Report: Jameis Winston claimed autographed items were forgeries

Quarterback Jameis Winston told Florida State compliance officials last month that several items for sale bearing his signature were forgeries.

A month ago, after Georgia running back Todd Gurley was implicated in selling autographs for money, ESPN reported that items with Winston’s signature also were authenticated by the same business, James Spence Authentication.

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

ESPN reported Tuesday that one authentication company, PSA/DNA, was questioning the validity of the items supposedly autographed by Winston. ESPN also had two independent autograph analysts compare Winston’s signature to several of the Winston signatures on the website and the analysts told ESPN they would not be able to vouch for the authenticity.

The report also noted that a Florida memorabilia dealer approached Winston last winter asking him to sign several items. Winston refused and then the dealer produced a bunch of items with Winston’s name on them.

Throughout the process, Florida State has maintained that it had no proof that Winston had accepted cash for his signature.

For more Florida State news, visit Warchant.com.

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