Jameis Winston Reportedly Loses 12 Pounds Ahead of 2015 NFL Draft Combine

Any concerns NFL teams might have about Jameis Winston's weight before the start of this year's Scouting Combine can be put to rest. 

According to Peter King of The MMQB, Winston has dropped 12 pounds while working with quarterback coach George Whitfield:

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Whitfield said he used the three weeks he’s spent with Winston since the college football season ended in getting him healthy (he had a high ankle sprain late in the season) and in better shape (he’s dropped 12 pounds), and increasing his urgency in the pocket and in his motion. Whitfield used the eight interns to form the back end of a defense, and to drop and play NFL coverages. 

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This news stems from a one-month old photo that was circulating the Internet recently, via David Portnoy of Boston Bar Stool Sports:

On Friday, Feb. 21, at the NFL Combine, Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News reported that Winston's body fat measured at 20.9%. Winston responded to the talk about his weight after the combine, per NFL on ESPN:

Whitfield was forced to take time out of his day to call Jason McIntyre of The Big Lead to explain why the picture makes Winston look like he has a gut:

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The photo of Jameis was taken in early-mid January. If people are saying he looks out of shape – well, did they notice he had the leash tight around his waist? That may have had something to do with it. Jameis is in shape and doing great. Anyone saying he’s out of shape, they can check him out at the Combine this week. 

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If you have ever worn a belt and put it too tight around your waist, you would know that it tends to make your belly stick out the way that Winston's is in the photo with the leash around his midsection. 

The good news, between Whitefield's explanation and King's report about losing 12 pounds, Winston no longer has to deal with questions about his weight. He can instead focus on being prepared for his first job interview after arriving in Indianapolis later this week. 

Whitfield believes the future is bright for Winston, even if he isn't one of the best athletes to play the position, per King:

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To me, Jameis is a savant. He’s not an Olympian, not an RG3 [Robert Griffin III] type athlete. He doesn’t have a Matthew Stafford cannon. But some organizations in the NFL are anchored by a singular figure at quarterback. Then there are organizations, more of them, with guys trying to be that singular figure at quarterback. Jameis is the former, and he’s got the great pocket awareness NFL quarterbacks have to have. I have no reservations about him. Teams will do their due diligence, and we will see.

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Winston has a lot riding on the combine, whether he throws or not, as teams will get their first chance to speak with the controversial Florida State star. He's got enough questions to answer without having to deal with mindless allegations about being overweight.