Cleveland Browns (2008 Season)

[osugrad21]

CPD

Browns suspend Kellen Winslow for one game

by Tony Grossi Tuesday October 21, 2008, 9:00 PM

Tracy Boulian/The Plain DealerKellen Winslow's outburst on Sunday after the loss to the Redskins has prompted a one-game suspension from GM Phil Savage.
GM Savage's full comments

In an unprecedented move for him, Browns General Manager Phil Savage suspended tight end Kellen Winslow one game for conduct detrimental to the club for statements "unwarrated, inappropriate, and unnecessarily disparaging to our organization." The suspension is effective immediately and lasts until Monday. Winslow will not practice or attend meetings with the team this week. He will be docked one game check, 1/17th of his 2008 base salary of $4 million.
That comes out to a fine of $235,294.
Winslow will appeal the suspension, according to a source. Messages for Drew Rosenhaus, Winslow's agent, were not returned.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Staph isn't the only ailment in the Browns' house

by Bill Livingston Tuesday October 21, 2008, 10:07 PM



The temptation is to say "A plague on both their houses!"
Except the plague has already arrived, in the form of staph infections, chewing away at the health of Kellen Winslow twice, ending the career of LeCharles Bentley and endangering that of Joe Jurevicius.
The Browns suspended Winslow for one game Tuesday after he complained that he felt like a "piece of meat" during his latest hospitalization for a staph infection. In particular, Winslow, who returned to play Sunday, criticized General Manager Phil Savage, claiming the Browns covered up that he was suffering from staph.
Perhaps Winslow realizes now that, effectively, he is indeed a piece of meat. The Browns just don't believe in "tenderizing."
Winslow, along with Bentley -- who asked for and received his release in training camp -- and, according to reports, Jurevicius, all never heard from Savage, the Browns' top football man, during their convalescence.
The suspension probably means the beginning of the end for Winslow here. The Browns probably would have only fined him, and not meted out a suspension, had they not played their only good game of the season against the Super Bowl champion New York Giants while Winslow was ill.

It seems, however, to be wishful thinking to believe Braylon Edwards will consistently catch the ball, Derek Anderson will consistently throw it with accuracy, and coach Romeo Crennel will get a consistent connection with reality about Anderson's ability, not to mention a satisfactory grasp of clock management.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Tony Grossi's Scouting Report: Jacksonville

by Tony Grossi Tuesday October 21, 2008, 6:20 PM

David Zalubowski/Associated PressJacksonville coach Jack Del Rio expected a run for a division title in 2008, but injuries and Tennessee's undefeated start have forced the Jaguars to focus on a possible wild-card berth.
Like the Browns, the Jacksonville Jaguars started the year with high hopes of finally breaking through and capturing their division title. They made bold moves and doled out big cash -- all aimed at unseating Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. But in the seventh week of the season, they're in that large pool of teams trying to swim through rampant injuries.
They've lost seven projected starters for a total of 24 games. The Browns have lost nine starters for 25 games.
With Tennessee sprinting to an unexpected 6-0 start, the Jaguars (3-3) have all but conceded the division title and re-set their sights on one of the two AFC wild-card spots.
Their schedule is favorable enough for that to be a realistic goal. The question is how far they might advance in January, and that may hinge on the growth at two positions.

The Jaguars invested five future draft choices to move up in the top two rounds to select ends Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves -- two of the draft's better pass rushers. Harvey missed all of the preseason in a contract holdout and hasn't had a sack yet. Groves leads the team with 1.5.

Cont...

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

Savage's announcement, Winslow's response to suspension

by Staff reports Tuesday October 21, 2008, 5:54 PM

Tracy Boulian/The Plain DealerKellen Winslow has been suspended one game by the Browns for his post-game comments on Sunday.
Late Tuesday afternoon, the Browns suspended tight end Kellen Winslow for this week's game against Jacksonville following criticisms Winslow made last Sunday about his recovery from a staph infection and complaints he had concerning General Manager's Phil Savage's lack of involvement with Winslow. This is Savage's press release:
"The Cleveland Browns are committed to winning and taking care of our players. We are also committed to protecting the privacy of our players, particularly with regard to medical issues. To that end, following discussions with Kellen Winslow and his representation, the Browns agreed to make every effort to maintain the confidentiality of his recent medical condition.
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[osugrad21]

Canton

Browns suspend Winslow for one game
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
BY STEVE DOERSCHUK
[email protected]

BEREA Sunday's game was over. Most of the Browns had changed clothes and headed for the bus.

Kellen Winslow Jr. was one of the locker room stragglers.

He hadn't yet said he felt like a piece of meat or that the general manager let him down while he was off sick from a staph infection. At that moment, who would have guessed he was headed for a one-game suspension and an uncertain future with the Browns?

