Browns general manager Phil Savage is willing to listen. But he's not in a rush to renegotiate tight end Kellen Winslow's contract that has three years remaining because Cleveland has other priorities.

First up is free agency, which begins Friday. Then thoughts must turn to finding defensive players in the April 26-27 draft to revamp the front seven of a 30th-ranked unit.

Winslow's agent Drew Rosenhaus said last week at the NFL Combine that he'd discussed the matter with the Browns. Winslow first said he'd like a new deal during an interview with Sirius NFL Radio at the Pro Bowl.

While Winslow has posted two outstanding seasons and is among the league's best tight ends, he's signed through 2010. His contract carries salaries of $4 million in 2008, $4.5 million in 2009 and $4.75 million in 2010.

"We'd listen to anything," Savage said Thursday. "Right now is not the right time to be talking about it because our focus is on other things. Not to take anything away from his value to our team. That's a question I guess everyone would ask, 'Why would you do something with three years remaining on a contract?' Especially when the Browns have shown tremendous patience in dealing with Kellen and giving him an opportunity to come back."

Savage was referring to Winslow's 2005 motorcycle accident, which has resulted in four surgeries on his right knee. Riding a motorcycle was a violation of his contract and the Browns could have sought to recoup part of his $6 million signing bonus and a $4.4 million option bonus.

"The Browns easily could have gone a totally different route and changed the course of history for him and this team," Savage said. "Quite a lot if we'd decided to do other things. We didn't do that because we felt he was a good player and he's shown he is a good player."

As for a recent report by the Columbus Dispatch that the Browns and Winslow are at odds over surgery on his left shoulder, Savage said, "The shoulder, he ended up playing most of the year with it. You would assume it could be strengthened some over the off-season. I'm not going to say one way or the other whether we prefer (it) or not. It's his body. He sought some different opinions and has opted not to do it at this particular time."

Rosenhaus said at the combine that Winslow's shoulder is fine. It was separated late in a loss at Oakland on Sept. 23.

On Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine, Browns general manager Phil Savage sounded pessimistic and disappointed about the prospects of getting quarterback Derek Anderson signed before the start of free agency. But there are reasons to believe not all is lost.

Over the weekend one league source called Anderson a "one-year wonder" and an Internet report Monday night on Scout.com said Anderson's agent heard more of the same during his time in Indianapolis.

Even the "one year" estimate may be generous, considering Anderson threw nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions in the last seven games. Needing only to beat Cincinnati Dec. 23 to clinch a playoff berth, Anderson tied his career-high with four interceptions. He still finished with a 10-5 record as a starter and threw 29 touchdown passes, one shy of Brian Sipe's team mark.

But the reported chilly reception in Indianapolis and Anderson's poor performance in the Pro Bowl could convince agent Mark Humenik of Athletes First to come around to the Browns' way of thinking on a three-year deal.

Cleveland may have to sweeten the pot, but might be willing considering its relatively low payroll for its top two quarterbacks in 2007. Anderson made the league-minimum of $435,000 last season, while rookie Brady Quinn earns $2 million as a backup. Even with Quinn due a reported $4.3 million roster bonus in March, the Browns may look at the big picture, realize those are bargain prices and up their offer to make sure they get another year to evaluate Anderson.

The Scout.com report may be only the beginning of the rampant speculation and wild rumors that surround free agency. But even if there has been no breakthrough in talks, there may have been an awakening on the Anderson side based on conversations in Indianapolis.

Anderson becomes a restricted free agent at 12:01 Friday. In a worse-case scenario, Cleveland
will offer him the highest tender of $2.562 million by 4 p.m. Thursday. But it may not come to that.

Observers can only guess what kind of effect Browns quarterback Derek Anderson's poor performance in Sunday's Pro Bowl will have on ongoing contract negotiations.

In the AFC's 42-30 loss, Anderson completed 10 of 26 passes for 103 yards with no touchdowns and an interception for a quarterback rating of 34.6.

Those who had some interest in the soon-to-be restricted free agent surely will notice he had the lowest rating of the six quarterbacks who saw action. Anderson's 34.6 rating also suffered in comparison to those of Peyton Manning (118.5), Ben Roethlisberger (104.8), Matt Hasselbeck (139.8), Jeff Garcia (109.2) and Tony Romo (85.2), who didn't appear to be there just for the sun and fun.

Anderson proved valuable to AFC and San Diego coach Norv Turner in the first half, signalling plays to Manning and Roethlisberger because Turner's Chargers and the Browns run the same offense. But lip-readers could have had a field day in the second half watching Turner's expressions and remarks while Anderson threw behind receivers, even teammates Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow.

Ironically, even Garcia (who lasted just one season in Cleveland when then-coach Butch Davis asked him to run an offense he wasn't suited for) appeared to be on a different level than Anderson. Anderson played the entire second half and with the game on the line in the fourth quarter and facing virtually no defense, he couldn't move his team.

Will the Browns believe one bad Sunday in Hawaii was meaningless, or will it help convince them that Brady Quinn is their quarterback of the future? Will they pull back in their efforts to sign him to a multi-year contract? And perhaps more importantly to Anderson's future, what will the rest of the league think? Will anyone want to give the Browns first- and third-round draft choices if Cleveland offers him the highest tender of $2.562 million later this month? It only takes one team, of course, but that possibility might be a little less likely.

There may be a drought of top-flight quarterbacks in the league. But when Anderson got his chance to step on the field with most of them, he didn't measure up.

To no one's surprise, Browns tight end Kellen Winslow said during a Friday radio interview from the Super Bowl that he will undergo another surgery on his right knee.

Winslow could have had the operation shortly after the Dec. 30 season finale, but elected to wait, hoping to be named to the AFC's Pro Bowl team. The first alternate, Winslow received word Monday he would be going to Hawaii, replacing San Diego's Antonio Gates, who was bothered by a toe injury in the playoffs. The game is Feb. 10 in Honolulu.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel said last week he had no problem with Winslow's decision to delay any surgeries.

Winslow's knee was initially injured in a motorcycle accident in the spring of 2005 and underwent extensive repair. In the previous off-season, Winslow needed microfracture surgery on the same knee. He made an amazingly quick recovery from that procedure, playing in 16 games in 2007 and catching 82 passes for a career-high 1,106 yards and five touchdowns. He also separated his left shoulder in a Sept. 23 game at Oakland.

"I'm definitely going to have a surgery done on my knee," Winslow told WKNR radio. “My shoulder might be strong enough … I'm just really worried about my knee. Your legs are your life. I need my knee."

In his season-in-review press conference, general manager Phil Savage said he expected Winslow to need knee and shoulder procedures.

"He's still hoping he gets a chance to go," Savage said of the Feb. 10 Pro Bowl. "If he doesn't go, he might have some additional work done, potentially on the shoulder, too. It's unfortunate every off-season he's been in rehab. Kellen really loves to play. He's such an extremely competitive player that he'll find a way to get to the field."

Winslow has never been shy about touting his abilities, saying in December that when he's on the field, he's feels he's the best at what he does. On Friday, the former University of Miami All-American wondered how much better he would be if he didn't have to deal with the chronic knee injury.

Even playing in pain, Winslow has caught 171 passes for 1,981 yards and eight touchdowns the past two seasons. His yardage total in 2007 ranks third on the team's all-time single-season receiving list behind Braylon Edwards (1,289 in 2007) and Webster Slaughter (1,236 in 1989).

"You know, I'm not healthy,” Winslow told WKNR. “I do what I can to play as well as I can, but just imagine if I was healthy, like was I was back in college …. it would be unfair.”