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The NFL Draft is more than five months away and if you ask fans of teams with losing records, the reset or rebirth of the NFL season cannot get here soon enough.

The Draft means one thing – a chance to better your roster and for teams like the New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars, the sports radio programs and local sports programming are not only focusing on whether coaches will be retained or free agents signed to big contracts – the talk of who may get drafted has been thrown around a bit.

In many cases because these teams and others have a need at running back or quarterback or even both (Jets) some conversations (especially here in Jacksonville on social media sites) have begged the question about Todd Gurley. Some have focused on where Jameis Winston might fall in the selection process. Two uber-talented players who have faced scrutiny off the field. Will it affect their stock?

Here is a quick assessment of both players.

The debate will go back and forth between Winston and Marcus Mariota until Draft day about who is the better prospect. Here is a thought – Mariota is the better leader while Winston is the better player. Someone here in Jacksonville told me that Winston is John Elway with a slower run. I see the comparison to the big strong quarterback with running skills, but I see him more of a Randall Cunningham-type with a Warren Moon arm. Here is what cbssports.com has to say about him.

STRENGTHS: Possesses all the natural physical tools you look for in today's NFL. He's big, athletic, has a strong arm and moves well inside the pocket. As for the intangibles, the list includes poise, anticipation, toughness, vision, leadership and a competitive fire. He's the total package, physically.

When on his game, Winston deliveres strikes before his receivers are out of their breaks or even looking for the ball. He handles pressure well, evading, resetting and speeding up his process when needed, listening to his internal clock.

Generally makes excellent decisions with the ball, showing the ability to pepper well-thrown short and intermediate routes as well as driving strikes down the alleys. Shows nice touch on traditional deep balls.

On the field, Winston is a natural. He has the requisite physical skills with his size, arm strength and athleticism along with the mental process as a passer to pick apart defenses. His anticipation, instincts and chemistry with his targets come easy to him and it's something that scouts search for within quarterback prospects. Simply put, Winston has a rare skill-set and that's why he has the makings of a top 10 selection or even No. 1 overall pick.

WEAKNESSES: Where he's causing some scouts to question his pro-readiness is off the field where a series of questionable incidents have raised concerns his maturity and character, including a couple of shoplifting/theft accusations. Some teams are likely to take Winston off their boards entirely.

Some scouts also believe he needs to quicken and shorten his delivery in order to be consistently successful at the next level, as he tends to wind up when he throws, lacking the quick release NFL teams desire. He has NFL arm strength, so the elongated delivery was not a big issue at the college level.

Winston still has a tendency to stare down his targets and will make poor decisions with the ball down the field when hemmed between the tackles and forced to get rid of the ball under pressure.

Personally, I think if he is there and a team like the Jets or even St. Louis has a chance to grab him, they should do so and will be set for the next decade at the position.

Also, beware of Jerry Jones making a play for Winston since he “lost out” on Johnny Manziel this season.

As for Gurley, the assessment is a bit tougher because teams have proven they can get free agent runners, put them in a lineup and cash in often. This is a Draft where there could be four running backs taken in the first round and there is plenty of depth at the position.

Gurley should be the first running back taken unless his off-field issues throw up red character flags. He was clearly the best runner in the country before he was suspended and figures to be the best runner at the Combine. Here is what cbssports.com said about the Georgia star.

STRENGTHS: Built for the NFL with a muscle-bound, physical frame and naturally lowers his pads and squares his shoulders to attack the line of scrimmage and bounce off defenders. He runs with natural balance, power and momentum that makes him tough to slow down, rarely conceding with the first tackler.

Reads the first line of attack very well and senses daylight to hit holes with authority and quickness to stick-and-go, accelerating extremely well in his cuts. Knows how to shift his weight extremely well for a 232-pounder and strings together moves with devastating jump cuts and long strides to eat up yards.

Soft, natural hands out of the backfield and is a willing, cognizant blocker in pass protection.

