Yahoo! Sports reported earlier this summer that Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston had purchased disability and “loss of value” insurance to protect himself should he get hurt or drop out of the top 10 in the NFL draft because of on-field struggles.
The policy reportedly covers around $8 million to $10 million and will pay out if injury or struggles on the field force Winston to fall in the draft.
Now it’s being reported that Florida State plans to foot the near-$60,000 bill for the insurance premium.
While this sounds like another college football program illegally giving benefits to a prized player, it’s actually within the lines of NCAA rules.
Florida State is able to do this by deducting from its Student Assistance Fund, which for an ACC program totals a couple hundred thousand dollars per year. The amount the school plans to pay for Winston is a large percentage of the fund, which shows that perhaps Florida State is chipping in to ensure its prized star comes back in 2015.
Winston’s father has stated that he wants his son to finish college and get his degree before going to the NFL. It’s probably refreshing for Winston, who will be a redshirt sophomore in 2014, to know his value will be covered should it fall and give him more incentive to actually finish school.
All of that said, it’s kind of ironic how something like this is not illegal for the NCAA, but giving a player a monthly stipend still is.
Photo via Melina Vestina/USA TODAY Sports Images
