What exactly is it with Browns general manager Phil Savage?

From AP:

After Sunday's 23-17 win in Jacksonville, Savage downplayed the importance of the text messages and said he and Winslow's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, had been working toward a settlement since Thursday.

Savage also suggested Winslow had been hospitalized for something other than staph and the club was trying to protect the player's privacy.

"If there's going to be disclosure, there's got to be full disclosure," Savage said outside Cleveland's locker room in Jacksonville. "We were trying to do the right thing by him and his family."

Savage was asked why Winslow had been hospitalized.

"I don't know," said Savage. "I think it's all in a gray area right now. You can ask him (Winslow)."

Before coach Romeo Crennel's news conference Monday, an agitated Savage came into the team's media room to discuss his postgame comments.

"Once and for all, Kellen's illness was determined to be a staph infection," Savage said tersely. "He had been in the hospital for two or three days; it takes a couple days to figure out what something is. Secondly, there was no secondary illness. Thirdly, he is in the building, he has worked out and the team meets at 1 o'clock.

"That's the end of the story. It is over with, OK? There is no secondary illness. Staph infection. Everybody's got it, right?"

If that's the end of the story, maybe Savage shouldn't have caroused reporters who are inherently curious. Who else was exactly talking or writing about this issue? As far as I can tell, all the reporters were writing the "Winslow is back with the team" story. Outside of Jerry Jones of the Cowboys, what other general manager in the NFL goes out of his way like this to discuss things with the media?

Can it be a good thing? Sure, Savage's Thursday appearances on WTAM are wildly informative. But there is a proper time and place for Savage to be addressing the media. This is not one of them.

Savage is proven to be an incredibly adept talent evaluator, but if he continues to talk to the media like this, it could change the perception people have of him.

Notes…
Think on this one optimists: The Browns have won three of the last four games and have four of the next five games at home.

Safety Nick Sorenson, who helped break up the final play of the game in the end zone, did so with a mild concussion.

Stats, stats, stats
• Did you know Jamal Lewis is on pace for about 1,100 yards rushing this year?
• D'Qwell Jackson is fifth in the league in tackles with 66. Fellow middle linebacker Andra Davis only has 32. Shaun Rogers is second with 36.
• The Browns are plus-six in turnover margin. That's usually not a good predictor of future success.
• Joshua Cribbs is averaging five less yards per punt return this year compared to 2007
• The 51-yard touchdown catch by Steven Heiden is two yards longer than any play Winslow has made as a Browns player

From an unattributed statement issued by the Browns:

"The Cleveland Browns are pleased to have this matter behind us. We have worked through our differences and look forward to having Kellen return."

Winslow will not lose the $235,294 paycheck for today's game but will not play. The deal is that a Browns public relations person texted Winslow asking him not to tell the media about his staph infection.

Here's part of a statement from Winslow:

"I do realize that I am a public person and my words, whether constructively articulated or expressed emotionally, carry a lot of weight in the public arena. My intentions were never meant to be disruptive or distracting to the Browns organization, but rather to voice my concerns about my medical condition. I am confident that the Browns organization has taken the necessary steps to make our facility a healthy working environment.

"I formally reiterate my respect for the Browns organization, my teammates and the city of Cleveland. I look forward to getting back to playing football and being a productive member of this team. It's now time to focus on winning."

So where did Winslow get the staph from? A car door?

For about the last 24 hours or so, when word of Kellen Winslow's suspension leaked out, I've been trying to think about what to write.

Is it Winslow's fault? Is it Romeo Crennel's fault? Is it Phil Savage's fault?

At first, I blamed it on Savage, considering he couldn't spare a few minutes to give one of his stars a call while he was in the hospital. (And apparently doesn't do it with other players)

Then, I blamed Winslow. He needed to more callous with the entire situation and not spout off to the media.

Earlier today, I was blaming Crennel for not telling the team. From AP:

Despite a disturbing number of staph cases in recent years, the Browns did not inform their other players that tight end Kellen Winslow was hospitalized with a staph infection earlier this month.

One day after the Browns suspended the Pro Bowl tight end for one game without pay for comments and behavior disparaging to the organization, coach Romeo Crennel said the team kept Winslow's illness private after reaching an agreement with him not to disclose his medical condition.

"He was in the hospital and it was a personal issue," Crennel said Wednesday in explaining the team's decision to keep Winslow's illness from his teammates.

Patrick McManamon has a very good recap of the whole scenario on his blog. Since he gets paid to do it, he's much better at this conjecture than I am, so check it out.

Now that this thing has basically run its course, I'm back to blaming Savage. Take away the blabbing to the media aspect of the situation, and it's incredibly hard to fault Winslow. Is anything he had to say incorrect? If he was just complaining about the team playing bad, would he be suspended?

Most people are convinced he's only doing this because he's upset about his contract situation. Others think he was suspended because the Browns don't want him.

I don't believe either.

To me, this is just a situation of "Kellen being Kellen" and the Browns holding him on a short leash due to his attitude and the motorcycle incident.

Still, Savage could have remedied the situation just by giving Winslow a call in the hospital and being up front with the media about the situation. Problem solved.

Instead, as McManamon wrote today, Winslow's days in Cleveland are numbered. And that's sad. He's a heck of a lot of fun to watch and plays the game the right way.

