ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (970 WFLA) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is backing off controversial comments he made to students at a middle school.
The football star told the Tampa Bay Times he made a "poor word choice" when he told girls to be quiet and boys to stand up and be strong.
The Buccaneers said via Twitter that Winston visited Melrose Middle School to “deliver a message of inspiration and self-confidence."
Winston had the children repeat inspirational words, what he calls his “third rule of life.”
In the video obtained by News Channel 8 from Pinellas Schools, Winston said he saw some children slumping in their chairs.
He then asked the boys in the room to stand up.
“All my boys stand up. The ladies, the ladies sit down, but all my boys, stand up, stand up. We strong, right?” Winston then urged the boys to repeat “I can do anything I put my mind to!”
“But, the ladies, they’re supposed to be silent, polite, gentle, but my men!” Winston said.
“My men now, they’re supposed to be strong, okay?”
Sports fans took social media and let loose their frustrations over the comments.
Some Tampa sports talk hosts came to Winston's defense, including Aaron Jacobson on 620 WDAE.
Jacobson said the incident was blown out of proportion and that Winston was taking personal time to give inspiration to kids.
photo credit: Pinellas County Schools/WFLA-TV