Jameis Winston backed by Saints teammates amid criticism

NEW ORLEANS – Several New Orleans Saints players defended Jameis Winston and the decision to play out of the lineup in victory against the Atlanta Falcons.

At least five current Saints and several former players defended Winston on social media after the backup quarterback handed the ball to running back Jamaal Williams to score a touchdown instead of taking a knee. Winston overrode coach Dennis Allen's orders to take a knee and run out the clock in what ultimately became a 48-17 victory over their NFC South rival.

New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham wrote Monday on social networks that critics should “come down [Winston’s] back.”

“This man is the best teammate I ever had,” Graham said on let's all take responsibility. Nobody thought of that. would be an exaggeration. [f—] hawks.”

The players' disdain for Allen's call coincides with public scrutiny of the Saints' leadership after the team missed the playoffs for the third straight season.

Saints defensive end and team captain Cameron Jordan also took to social media Monday to clarify an earlier comment in which he discussed team leadership, emphasizing that he was talking about players like him , no coaches.

“If the leadership is not what it should be, the leadership can change, just like the players can change,” Jordan told reporters in the New Orleans locker room.

Jordan later wrote on social media: “No, I was talking about getting more leadership from the players… starting with myself. The team follows the pace of the players.”

The players rallied around themselves and Winston, including Graham, a 13-year veteran who found himself in a similarly controversial situation in 2014 when he overrode the team's coach's orders. he time, Sean Payton, not to dunk the ball after a touchdown during a preseason game. causing a fight on the sidelines.

Graham, who was traded from the Saints after the 2014 season and returned this season, played just seven snaps against the Falcons, including the final offensive play, in what could be the 37-year-old's final game. He hasn't addressed his status, although he did post a tribute to the Saints on X on Monday.

The future of Winston, whose contract is expected to be void this season, is also unclear. But the potential free agents echoed the sentiments of their contracted teammates, all of whom stressed on social media and in interviews that the decision to give Williams a touchdown was a team decision and not just a thug from Winston.

Saints running back Alvin Kamara, defensive tackle Khalen Saunders, former tight end Benjamin Watson, current tight end Juwan Johnson, former receiver Lance Moore, safety Johnathan Abram and former running back Mark Ingram were among those who took to social media to defend Winston or the decision.

Jordan was also among those who supported Winston and the touchdown, but he did not specify a specific reason why many players felt compelled to show their public support.

“Actually, if 10 players show up, it's just because that's how much we care about each other as a locker room,” Jordan said. “For him to have to interview to explain why he did this, the reason is clear.

“He thought Jamaal should have scored a touchdown, and in my mind I was like holy shit we should have sent Jimmy in and gotten him that 90th touchdown for his legacy.”

Allen, who is 24-26 overall in his two tenures as head coach, said he doesn't believe Sunday's incident was a sign of a fractured locker room.

Allen publicly disapproved of the players' decision Sunday and apologized to Falcons coach Arthur Smith, who was seen yelling at Allen after the game over the touchdown. Smith was fired by the Falcons later that night.

“What I will say is these guys came out and played hard the last five games of the season, and I've been on teams where that doesn't happen,” Allen said Monday. “So no, I don’t think there’s a fracture.”

Jordan, when asked if he thought the late touchdown against Atlanta was a sign of a fractured team, said the media brings up the topic more than the players. He also said the players had a big responsibility to themselves when asked if the team believed in Allen.

“I mean, DA is our head coach. So as long as it's the same sentence, it'll be the same sentence. Of course, we think we'll come to our senses,” Jordan said. “At the end of the day, it’s all about the players.

“Even though DA comes up with a great game plan, sometimes we don't execute it to the fullest of our abilities and you see the flaws that occur. It's a players' game.”

Allen admitted Monday that there needed to be some adjustments to the team's culture, although he didn't specify whether that included major changes to personnel or the roster.

“We've had a lot of success here, and I think sometimes you can get a little comfortable with that,” Allen said. And so I just think we have to re-evaluate what we need to do to win games at the level that we need to win games at. And I think that's going to be a big part of what we do this offseason.”

Offensive lineman James Hurst, who was signed in 2020, said any change in culture feels like a gradual change over the years and not an abrupt turning point.

“I think most of the things that were in place when I got here are still here,” Hurst said. “I think that's the challenge of [GM] Mickey [Loomis], the challenge of DA and the challenge of players to understand what is missing or what has changed. Have we become too complacent? Do we take things for granted? These are the questions we need to ask ourselves.”

Jordan echoed a similar sentiment on Monday.

“I think you can always give more,” Jordan said. “You can't say, 'Yes, we have great leadership, we have the right leaders' if we're not in a playoff position, right? And that's happened two years in a row .is that if it starts with me, then I must demand more. I must give more, whatever it is.