WEAKNESSES: Bit taller than ideal. Like most backs in the highly physical SEC, the concern with Gurley will almost surely be the punishment he has absorbed at the collegiate level. Gurley missed all of the Tennessee, Missouri and Vanderbilt games in 2013 after sustaining an ankle injury against LSU and must remain healthy as a junior to earn the high selection his talent warrants.

COMPARES TO: Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks -- Like Lynch, Gurley is best known for simply bowling over defenders, but each back's success is also a testament to good vision, surprisingly light feet and balance to bounce off would-be tacklers. With the NFL increasingly favoring the running back-by-committee approach, some have theorized that the days of runners earning first round selections has passed; certainly the fact that no backs have earned a top 32 pick the past two years provides evidence of this. It is worth noting, however, that there hasn't been a back with Gurley's talent available the past two years.

Boasting a combination of power, balance and underrated agility that helped Lynch "Beast Mode" his Seattle Seahawks to their first Super Bowl title, Gurley has dominated the SEC the past two seasons, rushing for a combined 2,374 yards and 27 touchdowns, while chipping in another 558 yards and five scores (all last year) as a receiver. 

While the chances of both players being a top 10 selection are good, Winston gets the nod over Gurley. The NFL is to quarterback-centric to be without a top player in the top five of this draft. Mariota and Winston and maybe Connor Cook of Michigan State fit that requirement.

Gurley could be a pick of the Jets, who have awful success picking running backs in the first round in their history. The Falcons, Raiders, Jaguars and Falcons are all potential landing spots. But before it is all other backs like Ameer Abdullah, Melvin Gordon and Duke Johnson will have something to say about it.

The NFL Draft is more than five months away and if you ask fans of teams with losing records, the reset or rebirth of the NFL season cannot get here soon enough.

The Draft means one thing – a chance to better your roster and for teams like the New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars, the sports radio programs and local sports programming are not only focusing on whether coaches will be retained or free agents signed to big contracts – the talk of who may get drafted has been thrown around a bit.

In many cases because these teams and others have a need at running back or quarterback or even both (Jets) some conversations (especially here in Jacksonville on social media sites) have begged the question about Todd Gurley. Some have focused on where Jameis Winston might fall in the selection process. Two uber-talented players who have faced scrutiny off the field. Will it affect their stock?

Here is a quick assessment of both players.

The debate will go back and forth between Winston and Marcus Mariota until Draft day about who is the better prospect. Here is a thought – Mariota is the better leader while Winston is the better player. Someone here in Jacksonville told me that Winston is John Elway with a slower run. I see the comparison to the big strong quarterback with running skills, but I see him more of a Randall Cunningham-type with a Warren Moon arm. Here is what cbssports.com has to say about him.

STRENGTHS: Possesses all the natural physical tools you look for in today's NFL. He's big, athletic, has a strong arm and moves well inside the pocket. As for the intangibles, the list includes poise, anticipation, toughness, vision, leadership and a competitive fire. He's the total package, physically.

When on his game, Winston deliveres strikes before his receivers are out of their breaks or even looking for the ball. He handles pressure well, evading, resetting and speeding up his process when needed, listening to his internal clock.

Generally makes excellent decisions with the ball, showing the ability to pepper well-thrown short and intermediate routes as well as driving strikes down the alleys. Shows nice touch on traditional deep balls.

On the field, Winston is a natural. He has the requisite physical skills with his size, arm strength and athleticism along with the mental process as a passer to pick apart defenses. His anticipation, instincts and chemistry with his targets come easy to him and it's something that scouts search for within quarterback prospects. Simply put, Winston has a rare skill-set and that's why he has the makings of a top 10 selection or even No. 1 overall pick.

WEAKNESSES: Where he's causing some scouts to question his pro-readiness is off the field where a series of questionable incidents have raised concerns his maturity and character, including a couple of shoplifting/theft accusations. Some teams are likely to take Winston off their boards entirely.

Some scouts also believe he needs to quicken and shorten his delivery in order to be consistently successful at the next level, as he tends to wind up when he throws, lacking the quick release NFL teams desire. He has NFL arm strength, so the elongated delivery was not a big issue at the college level.

