In what may be the first smart move Jameis Winston has made in the last two weeks, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback’s attorneys filed a countersuit against the woman suing him in civil court for sexual assault. The counter-suit alleges that the woman who accused Winston, Erica Kinsman, is motivated by greed and that Winston did not rape her.
Winston’s attorneys, John F. Myers and David Cromwell Sr. filed the claim Friday in Orlando federal court. Kinsman filed her civil suit against Winston last month. The former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback has been exonerated of the rape allegation twice, the first time by the state of Florida and the second time by Florida State University.
“Mr. Winston brings this action against Ms. Kinsman out of necessity, not malice or ill will,” The Tampa Bay Times quoted from the court filing. “Nonetheless, Ms. Kinsman’s false statements have irreparably harmed his professional and personal life.”
Jameis Winston countersuit in sexual assault case states that woman's goal was to "impair his marketability" to cause settlement
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 9, 2015
The countersuit states that Kinsman’s allegations have hurt Winston’s standing in the public eye, his personal relationships and hurt his business interests. Winston’s countersuit also contends that Winston and Kinsman had consensual sex that was backed up by the medical evidence in the case and two eyewitnesses. Winston is seeking $75,000 in punitive damages and has requested a jury hearing for the lawsuit.
“She (Kinsman) has mounted a false and vicious media campaign to vilify Mr. Winston with the objective of getting him to pay her to go away,” the countersuit claims. “Ms. Kinsman is motivated by the most insidious objectives – greed.”
Kinsman is has a civil suit filed against Winston for $7 million. Winston signed a four-year, $23.35 million deal with the Bucs with a $16.69 million signing bonus last week.
Click to read Jameis Winston's countersuit:http://t.co/HSAyd0FuIy pic.twitter.com/AjoiZMEB5V
— South Florida Sun Sentinel (@SunSentinel) May 9, 2015
Alabama House of Representatives passes so-called “Tim Tebow Bill”
Tim Tebow is easily the most famous formerly home-schooled athlete and now he has a bill named after him in Alabama. The law in Florida that allowed Tebow, homeschooled by his parents along with his four brothers and sisters, to play high school football in Florida is already nicknamed the “Tim Tebow Law”, and after passing the Alabama House of Representatives 52-43, it’s on the fast track to become the standard there as well. The bill still has to pass the state senate and be signed by Alabama governor Robert Bentley.
Currently 28 states allow home-schooled athletes to play sports at public school and legislation is currently being proposed in 15 more states, with Alabama, Arkansas and Kentucky all calling their proposals “Tim Tebow Bills.”
Teddy Bridgewater takes a fan to prom
Minnesota Vikings quarterback surprised a young fan Friday night by showing up as her secret date for the prom. Bridgewater first met Ashley Davis and her family when he was still a freshman at Louisville and after meeting up with her mother earlier this year, decided to pull the surprise date.
.@teddyb_h2o will be attending The Christian Academy of Louisville's Prom tonight with junior Ashley Davis. pic.twitter.com/J9s24SYgSC
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 9, 2015
Bridgewater spent the night posing for photos with Ashley and her friends at the Christian Academy prom.
“This is like heaven,” Davis told a local television station. “I was standing on the front porch and Teddy came around the corner and I started crying and we got pictures. I was on cloud nine.”
Bridgewater was happy to give Davis and her friends a special moment on their prom night.
“I felt that it was the right thing to do,” Bridgewater said. “It was a good thing to do. It kind of touched me when I first met her. How she kind of teared up and everything. It just showed that I made an impact here on the playing field on and off the playing field. Ashley She is just a great girl and I am going to make sure she has a great time tonight.”
Cowboys Josh Brent retires
Three years after being convicted for intoxication manslaughter for drunk driving in an accident that killed Jerry Brown, Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Josh Brent is retiring for good.
Brent served a 10-game suspension after the accident and returned to the NFL last season. He had participated in the Cowboys’ offseason program and the Cowboys have placed him on their reserve/retired list to retain his rights if he chooses to return.
