Backups step up without Winslow
But other tight ends still insist that K-2's the man
Friday, October 17, 2008
By STEVE DOERSCHUK
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BEREA With star tight end Jeremy Shockey, the New York Giants were 0-3 in the postseason during a five-year span.
With Shockey injured and soon to be traded, the Giants went 4-0 in the 2007 postseason, capped by an upset for the ages against New England.
Naturally, this came to mind Monday when the Browns broke out on offense in a 35-14 rout of the Giants without star tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., who was mentored by Shockey as a Miami Hurricane.
Don't go there, Darnell Dinkins said.
"Our offense is much better with Kellen in it," said Dinkins, a tight end who wouldn't have been on the field for a 22-yard touchdown catch had Winslow played.
Steve Heiden, who started at tight end in place of Winslow, said Monday doesn't change the fact Winslow is an extraordinary tight end.
"Watch the games," Heiden said. "The other team's best cover guy a lot of the time is guarding (Winslow), and it stilldoesn't matter."
In other words, Winslow gets open.
What about Derek Anderson sputtering through four games with Winslow on the field, then looking like a million without K-2?
"I think D.A. was fine last year," said Heiden, referring to the fact Winslow had 1,106 receiving yards on a 10-6 team.
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