Perhaps Jameis Winston wasn’t “shoplifting” after all.

ESPN’s Marcellus Wiley believes Florida State’s reigning Heisman-winning quarterback, who was issued a citation Wednesday for stealing crab legs from the grocery store Publix, only took responsibility for the incident in order to protect the team from a bigger scandal.

Wiley tweeted that he thinks Winston admitted to the minor incident in order to shield the practice of Publix regularly giving free food to players on the team, in violation of NCAA rules.

Jameis Winston's 'falling on the sword' 2 protect his teammates & 'higher ups' who knew of this Publix taking care of players for years!#YO

— Marcellus Wiley (@marcelluswiley) May 1, 2014

Beginning this month, Division I schools can now give unlimited meals and snacks to their athletes, sparked by Shabazz Napier, the NCAA Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, stating after the title game that he often went to bed hungry.