Report: Winston tells FSU autographs not real

Memorabilia reportedly autographed by Jameis Winston has come under scrutiny. (USATSI) The authenticity of Jameis Winston’s signature on authenticated memorabilia has recently come under question, with the Palm Beach Post reporting Tuesday that Winston himself has told Florida State compliance officials that autographs on those items are forged.

Per a Post source:

Winston sat down with FSU compliance officials one month ago to look at the memorabilia being sold online bearing his signature after ESPN reported that thousands of authenticated items were for sale. He was able to point out many signatures that he said were forged and many items that had his signature that he knew he had not signed.

“When he looked at the initial website mentioned by ESPN, he looked at multiple things and said that wasn’t his signature,” said the source.

Though Winston has signed thousands of items for Seminoles fans at various public appearances, Florida State issued a statement in October stating it had “no information indicating that he accepted payment for items reported to bear his signature.”

ESPN reported Tuesday that the James Spence Authentication agency only authenticated the Winston autographs on a sizable collection of memorabilia after a rival competitor had declined to do so, citing the lack of a witness to the signings. JSA stood behind its certification of the items.

Star college football players accepting payment for autographs has become a source of several school inquiries since the discovery of thousands of Johnny Manziel-signed items in the summer of 2013. Georgia running back Todd Gurley was suspended four games this season for accepting “more than $3,000 in cash” from multiple autograph brokers in exchange for memorabilia signings.

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