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Winslow's progress encouraging to Frye
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter
Browns quarterback Charlie Frye is encouraged by the progress of tight end Kellen Winslow Jr.
"The last three or four weeks, he's been running routes with cleats on and looking good," Frye said Thursday night at a charity event hosted by cornerback Gary Baxter. "He's basically running every route, cutting, going deep, whatever. He's one of the fastest guys on the team. I'm really excited for him."
Winslow is recovering from surgery last June to repair a torn right anterior cruciate suffered in a motorcycle accident. He also underwent arthroscopic surgery in January to clean out scar tissue in the rebuilt knee. He's undergone four surgeries since Sept. 19, 2004, including two on the broken fibula he suffered in a game against Dallas that day.
"What people really don't know about Kellen is how much he really wants to succeed," Frye said. "He's not going to let himself fail. I can't wait until that first game when he runs out of that tunnel. I might cry for him. That's how much I care about him."
Frye said he's been with Winslow almost every day since the end of January. When they're not lifting at the Browns' facility, they're hanging out or going to Cavs games.
"That's one of my brothers now," Frye said. "We do everything together, so I think that's going to be big come September when we open up with New Orleans."
Frye said he's never seen anyone work as hard as Winslow.
"I thought I worked hard, but he wears me out sometimes," Frye said. "He'll call me up on a Sunday and say 'What are you doing?' and I'll say 'OK, I'll meet you at the facility.' "
Browns General Manager Phil Savage said Winslow will be on the field for full-squad minicamp June 16-18, but his activity probably will be limited.
"I wouldn't rush him," Frye said. "To me, the goal for him is to be ready for the opening game. I think they'll let him run some routes against the defense in minicamp and get him comfortable with the offense."
Savage said receiver Braylon Edwards also is on track in his rehab from a torn ACL, but that he's not as far along as Winslow because he had surgery in January. He said Edwards is doing some running, but no cutting. He's expected back in October or November.
Frye bulks up:
Frye said he's gained about 15 pounds since the end of the season and is up to 225, his anticipated playing weight for 2006.
"The season wore me out a little bit and I needed to get stronger," he said. "It's all from working with [strength coach] John Lott.
Frye said his arm was tired by the end of last season because he never got a break after finishing at Akron. "After my senior season, I played in the Senior Bowl, went to the combine and had my pro day. I threw for anybody any time," he said. "I threw so many balls, I was exhausted."
He also was sacked 22 times in his five starts, including 13 in the last two games, and wants to be better equipped to take the pounding.
Dilfer pondered retirement:
Savage said that before the draft on April 27, the Browns inferred that quarterback Trent Dilfer might retire.
"That's why we checked around that weekend to see if we could get something for him," Savage said. "We had to weigh getting something vs. getting nothing. I wasn't convinced he wasn't going to come to me in June and say 'I'm done.' "
The Browns inquired about trading for Detroit quarterback Joey Harrington and Oakland backup Marques Tuiasosopo during draft weekend, but were unable to make a move. Harrington eventually was traded to Miami and the Raiders weren't interested in moving Tuiasosopo at the time.
Bentley's number:
Center LeCharles Bentley wants to wear the number 00 in honor of Hall of Fame center Jim Otto of the Raiders, but a number change might not happen until next season.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the competition committee will make a presentation to the owners at a league meeting on Tuesday regarding number changes, but no individual exceptions are made. If anything, an entire position could receive permission to wear different numbers. That was the case two years ago when receivers, who usually wear numbers in the 80s, were permitted to wear 10 through 19.
Saints running back Reggie Bush wants to wear the No. 5 he wore at USC, but isn't optimistic it will happen this season. Aiello said the NFL is considering changing its numbering system so that it's more closely aligned with the college game "to avoid issues like this in the future." It would take a two-thirds vote of the owners to make a switch.
Bentley has 00 above his locker in Berea, but might have to change it.
Suggs update:
The Browns have no immediate takers on running back Lee Suggs, but if a team is interested, they'll be willing to trade him. Suggs' agent, Joel Segal, said: "When healthy, Lee is extremely talented. He's going to be a great back for someone."
Thompson up for switch:
Linebacker Chaun Thompson said he is willing to move inside if that is what coaches want. "As long as I'm on the field, it's fine with me," he said. Thompson said the move has been discussed, "but it's nothing definite yet. I still think I can be effective on the inside." He said he's looking forward to absorbing every bit of knowledge he can from veteran Willie McGinest.
Baxter's star-studded event:
Baxter's bowl-a-thon to benefit childhood obesity drew celebrities from all over. Several Indians players, including outfielder Grady Sizemore and pitcher C.C. Sabathia, participated, as did Youngstown native and former "Apprentice" star Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, Destiny's Child's Michelle Williams, actress Kim Whitley, hip-hop singer Mario and the group A'Ryah
The slow road back for winslow continues..
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