Quick, name the leading receiver on the Bucs last year. Nope, it wasn’t impressive rookie Mike Williams and for those who said Joey Galloway, you’ve just embarrassed yourself.

It was none other than tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., who was one of the many players that helped transform the Bucs from a 3-13 team in 2009 to a 10-6 playoff contender in 2010. Due to the tough of the Super Bowl champion Packers the final two weeks, Tampa Bay missed the postseason but there’s no doubt the Bucs are a team to be reckoned with in the NFC.

Even though he’s concentrating on becoming a father any day now, Kellen took the time to chat with us recently about the Bucs’ resurgence, what he thought the key was to Josh Freeman’s development this past year and what his take is on the lack of progress in the CBA discussions. He also talked about his role in the Bucs’ offense and what he thinks the team needs to get over the hump. As we expected, he didn’t disappoint with his answers.

For more on Kellen, check out his official website, which has a bio, photos and more.

The Scores Report: Hey Kellen, how are you?

Kellen Winslow: Hey, how’s it going, man?

TSR: Real good! How’s your offseason going?

KW: Good. I’m just chilling and having a great time.

TSR: Did you enjoy the Super Bowl?

KW: Yeah, it was real good.

TSR: Did you end up going to any of the parties or the game?

KW: Nah, I don’t go. I don’t go unless we go, you know?

TSR: (Laughs) Makes sense. What did you think of your fellow NFC counterparts, the Packers?

KW: It was a good win for them. I was kind of surprised that the Steelers didn’t show up like I thought they would, you know?

TSR: Yeah, I think a lot of people were surprised, especially considering they’re a veteran-led team.

KW: Right.

TSR: So are you working with a relatively clean bill of health this offseason or are you rehabbing anything?

KW: No, I’m good this offseason. I’ve been feeling okay and I’ve been cycling. I found out that that keeps my knee real strong so I’ve just been doing that.

TSR: What was the key to the Bucs’ one-year turn around? Because you guys had a really young team both years, but in 2010 things seemed to take off and you were able to put together a winning season.

KW: You know what? I just think it had to do with the second year. People are growing. Raheem [Morris]…you know, Raheem is obviously our leader. People are following him, they’re getting used to playing with each other and just going out and executing on game day. That’s all it pretty much is.

TSR: You get to work with him every day so I’m wondering what your take is on Josh Freeman. What did you see in him specifically this year that you didn’t see his rookie year?

KW: Just experience, you know, experience playing. I think he got into the last six games in his first year and that was kind of his rookie experience. He didn’t play his full rookie season so the second year, he was still a rookie in terms of game experience. But he did awesome. He had a couple of games where he didn’t play like he wanted to but who doesn’t? We couldn’t have asked for more from him and he played phenomenal.

TSR: You just wrapped up your seventh season in the NFL. Besides what it takes physically to get ready each year, what do you do in the offseason to mentally prepare yourself for a new season? What does a veteran tight end in the NFL do to get himself ready when he’s already played seven years in the league?

KW: You know, I watch a ton of film. I watch, well, I watch myself but I watch other tight ends as well. I’ll watch [Antonio] Gates, I’ll watch Tony Gonzalez and I’ll watch Jason Witten. I think those are the three main guys I’ll watch just to learn how they block, or how they use their bodies to catch the ball and what moves they do. So yeah, I would say watching a lot of film of tight ends.

TSR: Well you must enjoy playing in the same division as Gonzalez because you get to see him twice a year.

KW: Yeah, especially him because I do see him twice a year and we play the same teams. I probably watch him the most. Myself, I like to read a lot of coverages. I like to know exactly the front they’re in, the coverage behind it, what blitz is coming, so I can envision it and go make the play.

TSR: How do you feel that the tight end position is evolving? Because there still seems to be a mix of guys that can block and guys that can catch, but in your opinion are there more and more guys that can do both nowadays?

KW: Yeah, there’s still a mix of tight ends though. You got a guy like Gates who is a very good receiving tight end. Tony, he does his fair share of blocking but he’s also a very good receiving tight end. A guy like Witten really has no weakness. I wouldn’t pick my routes from him as I would Gates or Tony Gonzalez, but Witten can do it all. But there are many different tight ends that you can learn from. You know, Zach Miller is a great, solid blocking tight end and a receiving tight end. So I think it’s all about what you want and what the teams need out of the position. There are tight ends everywhere now, you know?

