Jimbo Fisher claims media has assassinated Jameis Winston's character

Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher defended Jameis Winston on Monday, saying the quarterback had "great character" and that he's the victim of an opinion-driven media campaign.

When asked about Winston's off-field character issues, Fisher said he believed Winston was subject to unfair reporting by the media.

"Why is there a question?" Fisher said on Tampa Bay radio station WDAE. "Because of the character assassination that he's lived through in the media, and the misinformation that has been printed and half-truths that have been printed."

Fisher didn't directly refute any specific reports pertaining to the off-field incidents that have cropped up while Winston attended Florida State, but it appears he's speaking about the New York Times' investigation of the rape allegation against Winston and the Tallahassee Police Department's mismanagement of the case.

"What amazes me about this whole process is the unprofessionalism of a lot of major newspapers," Fisher continues. "A lot of major outlets that did not report the whole truth of the situation and only slanted it for their own opinion.

"And when you go through that you have to answer those questions. Jameis has great character. Did he make mistakes? Yes. Did he make silly mistakes? Yes. I mean, he's still a 20-year-old kid."

- With h/t to ProFootballTalk