Winston looking forward to getting 'Harvard education' from Saints

Jameis Winston believes the knowledge he'll obtain from the New Orleans Saints will make his one-year deal to serve as a backup quarterback worthwhile.

"Being a part of New Orleans Saints, being a part with Drew Brees, Taysom Hill, (head coach) Sean Payton, coach Joe Lombardi, coach Pete Carmichael Jr. - when you think about that room, that's like a Harvard education in quarterback school," Winston said Tuesday on Instagram Live.

Winston signed with the Saints after five up-and-down, turnover-filled seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Interest in the 2015 No. 1 pick was sparse during free agency.

"I wanted to put my ego aside, put the money aside, and think about my family, think about my career," he said. "There was no better position than to be in the same room with someone that I really look up to, someone that I really admire since I've been playing this game in Drew Brees."

With the Saints, the 26-year-old will assume a full-time backup role for the first time in his career. Winston was briefly demoted in 2018, but he eventually returned to the starting lineup. He's started 70 of his 72 career games.

"I'm going to miss being a starting quarterback, but you never know what happens," he said. "I think that this is just a great thing, a unique step to join Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints and learn from him, learn from one of the best to ever do it, and make a great transition in my career."

Winston led the NFL with 5,109 passing yards last year, but he also topped the league with 30 interceptions. He became the first passer in league history to throw 30-plus touchdown passes and 30-plus interceptions in the same campaign.

"Humility comes before honor, so I have to humble myself," he said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be with Drew Brees and to be with the New Orleans Saints and just prepare. Prepare for when my next opportunity is going to present itself."

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