Winston still has a tendency to stare down his targets and will make poor decisions with the ball down the field when hemmed between the tackles and forced to get rid of the ball under pressure.

Personally, I think if he is there and a team like the Jets or even St. Louis has a chance to grab him, they should do so and will be set for the next decade at the position.

Also, beware of Jerry Jones making a play for Winston since he “lost out” on Johnny Manziel this season.

As for Gurley, the assessment is a bit tougher because teams have proven they can get free agent runners, put them in a lineup and cash in often. This is a Draft where there could be four running backs taken in the first round and there is plenty of depth at the position.

Gurley should be the first running back taken unless his off-field issues throw up red character flags. He was clearly the best runner in the country before he was suspended and figures to be the best runner at the Combine. Here is what cbssports.com said about the Georgia star.

STRENGTHS: Built for the NFL with a muscle-bound, physical frame and naturally lowers his pads and squares his shoulders to attack the line of scrimmage and bounce off defenders. He runs with natural balance, power and momentum that makes him tough to slow down, rarely conceding with the first tackler.

Reads the first line of attack very well and senses daylight to hit holes with authority and quickness to stick-and-go, accelerating extremely well in his cuts. Knows how to shift his weight extremely well for a 232-pounder and strings together moves with devastating jump cuts and long strides to eat up yards.

Soft, natural hands out of the backfield and is a willing, cognizant blocker in pass protection.

WEAKNESSES: Bit taller than ideal. Like most backs in the highly physical SEC, the concern with Gurley will almost surely be the punishment he has absorbed at the collegiate level. Gurley missed all of the Tennessee, Missouri and Vanderbilt games in 2013 after sustaining an ankle injury against LSU and must remain healthy as a junior to earn the high selection his talent warrants.

COMPARES TO: Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks -- Like Lynch, Gurley is best known for simply bowling over defenders, but each back's success is also a testament to good vision, surprisingly light feet and balance to bounce off would-be tacklers. With the NFL increasingly favoring the running back-by-committee approach, some have theorized that the days of runners earning first round selections has passed; certainly the fact that no backs have earned a top 32 pick the past two years provides evidence of this. It is worth noting, however, that there hasn't been a back with Gurley's talent available the past two years.

Boasting a combination of power, balance and underrated agility that helped Lynch "Beast Mode" his Seattle Seahawks to their first Super Bowl title, Gurley has dominated the SEC the past two seasons, rushing for a combined 2,374 yards and 27 touchdowns, while chipping in another 558 yards and five scores (all last year) as a receiver. 

While the chances of both players being a top 10 selection are good, Winston gets the nod over Gurley. The NFL is to quarterback-centric to be without a top player in the top five of this draft. Mariota and Winston and maybe Connor Cook of Michigan State fit that requirement.

Gurley could be a pick of the Jets, who have awful success picking running backs in the first round in their history. The Falcons, Raiders, Jaguars and Falcons are all potential landing spots. But before it is all other backs like Ameer Abdullah, Melvin Gordon and Duke Johnson will have something to say about it.

The NFL Draft is more than five months away and if you ask fans of teams with losing records, the reset or rebirth of the NFL season cannot get here soon enough.

The Draft means one thing – a chance to better your roster and for teams like the New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars, the sports radio programs and local sports programming are not only focusing on whether coaches will be retained or free agents signed to big contracts – the talk of who may get drafted has been thrown around a bit.

In many cases because these teams and others have a need at running back or quarterback or even both (Jets) some conversations (especially here in Jacksonville on social media sites) have begged the question about Todd Gurley. Some have focused on where Jameis Winston might fall in the selection process. Two uber-talented players who have faced scrutiny off the field. Will it affect their stock?

Here is a quick assessment of both players.

The debate will go back and forth between Winston and Marcus Mariota until Draft day about who is the better prospect. Here is a thought – Mariota is the better leader while Winston is the better player. Someone here in Jacksonville told me that Winston is John Elway with a slower run. I see the comparison to the big strong quarterback with running skills, but I see him more of a Randall Cunningham-type with a Warren Moon arm. Here is what cbssports.com has to say about him.

