Uber driver accuses Winston of groping her

Elway blasts Broncos players for team’s 5-game losing streak after strong start

TAMPA, Fla. — The NFL is investigating an allegation Jameis Winston groped a female Uber driver in 2016. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback has denied the allegation on his social media accounts.

The Buccaneers acknowledged the allegation Friday and released a statement saying they are in the “process of obtaining further information regarding today’s media report. We take these matters seriously and are fully supportive of the investigation that is being conducted by the NFL.”

The NFL also released a statement saying that it has reached out to Uber to request more information.

The Uber driver told BuzzFeed News the incident stems from a 2 a.m. ride after a party in Scottsdale, Ariz., on March 13, 2016. The driver said Winston was the only passenger, and that he sat in the front seat and was yelling homophobic slurs at pedestrians. She said he then asked the driver to stop for food, and while waiting in a drive-thru, reached over and placed his hand on her crotch.

A rep for Winston, Russ Spielman, issued a statement denying the allegations. He said the only reason Winston’s name is attached to the allegation is because his Uber account was used to call the ride.

Winston reiterated his denial in postings on Twitter and Instagram on Friday.

“A news organization has published a story about me regarding an alleged incident involving a female Uber driver from approximately two years ago,” the quarterback wrote. “The story falsely accuses me of making inappropriate contact with this driver. I believe the driver was confused as to the number of passengers in the car and who was sitting next to her. The accusation is false, and given the nature of the allegation and increased awareness and consideration of these types of matters, I am addressing this false report immediately. At the time of the alleged incident, I denied the allegations to Uber, yet they still decided to suspend my account.”

BRONCOS: General manager John Elway defended embattled rookie head coach Vance Joseph and his staff Friday night while laying the blame for Denver’s five-game skid on the shoulders of his players.

“At the end of the year we’ll evaluate it and we’ll look back and see what happened. But I will tell you, I think we got a little bit soft,” Elway said Friday night. “To be dead honest with you, we got a little bit soft. We went 4-0 in the preseason, we started out 3-1, then we get a bye week and if you exhale in this league, you’re in trouble.”

COWBOYS: Dallas linebacker Sean Lee has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against Philadelphia because of a hamstring injury.

Also, left tackle Tyron Smith is questionable with groin and back issues. If he can’t go, ex-UNM lineman Byron Bell would start in his place.

JAGUARS: Jacksonville could be without running back Leonard Fournette at Cleveland on Sunday. He has been hampered by an ankle injury.

CHARGERS: Quarterback Philip Rivers is listed as questionable for Los Angeles’ game against Buffalo on Sunday due to a concussion.

CARDINALS: QB Blaine Gabbert will get his first start for Arizona when its faces Houston on Sunday.