Jameis Winston, Florida State’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, has been suspended from the school’s baseball team after he was cited for shoplifting.
The Florida State University athletics department released a statement from Florida State baseball coach Mike Martin on Wednesday, suggesting that Winston will be reinstated to the team after he fulfills his obligations resulting from the citation.
“As a result of his citation last night, we are suspending Jameis Winston from the baseball team,” Martin said. “I am confident he will complete his community service obligation and the situation will be resolved soon.”
Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher said he agrees with the decision to suspend Winston from the baseball team.
“I fully support Coach Martin’s decision and will also make sure that Jameis meets all obligations, which I know he will,” Fisher said.
Major Michael Wood of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office said at a press conference on Wednesday that Winston was seen leaving a Publix grocery store on Tuesday evening with crab legs that he hadn’t paid for.
“He left with the seafood and did not come back,” Wood said. “The facts are not in dispute, he left without paying.”
Winston is talented enough that he could be the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. (For that matter, he could be the first overall pick this year, if not for the NFL rule requiring players to wait until they’re out of high school for three years before they can play professionally.) But NFL teams may be wary of Winston’s off-field issues. Last year Winston was accused of rape by another Florida State student, although prosecutors did not press charges. Tallahassee Police have come under criticism for failing to thoroughly investigate that matter. Winston was also questioned by police in November of 2012 for an alleged BB gun battle with teammates, and a Burger King employee called police on Winston in July of 2013, saying he had stolen soda.