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Full Take: |
What do the Browns need to do about Kellen Winslow? Click to read takes from Fletch and Mark
The Gospel according to Fletch:
When it comes to Kellen Winslow's antics on Sunday, I give him credit for speaking his mind. It's something that many players seem afraid to do, at least on the record or when they do there is someone overlooking their shoulder shutting them up.
So kudos for the Kellen.
Even LeCharles Bentley, who dreamed of playing for the hometown team, was frustrated with his ordeal, and although he didn't get as deep as Winslow, he spoke his mind a bit and let people know it ain't all rosy in Berea.
Now as for Winslow the player, he's good, there is no doubt about it, but in my opinion, he has become a cancer in the lockeroom, just as CC Sabathia seemed to be when he was with the Indians. Funny, how when Sabathia left, the Tribe began to have fun again, and win games.
Seems as if Winslow and a few of the other black sheep in the Browns lockeroom have become detrimental to the health of the Browns, and we're not talking injury here. Everyone knows that Winslow is crying about his contract. He's upset that Derek Anderson got an extension, and he wants more.
The Browns obviously knew he was a problem before this year, and in drafting Martin Rucker, who I feel will when healthy will be even better than Winslow, showed he was expendable.
Granted the last two years Winslow has had huge years, with 171 receptions, and close to 2,000 yards in receiving. But this year his projected totals are down. Remember, this is a guy who takes a beating each week, and to add to that, he had a beating from a motorcycle snafu a few years back, meaning his body is wearing out. How many surgeries can one take?
When he was supposed to be rehabbing again this summer, he was playing basketball in a gym with kids in Lorain County, unbeknown to the team. Another fact saying, " I care only about me, not you."
Then there is the fact he is from the U, as players refer to it, and for a long time, Miami players were known for being cocky, loud and classless. That doesn't work in the NFL, and from what Browns GM Phil Savage said during hi weekly radio show it sure as hades does not sit well with the team.
“The Browns are bigger than one person,” Savage said. “We couldn't and won’t allow one person to tear down the organization, so we had to do something.”
Savage was referring to the one game suspension, which to Winslow, is like the Joe the plumber losing $20. Chump change.
It is a statement, yes, but more needs to be done, although I believe the players association will overrule the decision, and if it gets heated other players with staph who seem to be disgruntled by the handling of the situation, may finally speak their minds, which will not bode well for the organization.
Funny how now, the NFL will not hear his case until after the Jacksonville game, meaning a week without Winslow in the lockers.
Josh Cribbs had a chance to chime in on the situation during practice on Wednesday. He had this to say, which is interesting.
“This is the NFL. They own us, we are products to the NFL. We are bound by certain rules to keep the integrity of not only the NFL, but the team, " Cribbs said. "Sometimes things will be said in the heat of the moment, taken out of context, or the wrong way emotionally but what’s done is done. We talked with him as a team and as individuals and his head is in the right place right now."
Now.????? How long was it in the wrong place?
Which goes back to the cancer bit. It appears the players were not happy either with Winslow's antics following the Redskins game as indicated by the rest of what Cribbs had to say.
" Kellen always says what he feels, he speaks his mind," said Cribbs. " We have advised him to keep it amongst the team, he understands and he is going to own up to everything like a man and that is what he is doing. ”
Head coach Romeo Crennel believes that the things which happened with Winslow are able to be fixed.
“I think it is repairable. Kellen is not a bad kid," said Crennel. " I have a pretty decent relationship with Kellen. With me personally I feel that relations are repairable and we will go forward.”
It is funny though, that with Winslow out of the lineup against the Giants, the team played as just that, a team, and played like everyone thought they could. Should they do this again this week against the Jaguars, well then the writing is on the wall. Winslow will not be a big part of the equation moving on.
A solution? Trade him to the Cowboys for Jason Whitten, who is a class act and let him be with the TO's of the world.
Still, I have to give the guy credit. He is the first player since the team came back in 1999 to finally speak his mind. I'm sure there are plenty others out there, and one day it will make a good book.
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Mark's take:
Kellen Winslow’s remarks about the Cleveland Browns may have been him just expressing his thoughts and concerns, but those words have cost him. There’s obviously something a little deeper than what is being exposed to the media because he and Phil Savage seem to be going back and forth with the media on a he said, he said basis instead of working the situation out internally. Neither side is responding to the situation properly and is drawing more attention to problem than needed.
I realize staff infection is a very serious issue, but what more did Winslow need from the Browns? He gets paid multiple millions of dollars to play football. He needs to shut up and do his job. His words were out of disgust and frustration I’m sure, but he needs to stop being a cry baby. He basically is crying about the fact that the team gave him no special treatment. How many players are on the team? The Browns don’t have time to baby sit. They did everything they needed to do.
Phil Savage has responded to Winslow’s appeal and made comments about the suspension. This is just getting ridiculous. Savage said he had no choice but to suspend Winslow for this Sunday’s game. The remarks Savage made didn’t help the situation. He’s basically just retaliating to the fact that like Winslow pointing the finger directly at him. He said he was offended at Winslow’s comment that the Cleveland Browns organization does not care about their players.
I don’t know if the suspension is warranted. If anything, maybe this will teach Winslow to keep his answers simple. When approached by the media, he needs to stick to the question being asked, and not go on a rampant about how he’s being mistreated and that the team doesn’t care. He was asked about his recent illness and instead of confirming that he had a staff infection and was treated for the problem, he went on about how he has problems with the organization.
I’m already sick of this whole story. I’m beginning to dislike the Browns and am getting closer to jumping ship. The organization and Winslow are both in the wrong. Bottom line, Winslow needs to shut up and apologize to the organization to help calm the waters. The Browns need to ignore him, when he goes on with these tirades. By reacting, they are only making things worse. Winslow is now getting the attention he feels he deserves. The season is already down the drain and this story is just throwing salt on the open wound.
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