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HOT TOPIC
It has been a long road back for tight end Kellen Winslow Jr., but it appears the Browns might finally be on the verge of getting production from the player that was the sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft.
For the first time since undergoing knee surgery last June 11, Winslow is on the field, running, cutting and catching passes from Charlie Frye. General Manager Phil Savage said Winslow is reminding him of when Winslow was one of the most dominating players in college football in 2002 and 2003.
Contrary to some reports that had Winslow moving to wide receiver this season, he will remain a tight end. On some plays, though, he could be sent in motion. The Browns would like to get him isolated on a linebacker.
The update on Braylon Edwards is not as positive, but it is not discouraging considering Edwards had his major surgery almost seven months after Winslow had his. Edwards is running in a straight line. Savage set a target date of Oct. 1 for Edwards returning. That would mean carrying him the first part of the season on the 53-man roster and making him inactive until he is cleared to play.
The Browns could start training camp with Edwards on the Physically Unable to Perform list and then decide whether he needs time beyond the Oct. 1 return date. Whatever the decision is, the Browns will not rush Edwards. If it means starting the season with him on P.U.P. and playing six games without him, that's what they'll do rather than use him for one game and risk losing him for the balance of 2006.
"You think K-2 (Winslow), you think about Braylon and you think about Joe Jurevicius down in that red zone and you start thinking about touchdowns," Savage said. "I think that's exciting for the Browns."
Winslow has not played a game, regular season or preseason, since fracturing his right fibula and tearing ligaments in his right ankle in a game against the Cowboys Sept. 19, 2004. He had five catches to that point.
Winslow's rehab from the injury in Dallas was on track, and then on May 1, 2005, he crashed his motorcycle while driving on a deserted parking lot in a Cleveland suburb.
PLAYER NOTES
--Linebacker Chaun Thompson is working as an inside linebacker in the organized team activities. The Browns could have Thompson, Willie McGinest, Kamerion Wimbley and David McMillan rushing the quarterback on passing downs if the move pans out.
--One of the more important moves in the offseason is coming to fruition in the OTA is moving Ethan Kelly from nose tackle to end. The Browns are stacked at nose tackle with Ted Washington, J'Vonne Parker and Babatunde Oshinowo, but they are thin at end.
--Cornerback Daylon McCutcheon had arthroscopic surgery on his ankle April 28. He is not participating in the OTA but hopes to be ready for minicamp June 16-18.
--Players are permitted in preseason to wear uniform numbers that do not correspond to their normal position numbers. A receiver might wear 3 or 7, for example. Even though he will wear 57 in the regular season, center LeCharles Bentley wants to wear 00 in preseason. He would like to wear it in the regular season to honor Jim Otto, but the NFL won't allow it. Offensive linemen are required to wear numbers from 50 through 79.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--DB Antwan Harris (not tendered June 1).
--P Kyle Richardson (not tendered June 1).
--LB Orlando Ruff (not tendered June 1).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--OT Kirk Chambers: ERFA; $425,000/1 yr.
--DE Simon Fraser: ERFA; terms unknown.
--NT Ethan Kelly: RFA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--DE Orpheus Roye: Potential UFA; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--C LeCharles Bentley: UFA Saints; $36M/6 yrs, SB unknown.
--PK Jeff Chandler: FA; 1 yr, terms unknown.
--TE Darnell Dinkins: UFA Ravens; $2.1M/3 yrs, $200,000 SB.
--QB Ken Dorsey: Trade 49ers.
--OG Bob Hallen: UFA Chargers; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
--WR Joe Jurevicius: UFA Seahawks; $10M/4 yrs, SB unknown.
--LB Willie McGinest: FA Patriots; $12M/3 yrs, SB unknown.
--T Kevin Shaffer: UFA Falcons; 6 yrs, terms unknown.
--NT Ted Washington: FA Raiders; $7M/2 yrs, SB unknown.
--P Dave Zastudil: UFA Ravens; $8M/5 yrs, $1.66M SB.
PLAYERS LOST
--WR Antonio Bryant: UFA 49ers; $13.9M/4 yrs, $4M SB.
--S Chris Crocker: Trade Falcons.
--QB Trent Dilfer: Traded 49ers.
--C Jeff Faine: Traded Saints.
--DT Jason Fisk (released).
--TE Keith Heinrich: UFA Dolphins; terms unknown.
--LB Kenard Lang (released).
--C Dwayne Ledford: Not tendered as ERFA/Saints; terms unknown.
--DB Michael Lehan (released).
--CB Ray Mickens: UFA Jets; terms unknown.
--OL Mike Pucillo: UFA Redskins; $465,000/1 yr.
--TE Aaron Shea: UFA Chargers; 3 yrs, terms unknown.
--LT L.J. Shelton: UFA Dolphins; $15M/4 yrs, $3.5M SB.
--LB Ben Taylor: UFA Packers; $665,280/1 yr., $50,000 SB.
MEDICAL WATCH: No updates.
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