An ill-fated motorcycle accident in 2005 may have set the stage for a brilliant but short-lived career for Browns third-year tight end Kellen Winslow.
Winslow underwent reconstructive surgery on his right knee after the accident, then needed microfracture surgery on it in the past off-season. While he's tied with receiver Braylon Edwards for the team lead in receptions with 29 and is second in yards with 506, Winslow admitted Thursday that the knee is giving him more problems than the left shoulder he separated in week 3 at Oakland.
His tone made it sound like the knee would never be 100 percent again.
"My knee still hurts a lot," he said. "It's not my speed, it's my burst, but I play through it. It's not a healthy knee. I've been playing through it for two years. Imagine if I was healthy."
It seems amazing Winslow played 16 games in 2006, catching 89 passes for 875 yards and 3 TDs. His practice time had to be closely monitored and limited. He's always the last man on the practice field this season.
But Browns offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, Winslow's position coach at Miami and a fellow Hurricane, is trying to make the most of what he has for as long as he has him. Chudzinski is moving Winslow and Edwards around, making them two of the biggest receiving threats in the league.
Winslow may not match his receiving total of last season, but he's Cleveland's toughest player. General manager Phil Savage has to hope that Winslow can last long enough to put the struggling franchise back on the NFL map.
Maybe the Browns can chip in and buy the man a walker when he retires in three years.
Kellen makes some incredible catches. It was really fun to watch the win against St. Louis today. His grit will allow him to play as long as he desires. Football is not a game to play because you feel great.
I wish I were hurt that bad. He looks PRETTY GOOD to me. Keep it up Kellen and best wishes for good health. The rest is coming naturally. GO BROWNS!
P.S. Hey Kellen, can you hit a baseball?
Kellen may never be as good as he could have been. I know because I still have knee trouble 10 years since my knee surgery and I was only down with a meniscus tear. I have problems with BOTH knees at times.
We should enjoy him while we can. Chud obviously know how bad Winslow is hurting because he doesn't have him down in a 3-point stance all day like regular tight ends. Praise his toughness, because to play through pain and still be great is exausting. He could have been as good as his father if not for the motorcycle crash, but that crash taught him a valuable lesson. If it hadn't happened when it did it could have happened later on when he was truly valuable to the team and devistated us. Now, he says he will never ride again. It hurt everybody in the organization, but it could have been worse. He could have died or gotten injured while riding when the Browns were in a playoff run.
This article would be more aptly titled, "The Price of Stupidity".