Jameis Winston pushes back on his Giants critics as new J.J. McCarthy wrinkle emerges

Jameis Winston feels like he can’t win even when the Giants are victorious. Criticized for years that he puts up big fantasy-football statistics but makes too many losing plays, an animated Winston spent Wednesday fending off criticism that his signature arm strength is fading and that he did not make enough big plays in the 12-7 win against the Titans.  Get texts from Paul Schwartz with all the latest Giants news and insights, exclusive to Sports+ subscribers.“Honestly, I feel like a lot of people are surprised that we can win a game in the manner that we did because everyone’s so used to me throwing for 500 yards and throwing interceptions, right?” said Winston, who led the league in passing yards (5,109) and interceptions (30) when he last was a full-time starter for the 2019 Buccaneers. “But when God allows me to manage a football game, now it’s, ‘Does he still have it?’ I mean, I’ve seen a lot of quarterbacks go 62 percent [completions] for less than 150 yards and win a football game, but it’s not a question [for them].

But it’s a question because, I get it, the identity, right? That’s why assumptions make a …” Everyone knows how that saying ends. Rather than assume anything about Winston’s play improving from the seven touchdown-less quarters since he took the mantle from injured franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart — or about him remaining healthy — the Giants traded a fifth-round pick Monday for former first-round pick J.J.McCarthy to be his backup. Does Winston feel challenged — or even disrespected — that the Giants made that move? Especially if it was interpreted as a quick change of heart only three weeks after Winston signed a two-year, $13 million extension? “I have to play well regardless,” Winston said.

“It doesn’t matter who’s in the building.When you’re the quarterback for the New York Football Giants, you have to give your team a chance to win, and that’s just the business that we’re ...