TSR: Right, and that’s why I was asking. You take a team like the Patriots who nabbed two tight ends in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in the draft last year and used them both. I mean, once Bill Belichick traded Randy Moss he played to his strengths, which was at tight end. So I was just wondering if you saw the position evolving.

KW: Yeah, I do. I think it’s more of a receiving position nowadays and you can have two now. I mean, I think you could have two on every team. I do, I think the position and the game is evolving where you can have two good ones on every team.

TSR: The Bucs competed for a division title last year but came up just short. What’s the one thing that will get you guys over the hump?

KW: Honestly, I think the thing that will get us over the hump is that we need a little more pass rush – a little more pressure on the quarterback. Our defensive backfield is pretty good, our linebacker corps is pretty good, but I just think we’re a little young on the defensive line. But I would say that’s about it, man. We’re pretty loaded besides that.

TSR: I like to ask veteran players this question because they can usually spot what young players have what it takes to become future stars. So give me two players on either side of the ball that could become future stars for the Bucs. Everyone has a good idea about Mike Williams, but who else?

KW: Arrelious Benn. He’s going to be another good player. You know, he was a rookie last year but he made some plays for us late in the season. I think he’s going to be a great player.

TSR: Good call. He was real good at Illinois and I think if he had more consistent quarterback play when he was there he would have been a first rounder.

KW: Yeah, definitely. And the other one…Kareem Huggins. He’s been injured the last two years, but he’s a great player. He just needs to stay healthy and he’s going to be a great one.

TSR: You’ve led the Bucs in receptions the last two years but do you see your role expanding in the offense next year or do you think it’ll stay steady?

KW: No, I need to be more involved in the offense. You know, it’s something I’ve been patient with but my goal every year is to catch 100 balls and get 1,000 yards, or at least one or the other. It just hasn’t happened yet. I had 66 this year and 700 yards or something like that and it’s just not what I’m used to. You know, obviously I want the ball more and it’s just about timing between Freeman and I, and just getting the opportunities to go make plays. I can’t wait [for next season].

TSR: I’d be remised if I didn’t ask you about the CBA discussions and what your take is on that situation. Do you think they’ll be a season next year? As a fan I’m worried, so I’m sure as a player you must be as well.

KW: Yeah. Personally, I think a lockout is going to happen but I don’t think they’ll let it get to the season. It would be awful if there were no football. Guys would have to get second jobs and join the real world. (Laughs)

TSR: Definitely. And it ain’t pretty in the real world, let me tell you.

KW: (Laughs)

TSR: Tell me about your website and what’s new with that.

KW: Not much new yet, but I encourage people to check out my bio and photos. I plan on supporting the Plant City Eagles again and making sure they have the opportunity to play. [Editor’s Note: Kellen donated time and money last May to help the Eagles when helmets, jerseys and shoulder pads were stolen from a storage building/concession stand. You can read about the story here.]

TSR: That’s great.

KW: Yeah. Oh, we have a baby coming, too.

TSR: Wow, congratulations!

KW: Thank you, thank you, man. Yeah, so I’ve just trying to concentrate on that because she’s due any day now.

TSR: So you know it’s a girl?

KW: No, it’s a boy.

TSR: Oh, your wife is due any day now. Now it makes sense…

KW: Yeah, my wife is due.

TSR: That’s very exciting news. So when is he due?

KW: The due date is February 27.

TSR: That’s one day before my girlfriend’s birthday. My birthday is at the end of March so if you want to hold out…

KW: (Laughs) Man, if we wait that long something’s up!

TSR: (Laughs) No, yeah – I don’t blame you! Well Kellen, it was a pleasure to talk to you and I wish you nothing but the best with the new baby and, hopefully, a new season.

KW: Thank you, man.

TSR: Take care.

KW: You too, bye.

Two years ago, the Buccaneers appeared destined for another playoff run after amassing a 9-3 record behind veteran players like Derrick Brooks, Jeff Garcia, Stylez G. White, Barrett Ruud, Kevin Carter and Antonio Bryant.

