Lovie Smith defends Jameis Winston against Bobby Bowden's scathing remarks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith jumped to Jameis Winston's defense a day after Florida State legend Bobby Bowden lambasted the 21-year-old for his conduct at the university.

Bowden said that Winston was an embarrassment to Florida State on ESPN's Paul Finebaum's radio show Tuesday. The 85-year-old coached Florida State from 1976-2009, winning national championships in 1993 and 1999 before being succeeded by his former offensive coordinator, Jimbo Fisher.

Smith refuted Bowden's assertion of Winston on Wednesday.

"That's a strong statement to make about any young man, that he is an embarrassment,’" Smith said to the Tampa Tribune's Ira Kaufman. "Jameis Winston is not an embarrassment and I don't think Bobby Bowden is speaking for Florida State in making a statement like that. Normally, when you're in the family, you protect the family."

Winston went 27-1 during his career with the Seminoles, winning the Heisman Trophy and a national championship in 2013. However, Winston's reign at Florida State was often overshadowed by a myriad of off-field incidents that ranged from shoplifting crab legs to being the subject of a sexual assault investigation.

Tampa Bay selected Winston with the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

"I went to a recent function with Derrick Brooks at his golf tournament and there were many former Florida State players there," Smith said. "They were all embracing Jameis - they were excited that one of their own was getting ready to possibly be a Buccaneer. To say that Jameis is an embarrassment, after all he did for the university ... that's disappointing.

“We don't feel that way by any means. Coach Bowden is entitled to his opinion, of course, and Jameis isn't perfect. None of us are. But I think Jimbo Fisher was proud of the job Jameis Winston did for his football team, and he coached him."

In the pre-draft process, Winston aced a number of football intelligence tests and looks poised to become the franchise quarterback the Buccaneers never had. Although Bowden's remarks will resonate with some members of the Floridian community, Winston appears determined to put the past behind him.