates,” Allen stated. “He and I had a few good — name it robust — conversations. And I believed it was course of.”

Allen declined to enter in depth element in regards to the Saints’ pursuit of Watson, however he did state that there was an “curiosity on our half.”

“We did our due diligence, we did our homework and he ended up going some place else,” Allen stated. “So we moved ahead from there and went full pace forward with Jameis, and we’re enthusiastic about that.”

Winston, who was chatting with the New Orleans media for the primary time since final season, stated his harm rehab is forward of schedule and he’s “going to be again nicely earlier than coaching camp.”

He additionally admitted he was stunned when former Saints coach Sean Payton determined to step away in January, which additionally weighed on his choice.

“If you lose Sean Payton, among the finest playcallers to ever coach this recreation, that’s most likely the largest factor that I needed to actually sit with this offseason, as a result of I got here to the saints for Sean and [former quarterback Drew Brees], and neither a type of persons are right here,” Winston stated. “[But] undoubtedly realizing that DA has been part of this group for a very long time [as the Saints’ defensive coordinator], I do know that he has what it takes to be a profitable head coach.

“I imply, we’re tied collectively. So I obtained religion in DA.”

Winston additionally identified that offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. and quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry stay of their roles. That “continuity” is an enormous cause why he’s enthusiastic about returning to the Saints for a 3rd consecutive season.

And Winston stated he’s particularly trying ahead to working with former All-Professional receiver Michael Thomas, who missed all of final season with an ankle harm. The Saints’ passing offense completed final within the NFL final season largely due to his and Thomas’ accidents and others throughout the offensive line. However Winston stated Thomas’ return ought to assist change issues “drastically.”

Winston has proven an excessive amount of humility since his authentic group, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, determined to half methods with him in 2020 and he signed a minimal contract to be taught beneath Payton and Brees.

Nevertheless, he was particularly vocal Monday in regards to the degree of confidence he has in himself — and that he needed to see what kind of curiosity was on the market from different groups in free company this 12 months.

“I can do all the pieces your favourite quarterback can do,” he stated.

The previous Heisman Trophy winner and 2015 No. 1 total draft choose went 5-2 as New Orleans’ starter final season earlier than his harm, setting a profession excessive with a passer score of 102.8. He averaged 186 passing yards in his six full video games and accomplished 59% of his passes. Winston threw 14 landing passes with three interceptions, proving he might overcome the turnover subject that plagued him in Tampa Bay.

“In conversations with different groups or with the Saints … I used to be curious to see, ‘In order for you me to guide this group, what do you concentrate on me? What do you imagine that I can accomplish with this group? And are you prepared to develop with me and permit this group to get constructed round me because the quarterback?’” Winston stated. “As a result of we all know that two of an important items to this complete chess/soccer group is the pinnacle coach and the quarterback. So I needed that dedication, and I needed to know that groups might worth me at the least 1 / 4 of what I worth myself as.”