Tweet
By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
July 30, 2004
BEREA, Ohio (AP) -- Kellen Winslow Jr.'s agents rejected a contract offer from the Cleveland Browns on Friday that would make him the highest paid tight end in NFL history.
Winslow, the No. 6 overall selection, was not on the field as the Browns held their first practice.
In an unusual move designed to put pressure on Winslow's agent, Kevin Poston, Browns president John Collins released a statement two hours before the club opened training camp to announce that the Browns had made their ``best offer'' to Winslow.
Collins said the Browns proposed a deal that matched the one safety Sean Taylor, the fifth overall pick and Winslow's college teammate at the University of Miami, signed earlier this week with the Washington Redskins.
Taylor's package included a $7.2 million signing bonus that could exceed $13 million with incentives and the contract can reportedly escalate to $40 million over its length.
The Browns said their offer would ``far exceed'' the $31 million deal Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez signed in 2002. Gonzalez's deal included a $10 million signing bonus, the most ever given to a tight end.
The Browns' negotiating tactic is unusual because teams almost never disclose contract figures -- even after a deal is done. But the Browns, who earlier this week said they would keep talks private, publicly provided the framework for negotiations.
Poston wouldn't elaborate on his decision to reject the offer.
``I do not negotiate in the media,'' Poston told The Associated Press. ``We are continuing to negotiate with the Browns to obtain for Kellen Winslow II his fair market value.''
Winslow's holdout began one day after the New York Giants gave No. 1 pick Eli Manning a rookie-record $20 million in guaranteed money and No. 2 overall pick Robert Gallery received a potential $18.5 million in guaranteed bonuses.
It's unclear what Poston wants, but the Browns feel their offer that matched Taylor's was more than fair.
``Given the close personal and competitive relationship between Kellen and Sean Taylor, as well as their equal talent level on different sides of the football, we did not want to penalize Kellen for being picked one slot below his former teammate,'' Collins said in the statement.
``Faced with the opportunity to get Kellen in camp on time, we made our best offer.''
Poston and his brother, Carl, have a reputation for demanding the most for their clients. The Redskins passed on Winslow in the draft partly because Winslow chose the Postons as his representatives.
In their statement, the Browns said they examined Gonzalez's deal and their offer ``provides Kellen Winslow the opportunity to far exceed Gonzalez's compensation.''
The Browns have had negotiations with Poston for weeks. The sides had face-to-face negotiations on Wednesday at the team's headquarters.
At the time, coach Butch Davis said the club would not negotiate in the media, but that is exactly where things have gone.
``That's clearly not what we're going to do not only with Kellen, but any of the draft choices not only this year but in future years,'' Davis said earlier this week.
The Browns traded a second-round pick to Detroit and moved up one spot from No. 7 to No. 6 so they could select Winslow, the son of Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow.
Cleveland's last three first-round picks -- center Jeff Faine, running back William Green and defensive tackle Gerard Warren -- briefly held out of camp before signing.
The Browns may now face an even lengthier holdout by Winslow, who is expected to be a key contributor in Cleveland's offense this season.
AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report.
July 30, 2004
BEREA, Ohio (AP) -- Kellen Winslow Jr.'s agents rejected a contract offer from the Cleveland Browns on Friday that would make him the highest paid tight end in NFL history.
Winslow, the No. 6 overall selection, was not on the field as the Browns held their first practice.
In an unusual move designed to put pressure on Winslow's agent, Kevin Poston, Browns president John Collins released a statement two hours before the club opened training camp to announce that the Browns had made their ``best offer'' to Winslow.
Collins said the Browns proposed a deal that matched the one safety Sean Taylor, the fifth overall pick and Winslow's college teammate at the University of Miami, signed earlier this week with the Washington Redskins.
Taylor's package included a $7.2 million signing bonus that could exceed $13 million with incentives and the contract can reportedly escalate to $40 million over its length.
The Browns said their offer would ``far exceed'' the $31 million deal Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez signed in 2002. Gonzalez's deal included a $10 million signing bonus, the most ever given to a tight end.
The Browns' negotiating tactic is unusual because teams almost never disclose contract figures -- even after a deal is done. But the Browns, who earlier this week said they would keep talks private, publicly provided the framework for negotiations.
Poston wouldn't elaborate on his decision to reject the offer.
``I do not negotiate in the media,'' Poston told The Associated Press. ``We are continuing to negotiate with the Browns to obtain for Kellen Winslow II his fair market value.''
Winslow's holdout began one day after the New York Giants gave No. 1 pick Eli Manning a rookie-record $20 million in guaranteed money and No. 2 overall pick Robert Gallery received a potential $18.5 million in guaranteed bonuses.
It's unclear what Poston wants, but the Browns feel their offer that matched Taylor's was more than fair.
``Given the close personal and competitive relationship between Kellen and Sean Taylor, as well as their equal talent level on different sides of the football, we did not want to penalize Kellen for being picked one slot below his former teammate,'' Collins said in the statement.
``Faced with the opportunity to get Kellen in camp on time, we made our best offer.''
Poston and his brother, Carl, have a reputation for demanding the most for their clients. The Redskins passed on Winslow in the draft partly because Winslow chose the Postons as his representatives.
In their statement, the Browns said they examined Gonzalez's deal and their offer ``provides Kellen Winslow the opportunity to far exceed Gonzalez's compensation.''
The Browns have had negotiations with Poston for weeks. The sides had face-to-face negotiations on Wednesday at the team's headquarters.
At the time, coach Butch Davis said the club would not negotiate in the media, but that is exactly where things have gone.
``That's clearly not what we're going to do not only with Kellen, but any of the draft choices not only this year but in future years,'' Davis said earlier this week.
The Browns traded a second-round pick to Detroit and moved up one spot from No. 7 to No. 6 so they could select Winslow, the son of Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow.
Cleveland's last three first-round picks -- center Jeff Faine, running back William Green and defensive tackle Gerard Warren -- briefly held out of camp before signing.
The Browns may now face an even lengthier holdout by Winslow, who is expected to be a key contributor in Cleveland's offense this season.
AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report.
), those fans will NOT go for this crap....
Comment