STRENGTHS: Possesses all the natural physical tools you look for in today's NFL. He's big, athletic, has a strong arm and moves well inside the pocket. As for the intangibles, the list includes poise, anticipation, toughness, vision, leadership and a competitive fire. He's the total package, physically.

When on his game, Winston deliveres strikes before his receivers are out of their breaks or even looking for the ball. He handles pressure well, evading, resetting and speeding up his process when needed, listening to his internal clock.

Generally makes excellent decisions with the ball, showing the ability to pepper well-thrown short and intermediate routes as well as driving strikes down the alleys. Shows nice touch on traditional deep balls.

On the field, Winston is a natural. He has the requisite physical skills with his size, arm strength and athleticism along with the mental process as a passer to pick apart defenses. His anticipation, instincts and chemistry with his targets come easy to him and it's something that scouts search for within quarterback prospects. Simply put, Winston has a rare skill-set and that's why he has the makings of a top 10 selection or even No. 1 overall pick.

WEAKNESSES: Where he's causing some scouts to question his pro-readiness is off the field where a series of questionable incidents have raised concerns his maturity and character, including a couple of shoplifting/theft accusations. Some teams are likely to take Winston off their boards entirely.

Some scouts also believe he needs to quicken and shorten his delivery in order to be consistently successful at the next level, as he tends to wind up when he throws, lacking the quick release NFL teams desire. He has NFL arm strength, so the elongated delivery was not a big issue at the college level.

Winston still has a tendency to stare down his targets and will make poor decisions with the ball down the field when hemmed between the tackles and forced to get rid of the ball under pressure.

Personally, I think if he is there and a team like the Jets or even St. Louis has a chance to grab him, they should do so and will be set for the next decade at the position.

Also, beware of Jerry Jones making a play for Winston since he “lost out” on Johnny Manziel this season.

As for Gurley, the assessment is a bit tougher because teams have proven they can get free agent runners, put them in a lineup and cash in often. This is a Draft where there could be four running backs taken in the first round and there is plenty of depth at the position.

Gurley should be the first running back taken unless his off-field issues throw up red character flags. He was clearly the best runner in the country before he was suspended and figures to be the best runner at the Combine. Here is what cbssports.com said about the Georgia star.

STRENGTHS: Built for the NFL with a muscle-bound, physical frame and naturally lowers his pads and squares his shoulders to attack the line of scrimmage and bounce off defenders. He runs with natural balance, power and momentum that makes him tough to slow down, rarely conceding with the first tackler.

Reads the first line of attack very well and senses daylight to hit holes with authority and quickness to stick-and-go, accelerating extremely well in his cuts. Knows how to shift his weight extremely well for a 232-pounder and strings together moves with devastating jump cuts and long strides to eat up yards.

Soft, natural hands out of the backfield and is a willing, cognizant blocker in pass protection.

WEAKNESSES: Bit taller than ideal. Like most backs in the highly physical SEC, the concern with Gurley will almost surely be the punishment he has absorbed at the collegiate level. Gurley missed all of the Tennessee, Missouri and Vanderbilt games in 2013 after sustaining an ankle injury against LSU and must remain healthy as a junior to earn the high selection his talent warrants.

COMPARES TO: Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks -- Like Lynch, Gurley is best known for simply bowling over defenders, but each back's success is also a testament to good vision, surprisingly light feet and balance to bounce off would-be tacklers. With the NFL increasingly favoring the running back-by-committee approach, some have theorized that the days of runners earning first round selections has passed; certainly the fact that no backs have earned a top 32 pick the past two years provides evidence of this. It is worth noting, however, that there hasn't been a back with Gurley's talent available the past two years.

Boasting a combination of power, balance and underrated agility that helped Lynch "Beast Mode" his Seattle Seahawks to their first Super Bowl title, Gurley has dominated the SEC the past two seasons, rushing for a combined 2,374 yards and 27 touchdowns, while chipping in another 558 yards and five scores (all last year) as a receiver. 