But the team faded down the stretch, losing all four of its remaining games (including an embarrassing defeat to the hapless Raiders in the final week of the year) to miss the playoffs entirely. Following the season, both head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Bruce Allen were fired and replaced by the experienced Raheem Morris and Mark Dominik, respectively.

Last year was a disaster for Morris and the Bucs, who finished 3-13 and statistically had one of the worst offenses in the league. Until Morris took over the play calling duties midway through the season, the once proud Tampa Bay defense also took a significant step back from what it was earlier in the decade under former coordinator Monte Kiffin (who left the team following the ’08 season to coach with his son at the University of Tennessee).

But one of the main reasons the Glazers fired Gruden and Allen was because of the pair’s desire to rely mostly on veteran players. There was a lot of turnover from year to year under Gruden and Allen and the Glazers felt as though the two weren’t building a young core that could compete for many years, not just one.

While the tag team of Morris and Dominik still has a long way to go in order to prove itself, the Bucs are finally starting to build through the draft and formulate a young core. Quarterback Josh Freeman suffered growing pains as a rookie last season, but the team is encouraged by his development. Kellen Winslow Jr. was acquired via trade last offseason and there’s no doubt that he was the Bucs’ most consistent playmaker last season. The defense also has some budding young talent in cornerback Aqib Talib, safety Tanard Jackson and 2010 first round pick Gerald McCoy, to go along with steady veterans like White and Ruud.

Now, there’s no guarantee that Freeman and McCoy will develop into Pro Bowlers or that Winslow will stay healthy. The offensive line (which was supposed to be the team’s strength last season) has to raise its level of production as well and the team still has to find Freeman more weapons to throw to in the passing game. (The hope is that youngsters Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn will develop quickly, but they’re only rookies.)

But considering Morris and Freeman have a season under their belts, it stands to reason that the Bucs will show a lot of improvement this year. That’s not to say that they’ll contend for a playoff spot or even have a winning season, but at least in theory, it appears as though this team is moving forward again.

Photo from fOTOGLIF
]]> http://www.scoresreport.com/2010/06/28/are-the-bucs-moving-in-the-right-direction/feed/ 1 http://www.scoresreport.com/2009/06/26/former-brown-jurevicius-suing-team-over-staph-injection/ http://www.scoresreport.com/2009/06/26/former-brown-jurevicius-suing-team-over-staph-injection/#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:59:27 +0000 Anthony Stalter http://www.scoresreport.com/?p=20642

Former NFL receiver Joe Jurevicius is suing the Browns, ex-team Dr. Anthony Miniaci and current team Dr. Richard Figler for negligence and fraud stemming from a staph infection he got while being treated for knee injuries.

There had been speculation for months — and perhaps longer — that someone would eventually take the Cleveland Browns to court over their staph infection problem.

It turns out former Browns receiver Joe Jurevicius was the first to take the plunge.

Jurevicius, an 11-year NFL veteran, is reportedly suing his former team for negligence over a staph infection he received in his right knee last year. He has since been released by the Browns.

Several current and former Browns have had similar health problems with staph, including Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow Jr., LeCharles Bentley and Brian Russell. There are approximately seven known cases of staph infections linked to the Browns in recent years.

Jurevicius is a Cleveland native and very well-respected within the Browns’ family and his community. Most likely, he wouldn’t have gone as far as suing a team he grew up rooting for unless Jurevicius legitimately feels his playing days were cut short by staph.

If a total of seven known cases of staph infections can be linked to the Browns, there’s a problem here. Considering this doesn’t seem like a widespread issue in the NFL, it’s staggering that one team is having this many problems with this type of infection.

Maybe Jurevicius’ case will shine some light on this issue so no other Browns will have the same problem.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed Winslow to a new six-year contract.

Winslow had two years remaining on his contract, which was scheduled to pay him base salaries of $4.5 million and $4.75 million in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

According to ProFootballTalk.com, Winslow’s deal is worth $36.1 million and could be worth as much as $42.1 million if incentive clauses are reached. Winslow is due base salaries of $5.17 million and $6.725 million in 2009 and 2010, respectively. In 2011, Winslow will reportedly earn $8.29 million in base salary.

