Winslow Sr. Blasts Media for Coverage of Son's Accident

[Walter Cronkite]

Injured Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. made his first public appearance since his motorcycle crash, and his father used the occasion Friday night to lambaste the media for its coverage of the accident.

The 21-year-old Winslow tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee when he wrecked his high-powered motorcycle May 1 while doing tricks in a secluded parking lot near his home. He will miss all of next season. Winslow Jr., who missed 14 games as a rookie with a broken right leg, will undergo surgery in the next few weeks.

Shortly after arriving at an auction and roast celebrating the Browns' 1964 NFL championship team, the former first-round pick, who didn't limp, said he didn't want to talk to waiting reporters.

"No," he said politely. "I'm good."

Kellen Winslow Sr., who drove his son to the event and escorted him into the hotel, initially said he would not comment, either. However, a few hours later, the Hall of Famer changed his mind.

The former San Diego Chargers star angrily accused the media of turning the younger Winslow's accident and recovery into a spectacle.

"I'm disappointed in the way you guys have handled it. Twenty-one-year-old people make mistakes," he said. "He made a mistake. You made it a circus. Remember when you were 21? A human being at 21 makes mistakes. He's not a piece of property."

Winslow Sr. was asked if he expected his son to make a full recovery.

"It's a long career," he said. "I played nine years in the National Football League. Technically, I played six years - two strikes, two major injuries and I came out OK. We look at it as a long-term career.

"You guys look at it as a moment in time and you blow it out of proportion. This Jerry Springer mentality of journalism, you guys are better than that. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Presidents make mistakes. Senators make mistakes. Journalists, if you still call yourselves that, make mistakes."

As his father was speaking in the hallway, Kellen Winslow Jr. was inside the ballroom listening to a speech by Hall of Fame Browns running back Jim Brown.

Because Winslow Jr. breached a "dangerous activities" clause in his contract by getting hurt while riding a motorcycle, the Browns may try to recoup some of the bonus money they have paid him.

Source: AP

[AndySMC]

The Winslows

Kellen Winslow Sr went out there and made a complete fool of himself Friday night. The way he treated innocent media members who probably weren't even the ones who made a self proclaimed 'circus' out of the situation was ridiculous. Judging by his personality its obvious that Winslow Sr doesn't care what people think about him or his views on this certain mishap, but if Kellen Winslow Jr isn't as embarrassed as all get out then I don't know what he is.

For a grown man's dad to have to go out there and defend his sons idiotic actions in such an immature manner is absurd. I'm glad Kellen Winslow Jr will have a year to sit there and reflect on his actions and hopefully he will grow from this, because he has lots of it to do.

Winslow Sr's excuse for his son being 21 and 21 year olds making mistakes is about the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Your son is coming off a knee injury that ended his season after signing a big contract which he held out for. He's finally healed and is poised to contribute to the Browns this season and what does he do, he goes out trying to do stunts on a motorcycle? What has he lost his mind? Did he sign the dotted line on that contract and think to himself well heck, this doesn't mean anything, I can go out and do whatever I want - even if it is against the terms of this huge contract I just signed.

Making a mistake is being at a club where a fight breaks out, making a mistake is being around a guy you don't know who has drugs on him. Going out and doing stunt tricks on your motorcycle after just becoming healthy is stupid - especially when its against the terms of your contract! Stupid, just flat out stupid. Do athletes not learn from other athletes mistakes? An athlete at my school walks out of class and gets suspended a game, you won't find me walking out of class anytime soon.

You'd think after Jay Williams' career was almost ended athletes would step onto a motorcycle's with extreme caution, not like your invincible and nothing can hurt you. When you become a professional athlete you have to realize there is a certain image of professionalism on and off the field that you have to portray, and when you don't, be prepared to take some heat. And then to not come up to the plate and at least talk to the media and face the public to try to explain yourself is just not accepting the consequences of being an adult who did something they shouldn't of. Instead he refused to talk to the media, issued a public apology(woopty do), and leaving his dad to talk to them.

This isn't middle school, you can't just have your parents come up and get you out of trouble, or in this case have your dad raise hell to try and get you out from under the public scrutiny. In this case he doesn't deserve to catch a break, he needs to take the heat like a man.

And after watching Winslow Sr go out there and try to get us to buy the "he's just a 21 year old baby who made a mistake" its safe to say the football hall of fame is the only one he'll be apart of, as the parenting one won't be calling anytime soon.

[Flying High]

Not a piece of property?

That's exactly what you've created Kellen Sr. From charging agents $2500 for a chance to be your son's agent in an agent lottery to hiring the Poston Brothers to holding out till you got the largest contract ever for a tight end. What goes around comes around. You and the Poston brothers should have informed Jr how short NFL careers and to stay off motorcyles for 6 years. You're lucky the Browns don't cut him. I would. He's fragile and his best asset speed is probably gone.