Browns QB Jameis Winston defends viral pregame speeches: 'That's me'

Jameis Winston, the top pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, has one of the most outgoing and infectious personalities in the league. The Cleveland Browns quarterback's speeches to his teammates before kickoffs have often created viral moments.

Winston was elevated to the starting role for the Browns' Week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending injury on October 20.

The Browns started last Sunday with a five-game losing streak. But perhaps Winston's speech – and certainly his 334 passing yards and three touchdowns – helped propel Cleveland to a surprising 29-24 victory over Baltimore.

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Oct. 27, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston (5) takes a selfie after defeating the Baltimore Ravens at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory attribution: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

The exaggerated pre-game speeches are unique in themselves. On Wednesday, he defended the authenticity of his motivational messages and disputed any notion that he rehearses his speeches.

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“Bro, listen, that's me,” Winston told reporters. “If, like a lot of people, you spend time trying to figure out, 'Who is this guy?' You're wasting your time, okay? That's not me. What I rehearse are our plays. I do it in the mirror and have my wife recite plays and things like that.

Jameis Winston #5 of the Cleveland Browns warms up before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns Stadium on September 8, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

A few years ago, videos circulated on social media platforms of Winston asking his teammates if they were interested in eating “a W.”

“That's a W… Let's eat one… How many people want to eat a W tonight?” Winston said before a game. Earlier this year, Winston sat down with Pardon My Take and explained that the line came from a motivational speech he enjoys.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston (5) throws against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

“I’ve been eating W’s since the beginning,” Winston said. “It started a long, long time ago, and that's because my last name is W and the first four letters of my last name mean 'Siege.'” Look at the facts, Wikipedia probably has it right.

“It's from one of my favorite motivational speeches and it's all about a bowl – remember the soup? The alphabet soup,” Winston asked.

Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman commented on Winston's recent pregame speech, saying, “I'm not going to lie…I laughed a little.”

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The win over the Ravens was just the second time this year that the Browns finished in the win column. But Winston and the Browns will look to keep the momentum going this Sunday when they welcome the Los Angeles Chargers to Cleveland.

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