Possibilities appear limitless
Winslow's return a welcome sight in Browns' camp
Friday, June 16, 2006
Tony Grossi
Cleveland Plain Dealer
The return of Kellen Winslow Jr. to the practice field at Browns minicamp today marks a welcome milestone in the tight end's pro career.
The team's top draft pick in 2004 hasn't been in full uniform since fracturing his right fibula and tearing ankle ligaments in his second NFL game on Sept. 19, 2004.
He missed the remainder of his rookie season healing from those injuries, and then all of his second year was lost because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee suffered in a motorcycle wreck on May 1, 2005.
Coach Romeo Crennel's mandatory minicamp will give reporters their first look at Winslow in action in 21 months, albeit in shorts and no pads. The five practices through Sunday are closed to the public.
Winslow has been an enthusiastic participant in Crennel's organized team activities leading up to the minicamp. His recovery from knee surgery last June is proceeding without a hitch, team officials say, putting him on course to start training camp next month at 100 percent health.
"If anything, we've tried to rein him in," General Manager Phil Savage said. "He's able to cut laterally, get in and out of breaks. You just sense when he's split out and the ball's going in his direction, the team is watching to see how he is doing. I think they are anxious to see what he is all about."
Receiver Braylon Edwards - the other half of the Browns' dream duo in their revamped passing attack - won't be available at this minicamp and will be limited in what he can do in training camp.
Edwards tore his right ACL after catching two touchdown passes from Charlie Frye in the Jacksonville game Dec. 4. He had surgery a month later. The nine- to 12-month recovery timetable may leave him inactive until a month or more into the season.
"We need someone to emerge while Braylon's rehabbing," Savage said. "That's a question for us: Who is it going to be?"
Dennis Northcutt and Joe Jurevicius are the designated starters at this minicamp. The candidates for the No. 3 job are Frisman Jackson, Brandon Rideau, Joshua Cribbs and rookie third-round draft pick Travis Wilson.
"The opportunity is going to be there for somebody. I think they all see that," Savage said.
Other position battles that will be set up this weekend but not really waged until training camp are:
Complementary running back to starter Reuben Droughns. That comes down essentially to Lee Suggs trying to stay healthy and stave off an expected challenge from fifth-round draft pick Jerome Harrison.
Right inside linebacker. Savage said second-round rookie D'Qwell Jackson and Chaun Thompson have been lining up there in team activities. Fourth-round pick Leon Williams has played behind Andra Davis on the left side. Matt Stewart has lined up on the outside, for the most part.
Strong safety. Brodney Pool and Sean Jones will vie for the safety position closer to the line of scrimmage. Brian Russell is expected to maintain the deep safety spot.
Fourth cornerback after starting contenders Gary Baxter, Daylon McCutcheon and Leigh Bodden. Candidates include 2005 fourth-round pick Antonio Perkins, 2006 fifth-round pick DeMario Minter, Pete Hunter and James Thornton.
Minicamp is kind of the NFL's version of touch football - no major contact, no pads, limited speed. Quarterbacks and receivers should stand out. Historically, few jobs are won on the field in June.
But Savage argues that the five practices held this weekend are relevant.
"First impressions go a long way," he said. "If a guy comes in and can't run through the bags and can't do some of these drills in shorts, whether the coaches admit it or not, they're thumbs down on the guy.
"I would say it's important. We're not playing flag football, but we judge it, that's for sure."
