In the wake of Ben Roethlisberger’s severe motorcycle accident, Cleveland Browns’ tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. says that he is done riding motorcycles.
Looking rusty, but also showing signs of why he was selected as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Winslow commented that he is ‘working on being humble’ at the Browns minicamp on Friday.
Winslow and Crennel like the new and improved attitude, but both agree there is still a long way to go for the former Miami Hurricane to get back on the field and be successful.
Winslow recalled the loneliness of his painful rehabilitation, which was complicated by a staph infection in his leg that set him back two months.
“A lot of long nights. I can’t even really explain,” he said. “A hard time seeing my teammates out there playing in the games while I’m at home with my leg up. But God put me in this place for a reason. Maybe it wasn’t my time yet, but now it is my time.”
Browns coach Romeo Crennel though sees a lot of rust. He said Winslow still has the hands, size and speed that made him a top pick, but that the Browns won’t know what he’s capable of until he’s in a game.
“He wants to prove that he is the type of player that the Browns thought he was going to be when they drafted him,” Crennel said. “He wants to be the go-to guy. He wants to be a leader.”
It looks like this kid is starting to realize the unbelievable opportunity he has been given to play in the NFL. You hate to see anybody get into an accident like the one Winslow or Roethlisberger suffered, but if that is going to be the wake up call that keeps you from jeopardizing your career, then so be it.
