Kellen Winslow and His Infection Would Like Some Private Time With the Media, Please

↵The latest justification the Browns are trotting out to defend their suspension of Kellen Winslow is that he verbally abused a team PR flak after last week’s game against Washington (via FanHouse). Winslow’s hot because the Browns tried to cover up their own accused culpabililty in Winslow’s illness ... which happened to be a staph infection ... which Winslow blames on subpar conditions at the Browns facility.
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↵Obviously, the media in intrinsic to the dispute, since the team bases its beef with Winslow on his disparaging statements regarding the staph problems in addition to the exchange with the flak. Luckily, reporters tend to record things.
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↵And really, the content the Cleveland Plain Dealer has published includes one curse word, which isn’t directed at the PR employee involved. The reporter acknowledges no voices were raised. I know verbal abuse and, sirs, this is no verbal abuse. Unless there were exchanges after reporters left (entirely possible), the accusation doesn’t match up with the facts. Winslow repeatedly requests the flak leave him alone to talk to reporters, and the PR employee does her job by standing firm. Suspend Winslow for ignoring team rules, sure, but don’t exaggerate the claims when evidence to the contrary is readily available.
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↵Whatever the truth, it’s clear Winslow and the Browns don’t get along. Lucky for Cleveland, the tight end seems to be on good terms with the coaches and his teammates. This player certainly won’t be the first cat to hit the field despite having beef with the front office.↵