Notes…
Indeed, there is more going on with a 2-4 team than a staph infection situation. Such as…

Wait, actually there isn't. Check back in tomorrow because I'll have some thoughts on what I want to see in Sunday's game. Please note, it will include nothing about Kellen Winslow!

On Sunday, I'll be live-blogging the game, so stop in and say hello.

- Akron Beacon Journal (Marla Ridenour): Capital punishment
- Akron Beacon Journal (Marla Ridenour): Winslow's complaint 'bigger than the game'
- Canton Repository (Steve Doerschuk): Defense improves each week
- News-Herald (Jeff Schudel): Anderson should keep job for another week
- Plain Dealer (Terry Pluto): Browns season quickly becoming pointless
- Richmond Times-Dispatch (Paul Woody): Skins can succeed in survival mode

- What I'm saying today: Really, who didn't expect this to happen? When someone complains to you about being a pessimistic Cleveland sports fan, point to this game. As good as their record may be, the Redskins are a beatable team for the Browns. Apparently, Derek Anderson, Braylon Edwards and the run defense couldn't figure that out.

Just forget what happened in the fourth quarter. This was embarrassing. Anderson does not look like a starting quarterback. Edwards needs a serious ego (and hand) check. The run defense is just atrocious. Perhaps Kamerion Wimbley should only be in the game during pass rush situations because he's a serious liability against the run.

More on this game to come. Maybe from me, maybe from Luke. Kudos to Leon Williams for a good game and Kellen Winslow for just getting out there.

Oh, before I forget, Romeo Crennel needs to go. It doesn't matter when, this team isn't making the playoffs.

It's maybe a little late in the week to for sure if tight end Kellen Winslow will play Sunday, but at least he's back at team facilities. From AP:

Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow has returned to the team, though he has not been cleared to practice after being hospitalized with an undisclosed illness.

Winslow was seen walking the hallway in the Browns' headquarters Thursday. Coach Romeo Crennel says the Pro Bowler might practice Friday as Cleveland continues preparing for Sunday's game in Washington.

Winslow fell ill last week and spent three nights in the Cleveland Clinic. He was discharged Sunday but was inactive for Cleveland's 35-14 upset of the New York Giants on Monday.

Now the real question becomes do the Browns actually need him on Sunday? The offense ticked against a stellar Giants defense and Steve Heiden is a much better run blocker.

Also, anyone else hear the Eagles inquired about sending the Browns a first-round draft pick for Winslow on Tuesday? While it's not a trade the team should make, it is interesting.

Also interesting is this column Patrick McManamon wrote today.

Travis & Travis sounds like a law firm.

It's not, but two players who share that name – Travis Thomas and Travis Wilson – may actually make contributions to the Browns this year.  I mentioned Thomas in my post earlier today.

Wilson has been drawing a lot of attention because the former third round draft pick out of Oklahoma looks to be living up to the potential that the Browns saw in him when they took him in the '06 draft.  Like Thomas, Wilson continues to impress with his consistency in camp.  He snared several passes in the evening practice.  That hasn't been the problem throughout his career, however. Catching them consistently has been.

A situation exists in on this team that the third receiver role is wide open and it's anyone's for the taking.  Josh Cribbs has had little problem believing he's up to the task.  Yet, it's Wilson who continues to catch the attention of fans and the assembled media.

If Kellen Winslow plays in games the way he is during training camp, opposing linebackers and DBs will be in trouble.  Winslow caught several balls this evening and looked unstoppable on runs after those catches.  His potential backup, fourth-round choice Martin Rucker, also got in the act looking good on one reception.

The big question on the defensive side of the ball very well may be who is Alex Hall is.  Should you make it to training camp, play close attention.  The linebacker defensed several passes like a veteran.

Today felt like a pro football training camp – hot, sticky and a sun beating down so ferociously you felt as if you were the main dish at a Thanksgiving Day turkey dinner – and that's just how I felt.

But that sizzling, sultry air the Browns looked to get some serious work done.

Offensively, observers couldn't help but notice a package of plays that that unity worked on that revolved around kick returner-wide receiver and former Kent State Golden Flash, Joshua Cribbs.

They showed a number of plays that had Cribbs taking a direct snap, running an option and throwing the ball.  While Rob Chudzinski's offense flashed a little of this last season, Cribbs said after practice that they are looking to implementing it more this year.  He suggested that it will go a long way toward helping to keep opposing teams off balance defensively.

 Indeed, that would add some more wrinkles to the Browns' O, but what that unit really needs is for Cribbs, or another receiver, to step up and claim the No. 3 spot in that corps.  With Joe Jurevicius out until at least the start of the season, the Browns will need someone with soft hands to fill that role.  Cribbs, should he develop some consistency (he dropped a couple of balls in practice Tuesday), could fill that spot.

From what I've seen in the practices I've been to thus far, the offensive line possesses the potential to be dominating.  Courtesy of explosion off the ball, the O-line opened holes for all of the running backs to waltz through.  Jamal Lewis showed an impressive mix of power and speed.  Jerome Harrison showed some breakaway speed as did Jason Wright.  Rookie free agent Travis Thomas (Notre Dame) made the most of his limited opportunities.

Defensively, Brandon McDonald, the second-year cornerback who made Leigh Bodden expendable in the off season blanketed almost every receiver he covered and Mike Adams grabbed an interception off a pass tipped by wide receiver Travis Wilson.  Although they're not allowed to touch the quarterbacks, on some plays it was obvious that the defensive line at bare minimum would have forced a bad pass.