When the Cleveland Browns take on the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, quarterback Jameis Winston gets the chance to take on his former head coach Sean Payton.
Winston, coming off of his third clean game in four outings, is stacking momentum as the end of the season rolls along, making the decision-makers in Berea think hard about his future with the football team beyond 2024.
Payton, who Winston started for in 2020 and led to a 5-2 start before tearing his ACL with the New Orleans Saints, took the time to reflect on what the former No. 1 overall pick brings to the table:
“He’s big. He’s tremendous in the locker room. I said this already—he’s got this infectious personality. [He has] a smile on his face every day he’s at work. You hear him before you see him—that type of guy. When [former QB] Drew [Brees] went down initially [former QB] Teddy [Bridgewater] was in for a stretch [for] five weeks, then we adjusted some, then with Jameis the same way. I really enjoyed coaching him and having a chance to work with him. He’s the ultimate pro. He has natural leadership abilities, and you feel that with him.”
That’s high praise for Winston, who looks to beat his former head coach on Monday night as the Browns enter against the Broncos as substantial underdogs. If Winston continues to play well enough, he may even find himself as the starting quarterback in Cleveland next year as well.