An American football player in Florida is under police investigation after his huge fingers crushed a rabbit he was cuddling. Jameis Winston, the Florida State quarterback, thought the rabbit was enjoying as he cuddled its neck and did not realise his massive fingers had killed the poor animal.

“You are so soft and furry,” Winston said as he touched the animal he was given by his coach Jimbo Fisher.

“Why are you not moving, Mr Rabbit? Mr Rabbit! No! No! Wake up!” he later cried upon realising the animal was motionless, according to SportsPickle.

After news reached the coach the bunny had died, Fisher said he had feared for the animal when he gave it to Winston.

“He looked forward to a place where he could have rabbits and maybe pigs and chickens. He wanted rabbits so much, which is why I brought him one,” said Fisher.

The police showed up soon after the animal had died and took Winston into custody.

“I have always let him play with crabs only because they have a hard shell to protect them. I was wrong to trust him with a rabbit,” said Fisher. Florida State is expected to have a disciplinary hearing about Winston crushing the rabbit to death.