Jameis Winston Ruling Won't Come Until After Heisman Voting Deadline

Contrary to earlier statements, the Florida state attorney's office now says a decision on whether to charge FSU quarterback Jameis Winston will not come for at least another two weeks—after the ACC title game and the deadline for Heisman voting.

Contributing to the holdup is a capital murder case next week that members of the attorney's office are working on. State attorney Willie Meggs told ESPN, "Believe it or not, we have other cases we're involved with; we haven't shut down our office to focus entirely on this case."

More relevant is the fact that state attorney's office has been investigating a nearly year-old case that it only first heard about two weeks ago. The accuser's attorney has claimed that Tallahassee police pressured her not to pursue charges after she named Winston as the man who sexually assaulted her (Winston's attorney says the sex was consensual), and the investigation was only forwarded to state attorneys after media caught wind of it.

When asked to put a time frame on the decision to charge Winston or not, an assistant state attorney told CBS Sports it won't be next week. "It's mostly likely (after next week)," Georgia Cappleman said. This makes it all but a guarantee that Winston will play in the ACC title game in Charlotte on Dec. 7. Heisman ballots are due on Dec. 9. Whether or not a decision is made before the Heisman ceremony on Dec. 14, that's going to be one awkward award show.

Even if Winston is charged, it's not guaranteed that he would be suspended from the team for its bowl or potential BCS title game. FSU's athletics handbook says all students charged with a felony are banned from intercollegiate competition, but language provides exceptions for "extraordinary circumstances as determined by the administration."