The "thousands" of autographs purportedly belonging to the Florida State quarterback on the James Spence authentication database were found in October after Georgia running back Todd Gurley was suspended for taking money for signing items. Gurley was paid $3,000 to sign items.
Five sources who spoke to "Outside the Lines" on the condition of anonymity said that James Spence Authentication got the items only after competitor PSA/DNA backed out of the February signing with Winston. PSA/DNA did so after being told that it couldn't witness the quarterback signing the items in person, sources said.
The batch of Winston autographs were discovered in the JSA online database in October. James Spence, the company's owner, said in October that he had full confidence that those autographs were authentic, and he reiterated it again this week, through company lawyer Stacy Biancamano.
When an autograph dealer started emailing media outlets about Gurley's signings, he said he had a video of Gurley signing items.
Florida State said in October it was reviewing information surrounding autographs by Winston but that it had no evidence that Winston was paid for his autograph. Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher has supported his quarterback, saying Winston hasn't been paid for his signature. Fisher pointed to the signings Winston does after athletic events.
Outside the Lines said the Winston items, per sources, came from one Florida autograph dealer and the signing was via a relationship with former FSU RB Devonta Freeman. A rep for Freeman told OTL that Winston said no to the signing.
PSA/DNA said it would authenticate the items if it saw Winston sign the items itself. A rep for the company went to what was supposed to be a mass signing by the 2013 Heisman winner, but he didn't show.
Burkhalter denies that much of this happened. He told "Outside the Lines" that he has gotten items signed by Winston but has never compensated him. He said he never told anyone that Freeman set up an autograph signing and doesn't recall setting up items in a hotel for a Winston signing. He said February was a long time ago, but he didn't get anything close to 1,000 pieces signed by Winston for anyone.
Sources said that hours into waiting for Winston to show, Burkhalter told those in attendance that Winston had decided he couldn't do a signing in the hotel room and instead preferred to do it in an apartment. The conditions? The authenticator and Burkhalter could not be there to witness the signing.
So, sources said, Burkhalter loaded the Florida State items into his truck and returned later with the items signed, telling those waiting back at the hotel that he had to give the batch of items to a person who then got the items signed inside the apartment.
PSA/DNA also didn't authenticate the Winston items because of variations in the signatures. Days after, JSA authenticated the items.
For more Florida State news, visit Warchant.com.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Signed Winston items reportedly rejected by authentication firm
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