Report: Florida State looking into authenticated Jameis Winston autographs

By foxsports
Published

 

UPDATE (10/16):  James Spence Authentication has authenticated more than 2,000 signatures by Jameis Winston, according to an updated tally from the company's website by ESPN.

Additionally, company owner James Spence told ESPN that he has no knowledge whether or not the autographs were paid for. Spence also said no Florida State officials had called to inquire how the signatures came to be authenticated. 

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After Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said he doesn't expect quarterback Jameis Winston to miss any games due to an ongoing university investigation into whether or not Winston violated the school's student conduct policy, now comes another issue to look into.

According to an ESPN report, FSU's compliance department is investigating whether Winston accepted money in exchange for autographs.

James Spence Authentication has more than 950 certified Winston autographs on its website, according to the report.

JSA is the same company that certified more than 500 autographs allegedly from Georgia running back Todd Gurley, who has been suspended indefinitely while UGA investigates the matter.

According to the report, Fisher approached his quarterback after the Syracuse game this past weekend to ask if he had sold his signature, and Winston responded he had not. 

Fisher then told the media he was not worried about the issue.

"Kids sign things all the time," Fisher said after Saturday's game. "So, what do you want them to do, stop signing stuff? We could make them not have any fans from that standpoint and not sign for anybody. That's what it's going to come to, and that's a shame for college football, that somebody exploits a kid. Now, if they're getting paid for it, then I don't have any knowledge of that. I don't believe Jameis did."

As of now, Winston is scheduled to play when No. 2 FSU faces No. 5 Notre Dame on Saturday.

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