Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Jameis Winston has officially been suspended for the first three games of the regular season for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
Back in November 2017, Winston was accused of groping an Uber driver. In the woman’s complaint, she alleged that Winston grabbed her crotch while the two were in a drive-thru of an Arizona restaurant in 2016.
Although both Winston and another passenger denied the driver’s account of the incident, a third passenger came forward with damning details about the case. Not only did he confirm that Winston was the only passenger in the car around the time of the incident, but he also said Winston had become “unruly” after getting drunk at a bar. That is when his friends called an Uber for the baller. “What happened after that, they cannot say,” the passenger’s lawyer said.
Now, as a result, Winston will face the consequences of his actions. In a statement released by the league, it says it “concluded that Winston violated the personal conduct policy by touching the driver in an inappropriate and sexual manner without her consent and that disciplinary action was necessary and appropriate.”
As part of his of his punishment, Winston will have to complete a program of therapeutic intervention, as well as clinical evaluation.
“A failure either to obtain the evaluation or to cooperate with treatment will result in further discipline,” the league said. “In addition, a further violation of the personal conduct policy will result in more substantial discipline, including a potential ban from the NFL.”
In turn, the baller released a statement to apologize for his actions, blamed the alcohol and announce that he has “eliminated alcohol from his life.”
“The NFL informed me today that I will be suspended for the first three games of the season,” Winston wrote in a statement. “First and foremost, I would like to say I’m sorry to the Uber driver for the position I put you in. It is uncharacteristic of me and I genuinely apologize.”
”In the past 2 1/2 years my life has been filled with experiences, opportunities, and events that have helped me grow, mature and learn, including the fact that I have eliminated alcohol from my life,” he said. “I know I have to hold myself to a higher standard on and off the field and that I have a responsibility to my family, community, and teammates to live above the platform with which God has blessed me. I apologize to my teammates, the Buccaneers organization and fans for letting them down and for not being able to be out there for the first three games of the season. Although I am disappointed in the NFL’s decision, I understand the NFL’s process, and I embrace this as an opportunity to take advantage of the resources available to help me achieve the goals that I have for myself.”
“I now look forward to putting this behind me and I will continue to work hard every day to be a positive influence in my community and be the best person, teammate, and leader I can be.”
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