The New Orleans Saints defeated the Atlanta Falcons in their NFL finale, 48-17. Late in the fourth quarter, the Falcons threw another interception, and it was returned to the one-yard line with 1:16 left on the clock. Jameis Winston and his teammates decided to line up in a victory formation and hand off the ball to running back Jamal Williams for his first touchdown of the season. Due to the injuries the Saints sustained at the running back position this season, the former Lions running back went from leading the league in touchdowns last season to being asked to virtually play fullback this season.
Teammates rallied around Williams, showing him love after he got his first touchdown of the season right before it ended. Reports indicate that the team collectively supported Winston’s audible decision to shift from kneeling to scoring a touchdown. Team captain and offensive lineman Erik McCoy affirmed the team’s departure from Head Coach Dennis Allen’s initial plan of kneeling. Following the game, as the head coaches convened in the middle of the field, tensions rose between Falcons’ former head coach Arthur Smith and Dennis Allen. Notably, Smith was terminated after the game, a decision reportedly influenced by a heated exchange with Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank.
Allen told reporters after the game that scoring at the end of the game was ‘classless,’ and he was opposed to the audible the team made in the huddle.
“That’s unacceptable, that’s not who we are. That’s not what we’re about,” Allen told the media after the game.
The media immediately went over to the former Florida State Quarterback to ask him about the final drive.
Here is #Saints HC Dennis Allen apologizing to the Falcons and Arthur Smith after the game:
"We should've taken a knee."
(📽️ @garlandgillen)pic.twitter.com/0Cf4XvW77t https://t.co/Z08FXh0xRN
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 7, 2024
In the aftermath of Jameis Winston’s decision to score instead of kneeling, a reporter engaged in a respectful exchange with the quarterback, expressing the belief that Winston and his teammates should have followed Head Coach Dennis Allen’s orders. Jameis’ response was telling, and it carried an undertone that suggested Heach Coach Allen had lost this locker room. The quarterback insinuated that the reporter’s disagreement wasn’t isolated to him alone but extended to the entire team. A team decision was made for a teammate to finish out the season on a positive note for a player who has been instrumental in the minimal success the Saints were able to sustain.
Bro I love Jameis Winston 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/6bcRuPsGu7
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) January 8, 2024
Shannon Sharpe also reacted to the situation.
.@shannonsharpe was NOT a fan Jameis Winston going rogue against the Falcons yesterday 😳 pic.twitter.com/2x6n8VXfrl
— Nightcap (@NightcapShow_) January 8, 2024
Last night on his show Nightcap and this morning on First Take, Shannon stated that Dennis Allen had lost the locker room. He went on to say that if he were Allen, he would cut Jameis today. Chad Johnson disagreed with Sharpe’s statement, but Sharpe reaffirmed his view this morning.
“I would cut Jameis Winston today. I would not want him on my team. That’s a loser’s mentality,” Sharpe said. He was angry that the team ran the ball out of the victory formation. This is usually when both teams understand that the ball will be kneeled to end the game. “If you want to run the ball, let the defense lineup. Don’t fool them into thinking this is a victory formation and then drive off the ball. Dennis Allen probably has to go because these players have no respect for him.”
Shape continued and stated he would have jumped offside if he was on this team. “There’s a mentality you have to have when playing football. Jameis Winston has a loser mentality. That’s why they didn’t win in Tampa. That’s why Tom Brady came there, took the same team, and went to the Super Bowl. Look at what Baker Mayfield did with basically the same team, got them in the playoffs. Something that James Winston couldn’t do,” Sharpe said.
Teammates came to Winston’s defense after the game, and the powerful words from Sharpe rubbed a lot of users on social media the wrong way.
It’s safe to say the players & the fans have Jameis Winston’s back ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/G3tgDlVZlT
— Boot Krewe Media (@BootKreweMedia) January 8, 2024
saints twitter to shannon sharpe because he shouldn’t have been talking shi about jameis pic.twitter.com/Dx1fAiVbTa
— jerome ⚜️ (@Gman_jayrose) January 8, 2024
Jameis Winston SHOULD NOT lose his job over the Victory Formation TD against the Falcons. pic.twitter.com/EcVIkvv1Ei
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 8, 2024
Shannon Sharpe with a silly overdramatic take.
“I would cut Jameis Winston today. I would not want him on my team.”
Little does Sharpe know the Saints locker room is BEHIND Winston and should tell you a lot about how they feel about Dennis Allen. #Noles pic.twitter.com/N52CipDy0p
— Logan B. Robinson (@LogansTwitty) January 8, 2024
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