Jameis Winston trying to be 'man of increase' in role as Browns backup quarterback

BEREA — It was only a stand full of microphones and recorders that Browns quarterback Jameis Winston stood behind Thursday morning, answering questions about football. However, if you squinted hard enough, you could almost envision him behind a lectern in front of a congregation, preaching the gospel.

Winston's points were emphasized with hand gestures. His words spoken with a passion and enthusiasm.

That energy, though, is every bit a fundamental piece of Winston, right up there with the howitzer attached to his right shoulder. It's what Winston believes makes him who he is as not just a quarterback, but as a person.

“Well, that's where it just comes from," Winston said at one point in Thursday's sermon from the microphone stand. "It comes from who I am, my essence, my charismatic self. Always exuberant that the light, a man of increase, a man of faith, and that's where it comes from. It comes from my foundation and my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. That's where all of my good looks, my energy, everything comes from. My feet. It is a blessing.”

Winston was asked at one point if he ever saw himself becoming something like a motivational speaker. To that, he responded, "Man, I just want to be a man of increase."

The reality is that Winston's energy, right now, is being channeled into the role of backing up Deshaun Watson. Listening to him speak about that role, it almost sounds part master motivator, part backup quarterback.

"He wants to be and will be a Super Bowl winning quarterback," Winston said of Watson. "And, honestly, that's why I'm here for, because I guarantee you I'm feeding that into him. I'm making sure that he knows that and he really don't need my help because he has it."

Winston will turn in his backup's ballcap for the starter's helmet for at least one night. He'll get the start for the Browns in their preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers at 4:25 p.m. Saturday.

That starting stint will last only about 10 plays or a couple of series in all likelihood. For Winston, it's just another chance to go out and play.

“Extremely blessed," Winston said of the start. "I'm grateful that I get a chance to play a sport that I love, that I've been playing since I'm been 4 years old with a new color on, but five back on, so that's very exciting.”

There was a time when such a role may not have suited Winston well. This was, after all, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 draft, the one whom the Tampa Bay Buccaneers deemed the face of their franchise.

Winston didn't stay with the Bucs, and injuries — and the final season of Drew Brees in 2020 — took away his starting career with the New Orleans Saints. The Saints eventually elected to allow Winston to become a free agent instead of forcing him to serve out the final season of his contract, and that led him to the Browns.

"He’s a team guy all the way, he wants to win badly," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. "And, like you mentioned, Jameis has had a, you know, an interesting career to date, but the book’s never written. He’s a guy that works hard at his craft and, like right now, his main goal in life is to get better as a football player and help his football team, and that’s what he’s doing.”

Now in Cleveland the 30-year-old finds himself truly the old man in the room with a 27-year-old Watson, a 26-year-old Tyler Huntley and a 24-year-old Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

That wasn't the case in Tampa Bay, where he was obviously the youngster. New Orleans had Brees in his final year, then Taysom Hill, Andy Dalton and Derek Carr in the room with Winston.

“This is a very unique role of me being in the quarterback room alone because this is the first year where I'm the veteran in the room," Winston said. "So I got a bunch of young guys that I'm trying to get to know, I'm trying to inspire and trying to increase. But, at the same time, we're all building off each other."

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jameis Winston trying to be 'man of increase' in role as Browns backup quarterback