Cleveland Browns sign Jameis Winston as backup QB, here's what to know about him

Shortly after NFL free agency opened, the Cleveland Browns signed a new backup for starting quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Cleveland agreed to a one-year deal with NFL veteran and former Pro Bowler Jameis Winston on Tuesday, March 12.

Winston will now suit up for a third NFL team following a four-year stint with the New Orleans Saints. Winston began his pro career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2015 draft.

As a 21-year-old rookie back in 2015, Winston earned a Pro Bowl nod after throwing for 4,042 yards to go with 22 touchdowns against 15 interceptions. He added 213 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns as a first-year player.

Since that rookie campaign, however, Winston has struggled to build on his success and establish himself as a bona fide starting quarterback in the NFL.

Here's what Browns fans should know about their team's newest backup QB taking over where 2023 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Joe Flacco left off.

What is Jameis Winston's new contract with the Cleveland Browns?

Winston, who will be entering his 10th NFL season with Cleveland, signed a one-year contract worth up to $8.7 million.

He previously had his contract with the New Orleans Saints restructured before hitting free agency.

What are Jameis Winston's career stats?

Across 93 games played (80 starts) during his nine-year NFL tenure, Winston compiled a QB record of 34-46.

For his career to this point, Winston has passed for 22,104 yards, 141 touchdowns and 99 interceptions. His completion percentage on passes is 61.2%.

Though not nearly the dual-threat quarterback he was when he first entered the NFL, Winston has compiled 1,214 rushing yards in his career with 11 TDs on the ground.

Winston has also led 13 game-winning drives in his career, 11 of which occurred when he was with Tampa Bay.

What's the story with Jameis Winston and crab legs?

Back in 2014, when Winston was a quarterback at Florida State University, the talented QB was cited for shoplifting crab legs from a Tallahassee, Florida, grocery store.

Winston was issued an "adult civil citation" and was not arrested for the incident.

Winston was ultimately given 20 hours of community service.

According to NFL.com reporting, Winston was cooperative with police and said he forgot to pay for the crab legs, which would have cost $32.72.

Winston later said a Publix employee who he’d met previously “hooked us up” with the seafood fare, according to reporting from ESPN.

Publix later disputed that claim, per reporting from USA TODAY.

"When we conducted the original investigation with the store associates and management both, we found no information that would corroborate the story that there was any arrangement for Jameis or any other FSU athlete to get any product for free," said Maria Brous, Publix's director of media and community relations.

It remains one of the more bizarre incidents involving a student-athlete and made Winston the target of meme treatment on social media.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 3 things to know about Browns' new backup QB Jameis Winston