Dishonorable Discharge for the Soldier: Kellen Winslow Traded
BEREA – On the first day of free agency in the NFL, the Browns front ofice was active in a very different way as they traded Kellen Winslow Jr. to the Bucs for undisclosed draft picks. K2′s time in Cleveland pretty much mirrored that of the struggling organization. From a broken leg, to a motorcycle accident, to multiple bouts with staph infection, to lashing out at the organization – Winslow was the modern day Cleveland Brown.
With all the noise surrounding Shaun Rogers’ early criticisms of the new management and subsequent trade demands, the new Browns brass of Mangini and Kokinis might just be sending a message to the rest of the team’s players and the league that they’re willing to make some tough decisions.
The decision to part with Winslow might have been made easier this season, when the team’s offense looked better than normal in two games that Winslow missed earlier in the season. One was a route of the defending Super Bowl Giants in which Steve Heiden caught five passes and helped the running game with numerous blocks/seals. Heiden then went on to total 73 yards receiving in the Jacksonville win two weeks later
Winslow got off to a rough start with the Cleveland fans when his signing became an immediate distraction. He had contracted the infamous Poston brothers to handle the negotiations, which led to a holdout. The Browns had traded up a spot with the Detroit Lions to secure the tight end with the sixth overall pick. He eventually signed a six-year deal for $40 million, including $16.5 million in signing bonus money.
Winslow’s departure also highlights the Browns first-round draft woes through the years. No player drafted in the first round from 1999-2004 is a Brown any longer. Compare that with the Colts, who have all their first rounds picks still in the organization dating back to 2000 (their 2001 pick, Rob Morris is a free agent).
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Genius Browns fans…..F*ing typical. We trade away the best, or one of the best, recieving tight ends in the league while we have a QB who likes to throw short for some undisclosed draft picks?…..I thought we got rid of Romeo. Somehow we think an athletic, always ready to play tight end can be not only replaced, but improved by a fat, slow white guy who obviously likes to have balls hit him in the face. (yes, that statement has a double meaning) These are the same people who think Kelly Holcolm shoulda been the starting QB because he had one good game.(or DA, which stands for dumbass by the way) Mangini keeps his free agency plans a secret becuase the truth is, he doesn’t have any. In a free agency where linebackers, corners, and D-linemen litter the field (all areas where Cleveland could use huge improvement) we chose instead to trade one of our best players away so we can start “rebuilding” again. The F*ing Indians better be good this year because I can’t see myself watching the Browns this season.
Always ready to play = appeared in 44 games in four years?
I heard the draft picks are contingent on how many OPI’s he gets called for the in ’09 season.
The always ready to play attitude that the rest of the team seemed to lose on account of being smothered by the Donato’s loving head coach
also, he calls himself a “soldier” because Kellen in Gaelic (that’s the Irish language) means warrior. Besides I think only in Cleveland could a player be reprimanded for being intense on and off the field….like that’s a bad thing?
It’s third and 5, Anderson take the snap, looks to pass. Oh well.Kellen you will be missed .If we listen to the talk show know nothings and the fish hacks. Tampa must be real dumb. BTW Garcia couldn’t play here neither he was done as well.