Jameis Winston's new contract includes no-baseball clause
- 1/12
At left, Florida State relief pitcher Jameis Winston hugs catcher Ladson Montgomery in the dugout in the sixth inning of an NCAA college baseball game against Miami on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida State won 13-6. (AP Photo/Phil Sears)
- 2/12
At left, Florida State relief pitcher Jameis Winston (44) claps from the dugout in the sixth inning of an NCAA college baseball game against Miami on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida State's Ladson Montgomery is in the middle. Florida State won 13-6. (AP Photo/Phil Sears)
- 3/12
Florida State relief pitcher Jameis Winston (44) warms up in the bullpen in the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball game against Miami on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida State won 13-6. (AP Photo/Phil Sears)
- 4/12
Florida State fans cast shadows as they watch relief pitcher Jameis Winston (44) warm up in the bullpen in the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball game against Miami on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida State won 13-6. (AP Photo/Phil Sears)
- 5/12
Florida State relief pitcher Jameis Winston (44) winds up in the ninth inning of an NCAA college baseball game against Miami on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida State won 13-6. (AP Photo/Phil Sears)
- 6/12
Florida State relief pitcher Jameis Winston (44) tips his cap to fans after an NCAA college baseball game against Miami on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida State won 13-6. (AP Photo/Phil Sears)
- 7/12
Florida State relief pitcher Jameis Winston (44) joins teammates in prayer after an NCAA college baseball game against Miami on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida State won 13-6. (AP Photo/Phil Sears)
- 8/12
Florida State pitcher Jameis Winston, right, celebrates with catcher Danny de La Calle after the Seminoles swept Clemson in an NCAA college baseball doubleheader at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C. on Saturday, March 22, 2014. Florida State won the first game 11-1, and took the nightcap 4-3.(AP Photo/Anderson Independent-Mail, Mark Crammer) GREENVILLE OUT SENECA OUT
- 9/12
Florida State's Jameis Winston runs to first base after grounding against South Florida during the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball game Tuesday, March 4, 2014, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
- 10/12
Florida State designated hitter Jameis Winston follows his ground out to second base during the eighth inning of an NCAA college baseball game against South Florida Tuesday, March 4, 2014, in Tampa, Fla. Catching for South Florida is Levi Borders. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
- 11/12
Florida State's Jameis Winston, second from right, smiles as he waits to take batting practice before an NCAA college baseball game against South Florida Tuesday, March 4, 2014, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
- 12/12
Florida State head coach Mike Martin, right, talks to pitcher Jameis Winston before an NCAA college baseball game against South Florida Tuesday, March 4, 2014, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Jameis Winston was a very good pitcher at Florida State, in addition to being a Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback. In 2014 he had a a 1.08 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 33.1 innings, and might have been a better baseball prospect than Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who hit .229 in the low levels of the minors. Winston had never quite closed the door on trying professional baseball. The Buccaneers didn't want to invest the first overall pick in a quarterback and then have him distracted by working on his slider in the offseason.
The Buccaneers included a contractual clause that Winston, the first overall pick of the NFL draft last week, can't play baseball as long as he is under contract with them, according to The MMQB. Winston already has signed a four-year, $25.35 million deal.
— Frank Schwab