BEREA — Eric Mangini was named Browns coach on Jan. 8, 2009. Exactly 50 days later, he traded Kellen Winslow II to Tampa Bay.

They never sat down for a meeting, nor did they talk about the standout tight end’s demands for a new con­tract. They simply — in pro football terms — divorced. “I don’t really know what to say about that,” Winslow said Wednesday. “I mean, I have to just move on, and I’m here now.

“I’m having fun, and we’re riding with (Buccaneers coach) Raheem (Morris). We love him so much. He’s a leader of men. He has us right. Trust me.”

Sunday afternoon, Mangini and “K2” will finally be brought together — on opposite sides of the field — when Tampa Bay hosts Cleveland in Week 1 of the NFL regular season.

Though there are other storylines at play, none will be more closely watched than their first face-to­face encounter.

“No question, Kellen is going to be really fired up,” Browns safety Mike Adams said. “And I’m going to be fired up, as well, to see him out there. You know it will be a great battle because of the kind of competitor he is.”

Winslow, who turned 27 in July, is essentially the same player he was in Cleveland.

Still next to impossible to bring down when he gets a full head of steam, he broke the Buccaneers’ tight end records for receptions (77) and receiving yards (884) last season.

Along the way, the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder also endeared himself to his new teammates and coaches with his all-out playing style.

“He’s a great player, period. He comes to work every day and he loves what he does,” Tampa Bay cornerback Ronde Barber said. “I knew who he was, but I don’t judge guys until I meet them. He’s a great pro and I have a lot of respect for his talent.”

So does Morris, who had nothing but positive things to say about his leading receiver and top offensive threat — both on and off the field.

“I don’t know if you want to call it maturity or being a grown man, but he’s out of the bold prediction game these days,” the second-year coach said.

“As far as being fired up to play Cleveland, I don’t know if there is a game on our schedule that he won’t be fired up about. He’s just a fired up young man, an excited individual who gets everyone to come along with him.”

Yet, that same all-out intensity caused Winslow to wear out his welcome with the Browns. Many veterans bristled about his outspoken nature and alpha-dog personality, which they blamed for causing friction in the locker room.

Mangini wouldn’t address those issues directly, but certainly didn’t speak warmly about Winslow when asked.

“Look, he’s a very good player and I really respect the things that he does as a player,” the coach said. “It was an opportunity from a trade perspective that we talked about and it’s the decision that we made at that point.”

In exchange for Winslow, who was coming off a Pro Bowl season, Cleveland received a second-round draft pick in 2009 and a fifth-round choice in 2010.

The former selection turned into wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, while the latter wound up being part of two trades — ultimately sending Braylon Edwards to the Jets, while bringing Chansi Stuckey, Jason Trusnik, Chris Gocong and Sheldon Brown to the Browns.

Winslow, who underwent his sixth knee surgery in the offseason, said he was grateful for the opportunity to move on. However, he was quick to add that he had some good memories of Cleveland.

“Of course, man,” said Winslow, who had a Browns record-tying 89 receptions in 2006. “Everything that went on there with Cleveland was a growing process for me. I really grew up and matured. It was hard because we weren’t winning a lot, and it was just frustrating at times.”

Ironically, he went from a bad situation to a worse one as the Buccaneers finished with two fewer wins than the Browns (3-13 to 5-11).

Winslow, though, says he is relishing the chance to help Tampa Bay return to prominence. He even is embracing a subtle leadership role, which would have been unfathomable regardless of how long he stayed in Cleveland.

“You know this is year seven for me, I’m nowhere close to there yet,” a laughing Winslow said, acknowledging that he still has a ways to go. “Yeah, I am one of the older guys on the team and it is kind of weird, but man, we ride for Raheem. I’m just trying to do my part.”

Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com.

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