Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow said he felt like “a piece of meat” when Browns general manager Phil Savage didn’t visit him in the hospital while he dealt with a staph infection.
Winslow was put on ice by the Browns because of his open comments to the media on what his head coach Romeo Crennel called “family business.” The Browns suspended Winslow for one game and will lose $235,294 over comments criticizing the team’s handling of his illness.
Crennel nor Savage were happy with Winslow’s comments. Crennel said Winslow never took his issue up with the organization.
“If he has an issue, he should address it with the organization and not to the media,” Crennel said. “I don’t know how much you gain by that. He should come to the organization first and try to reach some kind of agreement. Then, if he’s not satisfied, he can go elsewhere.”
Savage was equally upset, considering he was the one was called by Winslow.
“His comments and behavior on Sunday evening, however, were unwarranted, inappropriate, and unnecessarily disparaging to our organization. His statements brought unjustified negative attention to our organization, and violated the team-first concept of our football squad. Therefore, disciplinary action will be taken in the form of a one-game suspension without pay for conduct detrimental to the club.”
Winslow has a reputation for letting his mouth get him into trouble. He made comments that raised some eyebrows while at Miami, but immediately apologized.
He was also in a serious motorcycle injury before his rookie season which cost him time on the field, marring the early stages of his career. But Winslow recovered and mounted an impressive 2007-08 season. He was still on track before his recent illness, posting a team-high 21 receptions for 187 yards and one touchdown.
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