PITTSBURGH (93.7 The FAN) - If you listen to The PM Team with Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller, you know how much the Steelers mean to them and how much they want to see them succeed. It is because of this that the Jameis Winston talk has become a huge talking point for the guys.
Tune in any given day and you're bound to hear talk about why the guys think Jameis to the Steelers to backup Ben Roethlisberger would make a ton of sense.
Now, this movement has its share of detractors. It is because of this that The PM Team has reached out to people that at one point have been close to Jameis, and it turns out, one of those people is in our very own backyard.
Pitt baseball manager Mike Bell was the pitching coach at Florida State when Jameis played baseball there and he joined the guys to share his unique insight.
There are any number of criticisms people like to use against signing Jameis and why the Steelers shouldn't even consider the idea. One of the top reasons is that people think he's selfish and a "me" guy, not a team guy.
Asked what he would say to those people, Bell said simply, "You don't know Jameis Winston." Bell went on to add that "Most of your high-level athletes hang around other high-level athletes...He would not hang out with the next best guy in the locker room. You would see him eating lunch with the 35th guy in the locker room making everybody a part of the team."
So that disproves the idea that Jameis brings with him baggage in terms of his personality.
So, now on to the question, can he play the quarterback position at a high level?
"Oh, there's no doubt...He elevates guys around him.," Bell told us.
So check that box off as well.
Now, another big question about Jameis is whether or not he'll ever develop past the QB he is now that turns the ball over too much. So essentially the question is, is he coachable?
"This guy is a highly motivated athlete...He probably works too much at times because he wants to be great. He wants to not only individually be great, but he wants his teammates to be great and he holds them accountable as well."
Check that box now too.
Click the audio below to hear more from Bell on his former player and also what he is up to right now with his Pitt baseball team and what he thinks of the NCAA granting an additional season to seniors who play a spring sport.
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