Jameis Winston’s Australian accent gets panned at Super Bowl Opening Night
FOX Sports gave Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston a microphone and turned the former Hueytown High School star loose at Super Bowl Opening Night to ask players about their favorite color, seek advice on his NFL future and toss out W’s at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Monday.
When Winston arrived at the interview spot of Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata, he decided to try his question in an Australian accent, as learned from the movie “Crocodile Dundee.” Mailata entered the NFL from Australian rugby.
Mailata couldn’t keep from laughing.
“Brother, that was the worst Australian accent I’ve ever heard,” Mailata said. “The only word you got right was color.”
Winston’s “eat a W” pregame speech came in New Orleans before a Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ game against the Saints in 2017. It’s gone from a viral joke to a trademark, and on Monday night, Winston tossed cookies shaped like the letter W to players.
Winston started seven games for the Browns after Deshaun Watson got hurt in the 2024 season. He’ll become an unrestricted free agent if Cleveland does not re-sign him by March 12. On Monday night, Winston asked Super Bowl players which team he should sign with if he becomes a free agent.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley moved from the New York Giants to Philadelphia in free agency last offseason. He steered Winston toward his old team.
“I think New York needs a quarterback right now,” Barkley said.
Winston told NJ Advance Media that signing with the Giants sounded like a good idea.
“Would I really sign with the Giants? Absolutely!” Winston said. “I want to keep playing and do what I do best. …
“I have a ton of respect for coach Brian Daboll, the things he does offensively. I think we have a young — whoa — they have a young roster. But they have a young roster that’s ready to win. They’re ready to bounce back. I know they’re hungry over there.”
- Joe Namath guaranteed the biggest upset in Super Bowl history
- What Super Bowl quarterback Jalen Hurts learned from Alabama coach Nick Saban
- DeVonta Smith back in another championship football game
- The first Super Bowl star came from Alabama and had an NFL three-peat
- Heisman, national championship, Super Bowl: Is DeVonta Smith next?
The Eagles will play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV at 5:30 p.m. CST Sunday. FOX will televise the game.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.