ESPN’s Pat Yasinskas is reporting that $20.1 million of Winslow’s new contract is guaranteed.

The Bucs landed Winslow in a trade that sent their 2009 second-round pick and 2010 fifth-round selection to Cleveland on Feb. 27.

Winslow wanted a new deal from Cleveland the past two years and now gets one from Tampa. Considering all of his injury concerns, the contract is a bit of a risk but the Bucs can likely get out of it in a couple years if Winslow’s bad knee starts acting up again. It’ll be interesting whether or not he can cash in on all of his potential or if he’ll continue to have injury problems the rest of his career.

It has to do with Kellen Winslow fumbling. And Braylon Edwards not making plays. And the defense’s ability to choke away leads by giving up big plays. And defensive coordinator Mel Tucker putting his corners on islands in the most inopportune situations.

In his first career start, Brady Quinn was outstanding. The Browns were able to get the running game going and Quinn was able to pick apart Denver’s decimated secondary by getting the ball out of his hands quickly and taking what the defense gave him. His final numbers (23 of 35 for 239 yards and two touchdowns) should have been good enough to earn him a victory. But the Browns continue to lose because they can’t do the simplest of tasks. Don’t turn the ball over. Don’t give up the big play. Don’t squander double-digit leads. Catch the freaking football when it’s throw right at you.

Conversely, this is a huge win for the Broncos. The AFC West is so horrible that 9-7 will probably win the division. Cleveland couldn’t get any pressure on Jay Cutler all night he shredded them for 447 yards and three touchdowns. At several points during the first half, Cutler looked frustrated and almost downtrodden but the Browns could never break his back (figuratively, not literally obviously).

Impressive comeback by Denver, but Cleveland choked on applesauce for the second straight week.

Note that on Wednesday when his teammates were asked about Winslow, not one expressed concern about the team’s approach to staph, and not one came to Winslow’s defense.

That’s not an accident.

Savage and Crennel said they would welcome Winslow back, provided that he’s not disruptive and that he is productive.

It’s too late.

The Browns are a 2-4 team with Winslow playing while worried about his contract.

What will they be with him playing while obsessed about getting out of Cleveland?

It’s too bad the option to keep him inactive the rest of the season — a la the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Keyshawn Johnson — is no longer there. (That move does not exist under the current NFL collective bargaining agreement.)

So release him.

Winslow can find out what he’s worth on the open market, and the Browns can move on.

There comes a point where enough is enough and it appears that Phil Savage and the Browns are to that point with Winslow. He certainly hasn’t done himself any favors since he arrived in Cleveland and who could blame the team if they wanted to part ways? Considering he was a top 10 pick, it would be a shame if the Browns couldn’t get anything for him, but sometimes you have to learn when to cut your losses.

This comes from nothing anyone said privately or publicly, but from the occurrences of the past few days and from the statement released by General Manager Phil Savage that was so cold it had icicles dripping from it.

This clearly is one angry GM.

Savage has always been restrained with announcements and news. That he was blunt and direct in the statement about Winslow speaks volumes.

Savage called Winslow’s comments ”unwarranted, inappropriate, and unnecessarily disparaging to our organization.” He said the comments ”brought unjustified negative attention to our organization, and violated the team-first concept of our football squad.”

…But Winslow undercut Crennel twice — first after the game on Sunday, then Monday morning when he had more to say after meeting with Crennel on the team plane Sunday night.

Winslow cares about the team. But he also believes that he is better than most anyone and that is why he expects the ball.

This time, though, he put himself ahead of the team. After a tough loss, he made it about himself. If his coach is not on board with the suspension — and does anyone expect Crennel to say anything today except ”we’ve moved on”? — Winslow need only realize he is the one who put his coach in this position.

McManamon goes on to note that the Browns were in no hurry to re-do Winslow’s contract this offseason and they even went as far to draft a tight end (Martin Rucker) in this year’s draft.

If the Browns do part was with Winslow, it would be another first rounder from the 2004 draft that a team has sent packing. The Lions recently traded WR Roy Williams to the Cowboys and released RB Kevin Jones, the Falcons dealt CB DeAngelo Hall to the Raiders this offseason and the Jets sent LB Jonathan Vilma to the Saints before the start o of the year. Interesting.