ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is being criticized after comments he made to students at Melrose Elementary School in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, according to WFLA.
The Buccaneers said via Twitter that Winston visited the school to "deliver a message of inspiration and self-confidence."
Winston had the children repeat inspirational words, what he calls his "third rule of life" -- "I can do anything I put my mind to!"
In a video of the speech released by Pinellas Schools, Winston says he sees some children slumping in their chairs. He then asks the boys in the room to stand up.
"All my boys stand up. The ladies, the ladies sit down, but all my boys, stand up, stand up. We strong, right?"
Winston then urges the boys to repeat "I can do anything I put my mind to!"
"But, the ladies, they're supposed to be silent, polite, gentle, but my men!" Winston said. "My men now, they're supposed to be strong, OK?"