And now they tell us what we already new...another squid bites the pavement...
BEREA, Ohio (AP) - Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. reportedly injured his kidney and liver while attempting stunts on his high-powered motorcycle last month. He will undergo surgery Tuesday on the right knee he tore up in the accident.
Winslow tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee when he crashed his motorcycle into a parking lot curb at 35 mph. The 21-year-old was hospitalized for nine days after being thrown over the handlebars.
In his first interview since the accident, Winslow told the Akron Beacon Journal that he lacerated his liver and kidney, bruised his right shoulder and cracked a bone in his upper right leg in the crash, in addition to the torn knee ligament.
He said all of his injuries have healed except for his knee. He added he was aware that riding a motorcycle is listed as a hazardous activity in his contract.
"I'm grown. I still have to live my life," Winslow told the newspaper. "I did know the circumstances behind it, but I'm still learning. I'm young. You think you're invincible. You think nothing's going to happen to you. It was a mistake."
On the opening day of Cleveland's minicamp, Browns coach Romeo Crennel said Winslow will miss the entire 2005 season - the first time the team has been allowed to reveal that information because of federal privacy laws.
"Hopefully he'll have a good repair," Crennel said, "and we'll get him back on the field at some point, whenever that is."
Wearing a brace on his knee and a backward Cleveland Indians' cap, Winslow watched intently from the sideline as the Browns practiced.
Now that he has missed a mandatory team event, the team can begin asking for a portion of the $4.4 million bonus he was paid in March. The Browns have not yet informed Winslow that they will ask him to return some of the money.
Based on his experience with other players, Crennel said Winslow will likely need nine months to recover from the operation. At the time of his accident, Winslow was still rehabbing a broken right leg that he suffered in his second game as a rookie.
"He is back to square one," Crennel said. "He'll be where he was last year, having to rehab an injury. Hopefully at this time next year he'll be back on the field. Hopefully we'll have a player then."
Winslow, who bought the motorcycle in April, said he is going to be back and told the Beacon Journal he has no desire to play anywhere else.
"My back's up against the wall," he said, "and I'm going to get stronger."
Cleveland traded a second-round pick to move up one spot and select Winslow with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft. But Winslow, who briefly held out of training camp in a contract dispute, made just five catches before breaking his ankle while trying recover an onside kick in Week 2 at Dallas and missing the final 14 games.
"He's a good friend of everyone in here," said tight end Steve Heiden. "I've got nothing but positive things to say about him."
Winslow has expressed remorse to Crennel and his teammates for the motorcycle crash, and also told the Beacon Journal he regretted what happened.
"You know, I am sorry for what I've done," he said. "A lot of people have motorcycles, but since I got hurt, I'm sorry."
BEREA, Ohio (AP) - Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. reportedly injured his kidney and liver while attempting stunts on his high-powered motorcycle last month. He will undergo surgery Tuesday on the right knee he tore up in the accident.
Winslow tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee when he crashed his motorcycle into a parking lot curb at 35 mph. The 21-year-old was hospitalized for nine days after being thrown over the handlebars.
In his first interview since the accident, Winslow told the Akron Beacon Journal that he lacerated his liver and kidney, bruised his right shoulder and cracked a bone in his upper right leg in the crash, in addition to the torn knee ligament.
He said all of his injuries have healed except for his knee. He added he was aware that riding a motorcycle is listed as a hazardous activity in his contract.
"I'm grown. I still have to live my life," Winslow told the newspaper. "I did know the circumstances behind it, but I'm still learning. I'm young. You think you're invincible. You think nothing's going to happen to you. It was a mistake."
On the opening day of Cleveland's minicamp, Browns coach Romeo Crennel said Winslow will miss the entire 2005 season - the first time the team has been allowed to reveal that information because of federal privacy laws.
"Hopefully he'll have a good repair," Crennel said, "and we'll get him back on the field at some point, whenever that is."
Wearing a brace on his knee and a backward Cleveland Indians' cap, Winslow watched intently from the sideline as the Browns practiced.
Now that he has missed a mandatory team event, the team can begin asking for a portion of the $4.4 million bonus he was paid in March. The Browns have not yet informed Winslow that they will ask him to return some of the money.
Based on his experience with other players, Crennel said Winslow will likely need nine months to recover from the operation. At the time of his accident, Winslow was still rehabbing a broken right leg that he suffered in his second game as a rookie.
"He is back to square one," Crennel said. "He'll be where he was last year, having to rehab an injury. Hopefully at this time next year he'll be back on the field. Hopefully we'll have a player then."
Winslow, who bought the motorcycle in April, said he is going to be back and told the Beacon Journal he has no desire to play anywhere else.
"My back's up against the wall," he said, "and I'm going to get stronger."
Cleveland traded a second-round pick to move up one spot and select Winslow with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft. But Winslow, who briefly held out of training camp in a contract dispute, made just five catches before breaking his ankle while trying recover an onside kick in Week 2 at Dallas and missing the final 14 games.
"He's a good friend of everyone in here," said tight end Steve Heiden. "I've got nothing but positive things to say about him."
Winslow has expressed remorse to Crennel and his teammates for the motorcycle crash, and also told the Beacon Journal he regretted what happened.
"You know, I am sorry for what I've done," he said. "A lot of people have motorcycles, but since I got hurt, I'm sorry."