February 13, 2008

The Cleveland Plain Dealer
by Tony Grossi

Maybe Kellen Winslow Jr.'s desire for a new contract is rooted in the
suspicion that his career may be shortened by his repeated knee surgeries.

The Browns tight end is considering whether to have another surgery on
his right knee. That's the knee that was ripped apart when he crashed
his motorcycle practicing wheelies in a parking lot in May of 2005. It
has been cut open at least four times already.

Winslow has admitted he will never be the player he could have been
because of the surgeries. Yes, he is correct in calling himself an elite
tight end. He made 171 catches the last two years.

But the knee takes a terrible pounding over the course of the
seven-month season starting in training camp. And by the time December
rolls around, Winslow is not the same player as in September and October.

In each of his two full years, Winslow's production has dropped
noticeably in the "money" month of December. You don't necessarily see
it in the number of catches, but in the plays he makes after them. By
then, of course, defensive game plans are focused on stopping him.

Winslow's best catch of last year came at the end of the Arizona game in
Game 12. Unfortunately, the acrobatic grab was ruled no catch because
Winslow came down, according to the officials, out of the end zone.

That's been the problem. Winslow has not seen the end zone in 10
December games. Zero touchdowns on 43 catches.

That drought should have been broken in the 2007 finale against San
Francisco. But Winslow dropped Brady Quinn's pass in the end zone.

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