College Football

FSU AD: No evidence Jameis Winston accepted payment for signature

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:46 p.m. ET

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Florida State's athletic director issued a statement Friday that the compliance staff looking into whether Jameis Winston accepted unauthorized benefits for his autograph has "no information indicating that he accepted payment for items reported to bear his signature" at this time.

As far as Saturday's football game is concerned, it seems the former Heisman Trophy winner will more than likely not be on the field when the second-ranked Seminoles host the No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

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.

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.

"The fact that items appear on an Internet site bearing the signature of a student-athlete does not singularly determine a violation of NCAA rules," Florida State AD Stan Wilcox said in the statement.

Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher told the media Saturday that he was not worried about the issue.

"Kids sign things all the time," Fisher said. "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."

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