Bucs’ Winston endorses Perry for QB

MIAMI — No, Jameis Winston didn’t have any problems walking around in Little Havana before the All-Star Game. No one gave him any trouble.

If any Hurricanes fans did have thoughts of heckling him, they should know he has the ear of someone potentially very important to their team.

Winston, the former Florida State and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, trained with N’Kosi Perry in Tampa before Perry enrolled at UM. The two, who met through a mutual friend, remain in contact.

When Miami opens fall practice Aug. 1, Perry, a four-star recruit from Ocala, should be one of the top contenders to take over the vacant starting quarterback position. Winston, the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, has a favorite horse in the race.

“N’Kosi’s good,” Winston said. “He’s going to be really good.”

What makes him think so?

“I worked with him,” said Winston, with the confidence of a former No. 1 overall pick and NFL starter.

What’s his best piece of advice?

“Play his game,” Winston said.

He’s happy to help Perry, even if his young pal is a Hurricane now.

“I wish I could have gotten somebody to come back and work with me,” he said.

Winston, who watched Giancarlo Stanton and the National League stars take batting practice about three hours before the first pitch of Tuesday night’s game, wasn’t star-struck. Remember, he once closed games for the Seminoles, played the outfield and was a higher MLB draft pick — 15th round, Texas Rangers, 2012 — than some of the All-Stars warming up in front of him.

“I met my favorite (player) Ken Griffey Jr., and I met A-Rod,” he said. “I look up to these (current) guys because they’re my age.”