While the chances of both players being a top 10 selection are good, Winston gets the nod over Gurley. The NFL is to quarterback-centric to be without a top player in the top five of this draft. Mariota and Winston and maybe Connor Cook of Michigan State fit that requirement.

Gurley could be a pick of the Jets, who have awful success picking running backs in the first round in their history. The Falcons, Raiders, Jaguars and Falcons are all potential landing spots. But before it is all other backs like Ameer Abdullah, Melvin Gordon and Duke Johnson will have something to say about it.

The NFL Draft is more than five months away and if you ask fans of teams with losing records, the reset or rebirth of the NFL season cannot get here soon enough.

The Draft means one thing – a chance to better your roster and for teams like the New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars, the sports radio programs and local sports programming are not only focusing on whether coaches will be retained or free agents signed to big contracts – the talk of who may get drafted has been thrown around a bit.

In many cases because these teams and others have a need at running back or quarterback or even both (Jets) some conversations (especially here in Jacksonville on social media sites) have begged the question about Todd Gurley. Some have focused on where Jameis Winston might fall in the selection process. Two uber-talented players who have faced scrutiny off the field. Will it affect their stock?

Here is a quick assessment of both players.

The debate will go back and forth between Winston and Marcus Mariota until Draft day about who is the better prospect. Here is a thought – Mariota is the better leader while Winston is the better player. Someone here in Jacksonville told me that Winston is John Elway with a slower run. I see the comparison to the big strong quarterback with running skills, but I see him more of a Randall Cunningham-type with a Warren Moon arm. Here is what cbssports.com has to say about him.

STRENGTHS: Possesses all the natural physical tools you look for in today's NFL. He's big, athletic, has a strong arm and moves well inside the pocket. As for the intangibles, the list includes poise, anticipation, toughness, vision, leadership and a competitive fire. He's the total package, physically.

When on his game, Winston deliveres strikes before his receivers are out of their breaks or even looking for the ball. He handles pressure well, evading, resetting and speeding up his process when needed, listening to his internal clock.

Generally makes excellent decisions with the ball, showing the ability to pepper well-thrown short and intermediate routes as well as driving strikes down the alleys. Shows nice touch on traditional deep balls.

On the field, Winston is a natural. He has the requisite physical skills with his size, arm strength and athleticism along with the mental process as a passer to pick apart defenses. His anticipation, instincts and chemistry with his targets come easy to him and it's something that scouts search for within quarterback prospects. Simply put, Winston has a rare skill-set and that's why he has the makings of a top 10 selection or even No. 1 overall pick.

WEAKNESSES: Where he's causing some scouts to question his pro-readiness is off the field where a series of questionable incidents have raised concerns his maturity and character, including a couple of shoplifting/theft accusations. Some teams are likely to take Winston off their boards entirely.

Some scouts also believe he needs to quicken and shorten his delivery in order to be consistently successful at the next level, as he tends to wind up when he throws, lacking the quick release NFL teams desire. He has NFL arm strength, so the elongated delivery was not a big issue at the college level.

Winston still has a tendency to stare down his targets and will make poor decisions with the ball down the field when hemmed between the tackles and forced to get rid of the ball under pressure.

Personally, I think if he is there and a team like the Jets or even St. Louis has a chance to grab him, they should do so and will be set for the next decade at the position.

Also, beware of Jerry Jones making a play for Winston since he “lost out” on Johnny Manziel this season.

As for Gurley, the assessment is a bit tougher because teams have proven they can get free agent runners, put them in a lineup and cash in often. This is a Draft where there could be four running backs taken in the first round and there is plenty of depth at the position.

Gurley should be the first running back taken unless his off-field issues throw up red character flags. He was clearly the best runner in the country before he was suspended and figures to be the best runner at the Combine. Here is what cbssports.com said about the Georgia star.

STRENGTHS: Built for the NFL with a muscle-bound, physical frame and naturally lowers his pads and squares his shoulders to attack the line of scrimmage and bounce off defenders. He runs with natural balance, power and momentum that makes him tough to slow down, rarely conceding with the first tackler.

