Jaxson Dart Credits Jameis Winston as Key Mentor: "I’ve Been So Lucky to Have a Mentor Like Jameis"
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart has found a powerful mentor in veteran QB Jameis Winston, and he isn’t shy about giving credit where it’s due. Dart, who is still in the early stages of his NFL career, has openly praised Winston for his invaluable guidance and the wisdom he’s shared. “I’ve been so lucky to have a mentor like Jameis. He’s been through it all, and the wisdom he’s shared with me has been invaluable,” Dart said. “I’m just focused on taking what I’ve learned and applying it to the field.”
Dart’s admission underscores just how much of an impact Winston has had on his development as a player. Winston, who has been in the NFL for several years and has seen both the highs and lows of the league, offers a wealth of experience that Dart has taken full advantage of. From game film analysis to understanding the mental aspects of the game, Winston’s mentorship goes beyond just technical skills. It’s about mindset, preparation, and how to handle adversity—all lessons that Dart is soaking up as he progresses in his career.
The relationship between Dart and Winston has been one of mutual respect and camaraderie. As a young player trying to make a name for himself, Dart has benefited greatly from Winston’s leadership, as he navigates the complexities of being a starting quarterback in the NFL. “Jameis has been through every scenario you can imagine, and having him in my corner, offering advice, really helps me put things into perspective,” Dart continued. “It’s not just about the X’s and O’s; it’s about how you deal with everything off the field, too. Jameis has been a great sounding board.”
As Dart prepares to take on more responsibilities this season, his relationship with Winston will undoubtedly continue to shape his growth as a quarterback. With Winston’s wealth of knowledge and Dart’s natural talent, the Giants have a promising future ahead of them at the quarterback position.
In an era where mentorship is often a game-changer for young quarterbacks, Jameis Winston’s role in Dart’s career cannot be overstated. For Dart, learning from one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the league is the perfect opportunity to accelerate his own journey toward success.
The Giants organization and their fans are hoping this mentorship will translate into on-field success, as Dart continues to mature into the leader the team needs. With Winston by his side, there’s no telling how high Dart can go.
Browns Give Emphatic Answer on Critical Dillon Gabriel Flaw
On Wednesday at Browns practice there was, no question, a reporter on hand who had an agenda–asking everyone in the orange-and-brown just how it is playing with a quarterback who is undersize. And coming out of college, that was the big flaw most scouts latched onto when it comes to Dillon Gabriel–he is just 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds and a wingspan of 73 inches.
Here’s what Pro Football Focus wrote coming out of the Combine last spring: “Gabriel’s measurables — height, weight, wingspan, hand size, etc. — are all in the 35th percentile or lower among quarterbacks. That’s quite a barrier to developing into a successful NFL signal-caller. He’ll be at a significant disadvantage, and some teams may even be scared off from drafting him.”
It’s only been four NFL games, but some of the concerns about Gabriel before the draft are clearly at play now that he is suiting up for the Browns. Basically, that the guy’s too short.
Browns ‘Would Not Characterize’ Dillon Gabriel Height as a Flaw
Of the three quarterbacks who were used, before the draft, in defense of Gabriel–Bryce Young, Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray, who are also under 6-feet in height–only Young still has his job. So it’s probably fair to wonder whether Gabriel’s just too short for this business.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was asked whether the problem of Gabriel’s height is showing up on game film. Stefasnki said no, but mostly dodged the issue.
“I understand the question, Tony (Grossi), but I would not characterize it that way,” he said. “We need to play better as an offense. Certainly, there’s areas to improve for a young quarterback, but it’s really on all of us to improve.”
Browns Jerry Jeudy Emphatic in Defense
The Browns can’t force Gabriel to grow three or four inches, of course. But it is impossible to say his height is not hindering him, even if the Browns refuse to acknowledge that. Scouts criticized Gabriel’s lack of deep-throw risks in college and attributed that to his height, and here in the NFL, he has thrown just six balls of 20-plus yards in four starts. There’s been only one completion, and one interception.
At Pro Football Focus, Gabriel has a grade of 46.5, which ranks No. 37 out of 37 graded QBs.
But it was clear that Browns players do not want to get into the business of criticizing Gabriel, even his height. Star receiver Jerry Jeudy was asked whether Gabriel can see his receivers well enough down the field, but Jeudy responded, flatly, “Yes.”
Dillon Gabriel: Deep Balls ‘Got to Happen’
Gabriel was not flatly asked about his height–he was asked that plenty of times before and after the Browns drafted him. But he was asked about the notion of being afraid to throw downfield, which some have directly linked to his lack of size and ability to see deep receivers.
The 1-for-6 number speaks for itself.
“I think there’s just a mixture of things that have to come together to make that happen, that’s myself included,” Gabriel said. “But you know, like we’ve talked about before, explosives, they got to happen. There’s certain categories within a game that you have to win and explosives and you know, being really good on first and second down so that you’re in some third-and-manageables and moving the chain, sustaining drives.
“So that’ll all contribute to that, but no uncomfortability like that’s something that we work on and want to continue to emphasize.”
