During a lengthy eleven-minute Combine meet & greet session with the media today, always-verbose player agent Drew Rosenhaus answered numerous questions on a wide array of players and topics.
However, it’s one question the normally chatty Rosenhaus refused to answer that should pique the interests of Cleveland Browns fans. And, quite possibly, raise their suspicions a level or two.
After answering several questions regarding Kellen Winslow’s health and the state of negotiations with the Browns, Jeff Schudel of the Lake County News Herald asked Rosenhaus if Winslow would be in camp on time if the two sides could not reach agreement on a restructured deal.
Rosenhaus’ response, or lack thereof, was very telling.
“I'm just not going to get into anything further than that,” Rosenhaus said in response to Schudel’s question.
While there are still five months until the start of training camp, the fact that the agent for a player—who has three years still remaining on his current contract, no less—cannot confirm his client will be in camp should raise serious doubts and questions as to where this situation will lead.
Winslow, who is signed through the 2010 season, first made waves regarding a re-work of his contract in the week leading up to the Pro Bowl. In an interview on Sirius satellite radio, Winslow stated that he was “one of the elite tight ends in the game” and felt now was the time to “get that new money.”
If there was one positive to take out of the comments from Rosenhaus, it’s the fact he has already met with general manager Phil Savage and capologist Trip MacCracken, and described the talks as “positive and ongoing”. Rosenhaus also stressed that Winslow’s recent surgery was elective in nature, wasn’t necessary and was performed simply to remove scar tissue.