Last week, Florida State took a firm stand with Jameis Winston, suspending him indefinitely from the team’s baseball team after being caught shoplifting crab legs . . . or are you just happy to see me? (Yes, I’ve used that one a couple of times. Because I remain as cool as the other side of the pillow.)
Technically, the suspension was indefinite. And it now has definitely ended.
As explained by our brethren-ish at CFT, the suspension lasted four days. It hinged on Winston finishing the 20 hours of community service tied to his guilty plea to a citation for the shoplifting incident. He’s not expected to face discipline from the football team.
So while Winston still can’t be paid by Florida State, no NCAA rule prevents the school from merely tapping him on the wrist with a pinky finger, especially since the school can take solace in the distinction-without-a-difference that he wasn’t arrested but merely given the equivalent of a parking ticket for what nevertheless was stealing.
And that’s why the NFL team that envisions profiting dramatically from Winston’s performances will likewise find a way to look the other way about this incident, if/when Winston matures beyond doing things for which he can be cited or arrested or merely accused.