Ah, Thanksgiving — the one day when even gridiron gladiators trade shoulder pads for stretchy pants and dive into a Soul Train line of sides.
New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston, fresh off his viral Detroit dance-floor dazzler, served up a holiday presser hotter than Uncle Ray’s spicy bird.
“First off, guys, happy Thanksgiving to you and your families if you celebrate it. If you don’t, happy holidays,” he beamed, before cheekily jabbing the scribes. “Very thankful for this job, one, and thankful for y’all, the work that y’all do is tough, having to write and make up stories — I’m just kidding.
“But having to do the work that you do, put in the work, that’s tough stuff, so we appreciate y’all, we’re thankful for y’all because y’all’s stories help us get paid more, it keeps the fans engaged, so we appreciate that. Blessings and prosperity to all of y’all, for real.”
But Winston’s real MVP move? Gushing over the grub.
With the Giants off for Turkey Day prep before Monday Night Football mayhem against the New England Patriots, Winston is “very grateful that (Mike Kafka) has allowed us to have this type of schedule.”
No skimping on seconds, though.
“I’m not taking it lightly just because I’m going to have a few collard greens and sweet potatoes and some yams on my stomach,” he said.
Enter the feast fantasy: His wife’s “kale collard greens” with a New Orleans Creole dressing twist — “unbelievable” — kicked off by auntie’s shipped gumbo. And ham loyalist Winston? Converted by New Orleans Saints’ Taysom Hill to “Uncle Ray’s turkey.”
“They ship this turkey right to your door, you pop that thing in the oven, and I’m talking about, it is succulent. That thing is juicy, it’s spicy, oh my gosh, it’s amazing,” Winston said.
Move over, Joey Tribbiani’s Thanksgiving pivot — Jameis is all in on the bird.
Gratitude game strong, Winston wrapped with heartfelt thanks.
“I’m so grateful, happy, and grateful that I got a chance to show and do what I love,” he said. “I want to win for this organization.”
Like a perfectly spiraled wishbone snap, his words remind us: In football or family dinners, it’s the team effort — and a dash of spice — that makes the magic.
Gobble gobble, Giants fans — may your plates overflow!
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Jameis Winston’s Turkey Trot: A QB’s playful feast of Giants gratitude
Reporting by Dan Benton, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
