While We’re Waiting…
December 12, 2008More Trouble on the Buckeye Front?
December 12, 2008
In what is shaping up to be one ugly off-season, tight end Kellen Winslow is playing the first cards before the season is even complete. Sure, it’s mathematically over – and plenty of fans mentally check out weeks ago – but with three games left on the schedule, Winslow is already putting his good-guy car in gear.
In an interview with the media, as reported by the PD’s MK Cabot, Winslow went on record saying that he has no gripes about this team, from the top down.
“I do want to be back here,” Winslow said. “I love being here and playing here. The fans have stuck by me, so yeah.”
“Whatever happens, happens,” he said. “I love being a Cleveland Brown. The guys here, we don’t know who’s going to be here next year. It’s tough. You just have to focus on this year.”
While you can form your own opinions about the above statements, one thing is for certain. The fans really have stuck by Winslow after what was a disappointing season. He’s missed games, encountered more staph, lashed out at the front office, was a part of trade rumors, and even had a few minor grumblings about his contract. But in a year that is filled with fans voicing displeasure about various members of this team, by and large the fans have stood by Winslow. After all, he’s a player that gives it his all every minute he is on the field. Perhaps we just don’t have much to choose from these days, but in the end, Winslow’s #80 continues to be a jersey you see all over Sunday afternoons.
But one guy who may or may not be standing behind the tight end is the one man who makes the decisions: general manager Phil Savage. Being appreciated by your teammates and fans can only carry you so much in the NFL. In a winter/spring that will likely come with some heavy contract negotiations, being on the “s” list of the man behind the control panel will not bode well for K2. He’s currently under contract for two more seasons, with neither reason reaching the $5 million mark. Of course, Winslow attempted to toss out that there may not be any renegotiations.
“I might just want to go and reach free agency [laughs]. Who knows?”
Winslow is already going to miss this Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Browns are 2-1 without Winslow on the field, but part of me would like to see if the tight end could rekindle some sort of pass-catching flame with his former college teammate in Ken Dorsey. But with that said, on a 4-9 team, is there really any reason for Winslow to attempt to play on what could be an ankle that is not 100 percent?
Like many of his teammates, Winslow has put up a 2008 campaign that was about half of what his 2007 season provided. This is what most people would call “not a good time to ask for a new contract.” However, we are talking about Winslow here so anything can happen. Of course, if Phil Savage is not the one making the decisions come this off-season, then we have a horse of a different color. Whether that color is camouflage or not remains to be seen.
6 Comments
Two things:
1) If this were Madden, I would pause, go to “coaching strategies -> depth chart” and put all of my second stringers in. No way any of these guys that are battling nagging injuries should play this late in a crappy, wasted season, and possibly do anything that might require surgery in the off-season. Because you know what happens when Browns players have surgery in the off-season…
2) As long as Winslow is wearing a seat belt in his “good guy car” and is nowhere near his “bad guy bike” I’m OK with it.
1). WInslow is usually the first guy I get rid of when I play madden, I use Rucker with the 1st team.
2) Why would KW2 wanna leave Cleveland? State 8 motorcycle is just a hop, skip and a crash down the street from him.
Yea the “good guy car” is excellent.
The “bad guy bike” is bad.
The “I’m a #%!@) soldier” tank is the worst.
DP, I have been saying this for weeks about Jamal Lewis… why do they keep trotting him out there in a lost season to miss the hole with his 300 pound injured legs?
Why bother?
“This is what most people would call “not a good time to ask for a new contract.” However, we are talking about Winslow here so anything can happen.”
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Scott, I’m sorry, but what’s your point here? That maybehe won’t try to renegotiate? He’s hired Rosenhaus. Winslow’s as much said that’s why he hired him, as if anyone didn’t get the message. He’s either going to hold out next season or hold his breath until his face turns blue, i.e., complaining to the press constantly. (That should be a good time when the new coach is trying to right the ship). The only thing left for anyone to discuss is under what circumstances should they keep him or trade him.
“1) If this were Madden, I would pause, go to “coaching strategies -> depth chart” and put all of my second stringers in. No way any of these guys that are battling nagging injuries should play this late in a crappy, wasted season, and possibly do anything that might require surgery in the off-season.”
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I’m not normally a fan of firing HCs mid-season, but this has been my argument for dumping RAC immediately. He won’t play the young guys, since he has nothing to gain by developing them (and he said as much last week, to the effect that he’s going to continue to play the vets in an effort to win.) So we’ll continue to be treated to Willie McGinest while Alex Hall and the rest of our unproven young guys rot on the bench…
As for K2, yes, he is quite a talent. But if he’s going to push for a new contract, I just hope we can get something of value for him in trade. Between his bad decisions, being injury-prone, and being a cancer to the team, I don’t know that he’s worth the risk of taking on a record-breaking long-term contract, which is what Rosenhaus will want (remember, it was Dallas Clark’s free agent contract that set this all off.)