Reads the first line of attack very well and senses daylight to hit holes with authority and quickness to stick-and-go, accelerating extremely well in his cuts. Knows how to shift his weight extremely well for a 232-pounder and strings together moves with devastating jump cuts and long strides to eat up yards.

Soft, natural hands out of the backfield and is a willing, cognizant blocker in pass protection.

WEAKNESSES: Bit taller than ideal. Like most backs in the highly physical SEC, the concern with Gurley will almost surely be the punishment he has absorbed at the collegiate level. Gurley missed all of the Tennessee, Missouri and Vanderbilt games in 2013 after sustaining an ankle injury against LSU and must remain healthy as a junior to earn the high selection his talent warrants.

COMPARES TO: Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks -- Like Lynch, Gurley is best known for simply bowling over defenders, but each back's success is also a testament to good vision, surprisingly light feet and balance to bounce off would-be tacklers. With the NFL increasingly favoring the running back-by-committee approach, some have theorized that the days of runners earning first round selections has passed; certainly the fact that no backs have earned a top 32 pick the past two years provides evidence of this. It is worth noting, however, that there hasn't been a back with Gurley's talent available the past two years.

Boasting a combination of power, balance and underrated agility that helped Lynch "Beast Mode" his Seattle Seahawks to their first Super Bowl title, Gurley has dominated the SEC the past two seasons, rushing for a combined 2,374 yards and 27 touchdowns, while chipping in another 558 yards and five scores (all last year) as a receiver. 

While the chances of both players being a top 10 selection are good, Winston gets the nod over Gurley. The NFL is to quarterback-centric to be without a top player in the top five of this draft. Mariota and Winston and maybe Connor Cook of Michigan State fit that requirement.

Gurley could be a pick of the Jets, who have awful success picking running backs in the first round in their history. The Falcons, Raiders, Jaguars and Falcons are all potential landing spots. But before it is all other backs like Ameer Abdullah, Melvin Gordon and Duke Johnson will have something to say about it.

We all saw this coming. After all the controversy, the media onslaught (whether good or bad) and the perception that his character is in question, FSU quarterback an current Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston has announced he will turn pro after this season.

According to a report by CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora, Winston was originally torn about whether to stay another year, but due to several off-field issues in the past few weeks, he has decided it’s best to move on.

La Canfora said there have been several rumors that Winston would drop out of school because of his pending student code of conduct hearing and allegations he was paid for signing memorabilia, but La Canfora said that’s not likely to happen.

Ever since the then redshirt-freshman stepped onto the college football stage, he has been the center of media attention. Whether it has been the way he looked in his first game as a starter against Pittsburgh or how he has remained cool under fire in a flood of allegations that range from sexual assault to being charged with shoplifting to the most recent allegations of signing autographs for money, Winston tends to defer the attention to his team and their quest for a second national title.

Winston was suspended for the game against Clemson for comments he made in the FSU Student Union that were derogatory toward women.

Part of the media’s full court press on Winston is also related to the fact that FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher has been so quick to defend his player, saying repeatedly that he has done nothing wrong with regard to the autographs Winston is being investigated for.

According to LaCanfora’s report, These same sources said a few weeks back that Winston was torn as to his future, pointing to how much he loved playing football and baseball in college, and at that time they suggested that only if the team was still undefeated deep into the season and Winston having a superb season would he leave. Now, however, in the face of the multiple investigations into him, and what has become an adversarial relationship with school officials (excluding coach Jimbo Fisher and key members of the athletic department) it is virtually certain Winston is declaring no matter what happens in the second half of the season.

Fisher has faced pressure from above to further suspend Winston (he missed a game earlier this season after shouting an obscenity on campus), but has steadfastly resisted, sources said, with Winston adamant he did not accept money in exchange for autographs. No charges were pressed regarding the allegations made against him by a fellow student and Winston has denied any wrongdoing regarding that as well.

