25 February 2024 , 07:00
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New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston has expressed his desire to become the primary leader of a team that wins the Super Bowl.
Winston will be a free agent in 2025 and believes that he does not necessarily have to remain with the Saints to achieve his goal. The quarterback didn't play much last season, only appearing in seven games as a backup. The Saints have now got Derek Carr as their star quarterback after signing him on a big deal.
At the end of the season, Winston didn't say if he'd be back with the Saints to be Carr's backup. With other players like Taysom Hill and Jake Haener around, it's unclear which direction the franchise will move. But Winston is keeping his eyes on the prize: being a top quarterback for a winning team.
"However, my goal is to be, and my desire is to be, a Super Bowl-winning starting quarterback in this league," Winston explained. "Right now, that doesn't look like a very clear picture with the New Orleans Saints."
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He also said he loves New Orleans, its people, and how much they care about their city. He knows the NFL is all about business, but he's ready to work hard and do great things wherever he ends up playing next.
Under Sean Payton's guidance, Winston managed a 5-2 record as a starter with the team before suffering a torn ACL against Tampa Bay in 2021. After Payton retired, Winston was teamed up with Dennis Allen as the new head coach, which seemed like a tense partnership.
Even though he spent most of the 2023 season not playing, Winston stepped in to replace an injured Carr twice. Carr came back to start both games. Winston's ease and knowledge within the team were clear during the Saints' last game of the season, a strong 48-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons. In a bold move, Winston went off-script. He ran his own play in the final seconds, helping running back Jamaal Williams to score his first touchdown.
Winston went rogue and called his own play against the Falcons last seasonWinston chose to ignore coach Allen's first call for the team to line up in victory formation and take a knee. The coach had to say sorry for his QB's decision to ex-Falcons coach Arthur Smith, who was clearly upset at the team's choice.
Last season, Winston shared a similar message but showed more willingness to serve in a backup role. While being thankful for the chance to wear an NFL uniform and support Carr in any way, he also stressed the importance of securing a starting role.
"I've just had some unfortunate injuries over the past three years, so this is where I'm at," said Winston. "But this is not what I visualize being in the near future. Where I'm at right now is focusing on getting healthy," he added. "Focusing on taking advantage of this opportunity I have to serve Derek [Carr]. To serve this team and serve this organization the best that I can."