Savage defends Winslow penalty

The Browns tight end was suspended for disclosing he had a staph infection.

BEREA (AP) — Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage emotionally defended his decision to suspend tight end Kellen Winslow, who claims the club tried to cover up his staph infection and has appealed his one-game ban without pay.

Savage suspended Winslow for his disparaging comments and behavior following Sunday’s loss in Washington. Winslow, who agreed to keep his medical condition private, revealed he had staph and said the Browns, who have had a high number of staph cases in recent years, still have a problem with infections.

Insisting “this is not K2 vs. Phil Savage,” the GM depicted Winslow as selfish and outlined the team’s reasons for suspending one of its stars.

“The Browns are bigger than one person, bigger than [owner] Randy Lerner, bigger than [coach] Romeo Crennel, bigger than me and bigger than any player on this team,” Savage said during his weekly appearance on WTAM radio. “We couldn’t and won’t allow one person to tear down the organization, so we had to do something.”

Winslow appealed his suspension on Wednesday. His case will be heard by an arbitrator on Tuesday in Cleveland.

If he wins his appeal, Winslow, who will serve his suspension Sunday when the Browns play at Jacksonville, could recoup the $235,294 — his one-game paycheck — he was docked with the suspension.

In his first public comments since imposing Winslow’s suspension, an animated Savage expressed his disappointment at the Pro Bowler’s assertion the team hid his illness. He was also offended by Winslow’s charge that Savage didn’t check on him while he spent three days at the Cleveland Clinic.

Savage countered Winslow’s claims by recounting the team’s support after the player was seriously injured in a near-fatal motorcycle accident in 2005.

“The comments really called into question the integrity of our medical staff and the organization as a whole,” Savage said. “To compromise that trust after the Browns had stood by Kellen through the motorcycle episode and knowing without question that we have done everything in our power to combat the staph infection problem — it showed a lack of professional restraint.”

Moments before Winslow criticized the Browns, he and Savage spoke in a hallway outside Cleveland’s locker room at FedEx Field. Savage said the meeting was not heated as had been reported, and that he and Winslow shook hands before parting ways.

When Winslow revealed he had staph, breaking an agreement with the Browns not to disclose his illness, Winslow said he was speaking out to protect his teammates’ health.

At least six Browns have contracted staph since 2005. The club maintains it has been proactive in keeping the training facility clean, and on Wednesday, several Browns, including three captains, said the team has educated them on the risks of staph and preventive measures to avoid being infected.