We all saw this coming. After all the controversy, the media onslaught (whether good or bad) and the perception that his character is in question, FSU quarterback an current Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston has announced he will turn pro after this season.

According to a report by CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora, Winston was originally torn about whether to stay another year, but due to several off-field issues in the past few weeks, he has decided it’s best to move on.

La Canfora said there have been several rumors that Winston would drop out of school because of his pending student code of conduct hearing and allegations he was paid for signing memorabilia, but La Canfora said that’s not likely to happen.

Ever since the then redshirt-freshman stepped onto the college football stage, he has been the center of media attention. Whether it has been the way he looked in his first game as a starter against Pittsburgh or how he has remained cool under fire in a flood of allegations that range from sexual assault to being charged with shoplifting to the most recent allegations of signing autographs for money, Winston tends to defer the attention to his team and their quest for a second national title.

Winston was suspended for the game against Clemson for comments he made in the FSU Student Union that were derogatory toward women.

Part of the media’s full court press on Winston is also related to the fact that FSU head coach Jimbo Fisher has been so quick to defend his player, saying repeatedly that he has done nothing wrong with regard to the autographs Winston is being investigated for.

According to LaCanfora’s report, These same sources said a few weeks back that Winston was torn as to his future, pointing to how much he loved playing football and baseball in college, and at that time they suggested that only if the team was still undefeated deep into the season and Winston having a superb season would he leave. Now, however, in the face of the multiple investigations into him, and what has become an adversarial relationship with school officials (excluding coach Jimbo Fisher and key members of the athletic department) it is virtually certain Winston is declaring no matter what happens in the second half of the season.

Fisher has faced pressure from above to further suspend Winston (he missed a game earlier this season after shouting an obscenity on campus), but has steadfastly resisted, sources said, with Winston adamant he did not accept money in exchange for autographs. No charges were pressed regarding the allegations made against him by a fellow student and Winston has denied any wrongdoing regarding that as well.

There was no crying on the Florida State side after this game. There was a last second penalty to cause some controversy, but in the end, the Seminoles came from behind to beat Notre Dame, 31-27. The 23-game win streak is still intact and for FSU, the road to a national title playoff is still on the right highway.

But, there were some flaws along the way.

Jameis Winston threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns and led No. 2 Florida State on a second-half comeback to hold off No. 5 Notre Dame, 31-27.

The Irish nearly pulled off the upset, moving to the 2-yard line in the game's final moments. Everett Golson threw a touchdown pass to Corey Robinson with 13 seconds remaining, according to the Associated Press and ESPN.com.

But Notre Dame was called for pass interference when a receiver blocked the defender responsible for Robinson, and the touchdown was erased.

The Irish moved back to fourth and goal from the 18-yard line. Linebacker Jacob Pugh picked off the desperation pass in the back of the end zone.

Golson threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns, but Winston won the duel in the second half as he completed his first 13 passes against a defense that had Florida State flustered for the first 30 minutes. Running back Tarean Folston ran for 120 yards on 21 carries.

"This team has heart, it has soul, it's a family," Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said after the game. "It believes in each other, it sticks together and there's something special in this group of guys."

The Seminoles (7-0, 5-0 ACC) trailed 17-10 at halftime with their season on the line. Notre Dame (6-1) is the last ranked team FSU's schedule and the win may be its last chance to make a decisive impression on the College Football Playoff selection committee.

Here are the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of this game.

THE GOOD – BOTH TEAMS CAME TO PLAY

In many games like this where the hype is huge and implications are bigger than the game, the turnout is usually uneventful.

This game lived up to the hype.

Saturday's matchup featured two quarterbacks who had never lost a regular season game. Jameis Winston is now 20-0 as a starter while Everett Golson is 16-2, with the only other loss coming in the BCS Championship Game. Those two winning percentages are the best among active FBS quarterbacks with at least ten starts.

It also means that for the 23^rd straight game, the Noles have come away with a win.

THE BAD – THE STATS DON’T LIE

Notre Dame had 470 yards in total offense and Everette Golston threw for 313 yards and three scores. He also threw two interceptions.

