BEREA — Another bizarre Monday in Browns Town began with general manager Phil Savage tersely declaring the Kellen Winslow Jr. soap opera “over with.”
Minutes later, the embattled tight end declared, with a smile on his face, that he was “ready to move on and play football.”
Though their statements were delivered in vastly different manners, both made it clear to everyone inside Cleveland’s training facility that the controversy had been put to rest.
“Kellen Winslow is back in the building,” coach Romeo Crennel said. “I’m glad to have him back and I think he’s glad to be back. I think (his teammates) know that Kellen is a good player, and I think for the most part, they all want Kellen to be on this team.
“I think he’s got a good attitude and he’s excited about coming back and helping the team.”
Winslow’s attitude last week prompted the Browns to hit him with a one-game suspension for comments the team called “unwarranted, inappropriate and unnecessarily disparaging,” in regards to his latest staph infection.
Though that punishment was rescinded late Saturday and replaced with a $25,000 fine, the Pro Bowler was made inactive for Cleveland’s 23-17 win Sunday in Jacksonville. Savage then added fuel to the fire after the game by hinting that Winslow had an additional medical problem beyond staph.
“If there’s going to be disclosure, there’s got to be full disclosure,” Savage said at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. “I think it’s all in a gray area right now. You can ask him.”
Less than 24 hours later, the GM sang a different tune in Berea as preparations began to play the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
“Once and for all, Kellen’s illness was determined to be a staph infection,” Savage said. “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. The team meets at 1 o’clock.
“That’s the end of the story. It is over with. There is no secondary illness — staph infection.”
Savage then briskly walked out of the Browns’ media center without taking questions, but Winslow was willing to do so on a limited basis in the locker room.
“Mr. Savage and I talked, Mr. (owner Randy) Lerner and I talked, and we worked everything out,” he said. “They knew where I was coming from and I understood where they were coming from, so it is all worked out.
“We worked out our differences and we’re ready to move on and win some games.”
Though Winslow is widely considered one of the top tight ends in the NFL, Cleveland has gone 2-0 without him and posted its two highest-scoring totals of the season (against the Giants and Jaguars).
Yet, no one who understands football would argue the Browns are a better team without “K2.” Cleveland’s head coach expressed that opinion, as did several of Winslow’s teammates, including linebacker Andra Davis.
“He’s our teammate and he’s ready to go to work,” Davis said. “He’s ready to play and he’s ready to beat the Ravens. We’re glad to have him back.”
Because Winslow’s suspension/non-suspension caused him to sit out an entire week of practice, Crennel would not commit to him being in the starting lineup against Baltimore. But he also wouldn’t rule it out and extolled his value to the team several times.
“I am not saying he is the starter, but don’t be surprised if he is the starter,” he said.
Crennel also dismissed speculation that Winslow will be traded at the end of the season, openly bristling about comparisons between his staph-related outburst and the boorish behavior of Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey in 2007. New York dealt Shockey to New Orleans shortly after winning the Super Bowl in February.
“I know this player (Winslow) and this player didn’t do some of the things that Shockey did over there,” Crennel said. “I’m not going to pass judgment on that situation, but all I know is my player here on this team. He wants to be a Brown and he’s going to give us a good performance.”
Winslow, whose 21 receptions are one behind team leader Braylon Edwards, again professed his devotion to the Browns without being prompted. He also patiently met with two sets of reporters — some of whom were not present when he made his initial series of comments — which is exceedingly rare in pro sports.
“I’ve got this quote right here, ‘Without struggle there is no progress’” Winslow calmly said, pointing to one of his numerous arm tattoos. “I live by that quote, and it is just going to make me stronger.
“I am excited to get back to playing football, doing what I love to do. I just really see this as a challenge, so I am going to meet it.”
Contact Brian Dulik at (330) 721-4059 or brisports@hotmail.com.

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