Browns suspend Winslow for tirade against GM Savage
The Cleveland Browns unveiled their own defensive scheme to shut down Kellen Winslow.
The team suspended their talented, emotional tight end for one game without pay for critical comments Winslow made following Sunday’s loss at Washington.
Winslow, who spent three days at the Cleveland Clinic earlier this month with an undisclosed illness, revealed he had a staph infection before lashing out at Browns general manager Phil Savage as the Pro Bowler’s teammates dressed after their 14-11 loss to the Redskins.
Winslow complained that the team, which has had at least six cases of staph in the past three years, asked him to conceal his illness.
He also vented at Savage for not checking on him while he was in the hospital, said he felt the Browns were treating him like a “piece of meat,” and said he considered requesting a trade.
Savage shot back with a 352-word statement on Tuesday, suspending Winslow and calling his comments and behavior “unwarranted, inappropriate, and unnecessarily disparaging to our organization.”
Winslow will miss Sunday’s game at Jacksonville and it will cost him $235,294 – his one-game paycheck.
•Bush has surgery: Reggie Bush had surgery on his left knee and it’s unclear when the New Orleans Saints running back will be back with the team.
Bush sustained cartilage damage, and some athletes have missed several months because of surgery to repair similar injuries.
•Johnson might not play: Coach Herm Edwards hinted that Kansas City running back Larry Johnson, under NFL investigation for allegedly assaulting a woman, could be benched for a second straight game regardless of what the league decides.
Johnson was not activated last week as punishment for violating team rules. Since then, it’s become known that a young woman alleges that Johnson spat on her several times during an argument at a local nightspot this month.
No charges have been filed.
Also, the Chiefs, who are still looking to sign a quarterback, released kicker Nick Novak and signed Connor Barth as his replacement.
•Romo won’t play: Dallas quarterback Tony Romo will miss his second straight game because of his fractured right pinkie, and he did not sound confident he would be able to return before the Cowboys’ Nov. 9 bye week.
•Harrison’s season ends: Rodney Harrison, the hard-hitting but injury-plagued safety of the New England Patriots, appears to be done for the season – and perhaps his career – after re-injuring his right thigh muscle.
The 15-year veteran apparently tore the quadriceps muscle in New England’s 41-7 win over Denver on Monday night.
•Singletary takes over: Mike Singletary replaced his coaching mentor with a vow to build on what Mike Nolan started with the San Francisco 49ers.
Singletary, the former linebacker who made the Hall of Fame during his stellar career with the Chicago Bears, acknowledged mixed feelings when the 49ers asked him to be the interim successor to Nolan.
•Eagles sign FB, cut ex-Coug: Fullback Kyle Eckel signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles and will be the third player used at the position this season. Safety J.R. Reed was released to make room for Eckel.
In other moves, the Eagles signed guard Nevin McCaskill to the practice squad and released fullback Jed Collins, a former Washington State Cougar, from the squad.
•AFL draft delayed: The Arena Football League is delaying its dispersal draft and free agent signings pending a meeting between the league and its players union.
Hockey
Melrose gets first win
Barry Melrose got his first win as Tampa Bay coach when Vincent Lecavalier scored a power-play goal with 3:19 left in overtime to lift the Lightning to a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers at Tampa, Fla.
Melrose’s first season with the Lightning started with five losses, including three in overtime or a shootout.
•Vanek seals Sabres comeback: At Buffalo, N.Y., Thomas Vanek scored the decisive shootout goal and Ryan Miller stopped five of six chances to cap the Buffalo Sabres’ 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Boston Bruins.
•Dorsett scores to help Columbus: At Columbus, Ohio, Derek Dorsett got his first NHL goal and Rick Nash scored into an empty net to complete the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 4-2 win over the injury-riddled Vancouver Canucks.
•Flames beat Capitals: At Calgary, Alberta, Jarome Iginla scored and Matthew Lombardi put the Flames ahead for good in the second period to help Calgary beat Washington 2-1 for its first win over the Capitals since 1999.
Sergei Fedorov scored for Washington, which lost in regulation for the first time since the season opener. Fedorov’s goal was No. 473 of his career, tying him with Alexander Mogilny for most career NHL goals by a Russian-born player.
Miscellany
Mulder let go
The St. Louis Cardinals intend to cut ties with often-injured left-hander Mark Mulder, paying a $1.5 million buyout rather than exercising an $11 million option on his contract.
Mulder, 31, is rehabbing from a pair of shoulder operations and was limited to 12/3 innings last season. He made $13 million the last two seasons while totaling six appearances and 122/3 innings.
•Cubs may play in new Yankee Stadium opener: The Chicago Cubs might play the unofficial opener at the new Yankee Stadium. The Cubs and Yankees are talking about playing an exhibition game or games the weekend before most teams open the regular season, on April 6.
•Three win Lapchick award: Three Hall of Fame basketball coaches have been chosen to receive the inaugural Joe Lapchick Character Award. Pat Summitt, Lou Carnesecca and Dean Smith will receive the award next month at Madison Square Garden.
•WBC will provide aid: The World Boxing Council will provide financial support for the family of Mexican fighter Daniel Aguillon, who died Monday after a five-day coma induced by a knockout punch delivered by fellow Mexican Alejandro Sanagria.