This is the 4th time this season Florida State has allowed 400 yards in a game. Last season, it allowed 400 yards just once all season (BCS Championship Game vs Auburn).

Notre Dame outgained Florida State by 147 yards, the worst yardage margin for Florida State in any game under Jimbo Fisher (since 2010). Losing the yardage game is generally not a recipe for success, but they're actually 3-2 under Fisher when getting outgained by at least 100 yards.

THE UGLY – SOMEONE HAD TO LOSE

This is a game you could look at – even as a huge Noles fan that I am – and be happy with the game that was played much like a prize fight. FSU took everything the Irish had and withstood a last minute flourish.

The loss of defensive leaders, the departure of defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt and injuries to some defensive starters (DT Nile Lawrence-Stample) has resulted in an overall decline in Florida State's defensive efficiency this season.

The 10 points ties the fewest Florida State has scored at halftime when Jameis Winston started (also in BCS Championship Game last season).

There was no crying on the Florida State side after this game. There was a last second penalty to cause some controversy, but in the end, the Seminoles came from behind to beat Notre Dame, 31-27. The 23-game win streak is still intact and for FSU, the road to a national title playoff is still on the right highway.

But, there were some flaws along the way.

Jameis Winston threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns and led No. 2 Florida State on a second-half comeback to hold off No. 5 Notre Dame, 31-27.

The Irish nearly pulled off the upset, moving to the 2-yard line in the game's final moments. Everett Golson threw a touchdown pass to Corey Robinson with 13 seconds remaining, according to the Associated Press and ESPN.com.

But Notre Dame was called for pass interference when a receiver blocked the defender responsible for Robinson, and the touchdown was erased.

The Irish moved back to fourth and goal from the 18-yard line. Linebacker Jacob Pugh picked off the desperation pass in the back of the end zone.

Golson threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns, but Winston won the duel in the second half as he completed his first 13 passes against a defense that had Florida State flustered for the first 30 minutes. Running back Tarean Folston ran for 120 yards on 21 carries.

"This team has heart, it has soul, it's a family," Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said after the game. "It believes in each other, it sticks together and there's something special in this group of guys."

The Seminoles (7-0, 5-0 ACC) trailed 17-10 at halftime with their season on the line. Notre Dame (6-1) is the last ranked team FSU's schedule and the win may be its last chance to make a decisive impression on the College Football Playoff selection committee.

Here are the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of this game.

THE GOOD – BOTH TEAMS CAME TO PLAY

In many games like this where the hype is huge and implications are bigger than the game, the turnout is usually uneventful.

This game lived up to the hype.

Saturday's matchup featured two quarterbacks who had never lost a regular season game. Jameis Winston is now 20-0 as a starter while Everett Golson is 16-2, with the only other loss coming in the BCS Championship Game. Those two winning percentages are the best among active FBS quarterbacks with at least ten starts.

It also means that for the 23^rd straight game, the Noles have come away with a win.

THE BAD – THE STATS DON’T LIE

Notre Dame had 470 yards in total offense and Everette Golston threw for 313 yards and three scores. He also threw two interceptions.

This is the 4th time this season Florida State has allowed 400 yards in a game. Last season, it allowed 400 yards just once all season (BCS Championship Game vs Auburn).

Notre Dame outgained Florida State by 147 yards, the worst yardage margin for Florida State in any game under Jimbo Fisher (since 2010). Losing the yardage game is generally not a recipe for success, but they're actually 3-2 under Fisher when getting outgained by at least 100 yards.

THE UGLY – SOMEONE HAD TO LOSE

This is a game you could look at – even as a huge Noles fan that I am – and be happy with the game that was played much like a prize fight. FSU took everything the Irish had and withstood a last minute flourish.

The loss of defensive leaders, the departure of defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt and injuries to some defensive starters (DT Nile Lawrence-Stample) has resulted in an overall decline in Florida State's defensive efficiency this season.

The 10 points ties the fewest Florida State has scored at halftime when Jameis Winston started (also in BCS Championship Game last season).