In Kellen's Corner

As if the Browns weren't in enough trouble and weren't embarrassing enough already, now general manager Phil Savage has suspended tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. for a game. Why? Because Kellen said he wasn't treated with care during a recent illness. On first blush, that may seem a whiny little comment coming from a big ol' football player, but once the truth came out, it was clear to me that Kellen was not only not treated with care, but was used and exploited so the Browns front office could save face.

If you aren't aware, Kellen got sick a while back. So sick he had to miss practice and a game, and he had to stay in the hospital several days. When asked about his illness, the Browns organization said they would not disclose it because it was "personal." Personal? Whatever could that mean?

Profootballtalk.com writer Mike Florio reported that a "league source" said Kellen was suffering from swollen testicles. That was reported on Oct. 10. For the next nine days, rumors ran rampant. Swollen testicles? Wow, K2 must have an STD, been screwing around on his wife, etc. All the while, the Browns said nothing and neither did Kellen while the swollen testicles talk flourished. Finally, on Oct. 19, Kellen broke silence and revealed that he had been treated for a staph infection. Why the secrecy? Perhaps because so many Browns players have had seasons and careers cut short in recent years due to staph infections. The Browns would surely take heat over yet another of their star players being sidelined with staph AGAIN.

Kellen also complained that Savage never called him while in the hospital, and expressed feelings of ill treatment. So Savage suspended him for a game, saying the comments brought "unjustified negative attention" to the organization. Unjustified?

Phil Savage, who benefitted from Kellen's silence? Certainly not him, with all the nasty rumors flying. Who benefitted were Savage, Coach Romeo Crennel and owner Randy Lerner. Had Kellen kept his mouth shut, they would have been saved the embarrassment of having to discuss staph infections yet again, and who cares if Kellen had to endure wild gossip about infidelity and venereal disease?

Phil Savage should be ashamed of this suspension. I already thought the Browns were behaving gutlessly by allowing Romeo to coach us into the ground, but this is a far worse example of management and leadership. And crassness. And of exactly what Kellen said: treating somebody like a piece of meat. Shame, shame.