According to the national media, Browns’ TE Kellen Winslow is running his mouth again, and since he has played in a total of four regular season games, he should be seen and not heard. Locally, Winslow is being praised as a player who tells the truth, who had the courage to stand up to the oppressive reign of offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon.
The national guys know Carthon from his days with the Giants and as a member of Bill Parcells staff in his various stops around the NFL. They view Winslow as a cocky punk, a guy who ran his mouth at Miami (FL), and a player who had so little regard for his team and teammates that they lost a season of his career joy riding on a motorcycle.
Clevelanders have this one right.
The Cleveland Browns are not a team blessed with a lot of talented players. One of the few they have is Kellen Winslow. That’s why writers and fans, and heck maybe even players on the Browns have to scratch their collective heads at the decision not to have the TE on the field in third down situations. Carthon should be trying to get the ball in his hands as much as he can, not taking him out of the game.
Carthon appears to be a guy who is trying to show everybody he is a great coach. He seems to be trying prove to the fans and the media that he is smarter than the defensive coach he is going up against. That’s why he’s always trying to trick people. Third and one? Why give it to a guy who gained 1200 yards in 2005, let’s fool people by pitching out to Laurence Vickers. Reuben Droughns had a good year last season, let’s give it to him only 11 times in the opener. Sometimes the obvious decision is the correct one.
When the Dallas Cowboys had Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin, you knew they were going to the focus of the offense, and they still made big plays. This is not to say the Browns have the same sort of talent as those teams, but it does indicate that if you have playmakers, you have to use them. Kellen Winslow is one of those players. I would guess that removing him from the game helps the defense since they do not have to worry about checking him.
If Maurice Carthon had a sterling record of play calling, that would be one thing. But the Browns were one of the worst offense in the NFL last season, and not much has changed this season thus far. If Winslow’s comments light a fire under the offensive coordinator, then so be it. He should be concerned, his squad has not demonstrated anything it can do well. Coaching is teaching. Good coaching is realizing the strengths of the people you have and utilizing it as best you can. You be the judge as to whether or not Maurice Carthon is a good coach.
JD
Cleveland Sports Perspective 