The Heisman Trophy means a lot to one-time Georgia star and former Heisman winner Herschel Walker - but integrity apparently means just as much, if not more.
So much so, in fact, that Walker says integrity issues prevented him for voting for Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston - last year's Heisman winner.
"Before he won the award, there was an accusation of sexual assault. Well, forgive me for saying this, but I didn't vote for him. I didn't vote for him because - it had nothing to do with him on the field - when I won the Heisman, I'd hope it stood for more than just me playing football," Walker told The Paul Finebaum Show. "I hope it stood for me as a person, how I did in school, and me being an athlete. Being an athlete is more than just playing the game. Being an athlete is doing a lot more. I didn't vote for Jameis because of that. And I may have been wrong for that. But in my opinion, the Heisman Trophy is supposed to mean integrity. At that time, there was not integrity, because of the situation that happened at that time. Today, until his act is cleaned up, I can't give him my vote. I'll say it right now, I can't give him my vote."
Winston won the award despite not garnering the vote of Walker and another former Heisman winner, Bo Jackson.
"I really don't know who is giving this young man guidance. I have communicated with him and I just talked to him like I was his dad. The things that you need to do. And this was before the incident where he was (suspended) from the baseball team (for stealing crab legs)," Jackson said. "I'm the type of person, I will go out of my way to help anybody. Normally, I don't like giving people advice if I haven't been down that road myself. But if I give you advice on something that I know more about than you by just falling out of bed in the morning, if you can't take that advice and learn from it, then I've got nothing else to do with the situation. You're on your own.
Walker says the same issues of integrity that led him to not cast his vote for Winston last season will affect his voting this year.
"Same situation with Todd Gurley. Right at this moment today, I can't give him my vote," Walker added. "If he comes back and I see a change, then my vote can be there. But at this given time today, I can't give him my vote."
Winston has done much in the recent past to alienate his supporters. If he hopes to continue playing in the NFL someday, he'll need to clean himself - and his act - up.
"Jameis Winston needs to make some changes in his life. Because it's affecting him now and it's definitely going to affect him down the road," said Jackson.
To that end, Jackson says he offered advice and guidance to Winston - but guidance that was not delivered gently.
"If I told you what I told him, it'll probably singe the hairs in your ears."