At first, Winslow talked as if this was a normal loss. Could the 2-4 Browns save their season?

"Of course we can," Winslow said after a 14-11 loss in Washington. "We can ... anybody can come back from this. We have a chance to do that, and I think we will."

But Winslow isn't among the "we" this week.

He was shut out of Sunday's game at Jacksonville by General Manager Phil Savage for "conduct detrimental to the club."

The one-game suspension is the first such action Savage has imposed on a player in his four seasons in Cleveland. Winslow has been instructed to stay away from the team complex and told he will lose a week's pay.

In a statement released through his publicist, Winslow claimed the Browns discouraged his desire to reveal the staph condition.

Cont...

 

[LitlBuck]

The suspension of Kellen Winslow for Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars is more than a one-game sitdown.
It's the beginning of the end of Winslow's time with the Browns

It would not surprise me if he became history especially since he's going to want more money and a contract extension after this season. The only problem is that he is now damaged goods in and we can never back what we paid for him. I just think he and Edwards both could go and would not bother me in the least.

 

[JCOSU86]

I am a HUGE Browns fan.

I fucking have to be to put up with their insanity.

 

[tsteele316]

it will take some serious convincing to get me to believe winslow's antics aren't directly related to his wanting a contract extension and Cleveland showing no interest in doing so this season. Given who his agent is, this just seems to be so obvious.

 

[IronBuckI]

It would not surprise me if he became history especially since he's going to want more money and a contract extension after this season. The only problem is that he is now damaged goods in and we can never back what we paid for him. I just think he and Edwards both could go and would not bother me in the least.

It's not the ideal, but I would be happy with a deal like the Giants got for their very talented headcase of a tight end from Da U. 2nd and 5th round picks, depending on position, could be very useful come April.

 

[billmac91]

Profootballtalk.com was saying the Eagles put together a pretty offer for Winslow at the deadline involving draft picks.....we said "no thanks". I wonder if Phil is regretting that now.

I really don't see how Kellen has any room to talk. The Browns paid him a majority of his rookie contract while he sat out, heeling from his motorcycle incident. Now he says the Browns don't care?

It's too bad such a talented player is such a headcase. Can you imagine how productive guys like Kellen, TO, Plaxico Burress, etc. would be without all of the additional baggage? All 3 of these guys have hurt their endorsement possibilities b/c of their attitide issues, and in a case like Plaxico.....they guy hasn't practiced in like 2 years. He just plays on gameday, and finds excuses to sit out practice every week. Imagine how good he good he'd be if he ever lifted a weight, took part in drills, worked to get himself into optimal playing shape?

 

[LitlBuck]

His dad was one hell of a player and I can't remember him having any problems out in San Diego. You would think he would tell his son to shut up and play ball. The same is true of Edwards.

I would take a #2 and #5 draft choice for one of those guys and package it was something else and I think you could move into the first round. Edwards and Winslow are not doing the Browns any favors by running their mouths.

It's a pity that a man like Gene Hickerson passes away and those two guys could not even carry his jock strap:!

 

[Mike80]

I'm going to laugh my ass off Sunday when the Browns offense moves the ball consistently because it isn't trying to force the ball to Winslow....

 

[Bucks21]

I'm going to laugh my ass off Sunday when the Browns offense moves the ball consistently because it isn't trying to force the ball to Winslow....

I think the success of the Browns offense has more to do with Braylon catching the ball than trying to force it into Winslow.

 

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

Winslow gets quick action on appeal as Browns teammates keep their distance from dispute
by Tony Grossi
Wednesday October 22, 2008, 6:07 PM

Do the Browns have a major problem with staph infection in their headquarters facility, as tight end Kellen Winslow claimed?

And do players feel muzzled about speaking their mind in the wake of Winslow's one-game suspension handed down by General Manager Phil Savage on Tuesday?

These questions were posed to players the day after Winslow was docked a game check -- in his case, $235,294 -- for saying the club purposely concealed his staph infection from teammates.

Through his representation, Winslow formally notified the NFL Players Association on Wednesday of his appeal of the suspension.

"It's a grievance proceeding under the CBA, and it's expedited, meaning it will be decided by the arbitrator prior to Sunday," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an email response.

The players union will represent Winslow and the NFL Management Council will represent the Browns in a grievance proceeding, Aiello said.

Continued

If Winslow wins the grievance, the Browns will have to pay him the game check for the game against the Jaguars but they will not have to play him. They could deactivate him for the game but they would still have to pay him.

 

[LitlBuck]

I think the success of the Browns offense has more to do with Braylon catching the ball than trying to force it into Winslow.

I would not be surprised when both of them are playing and they are in the huddle if they are not both telling Anderson that day are wide open on every pass play that he is calling.