TEXT MESSAGES FORCED WINSLOW SETTLEMENT

Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Browns rescinded the suspension of tight end Kellen Winslow after team officials received copies of text messages in which a public relations employees told Winslow not to publicly reveal that he was hospitalized for a staph infection. The messages told Winslow that, if he revealed his condition, G.M. Phil Savage would get involved. (Ooooooo. A f--kin’ soldier, afraid of Opie Cunningham?) Speaking of Opie, he ducked the question regarding whether he previously knew about the text messages. “We have settled and are ready to move forward,” Savage told Cabot via text. “In 3-plus years, the medical staff has always informed me of a player’s wishes in terms of maintaining confidentiality or releasing his records.” Winslow had intended to make a public statement regarding his condition because he was weary of rumors regarding his condition, which included (as posted by Deadspin and elsewhere) rumors that he had an STD and/or that he overdosed on erection-enhancing medications. Throughout the process, we continued to hear that he had swelling in the testicular area, but we don’t believe that the swelling is inconsistent with the notion that he had a staph infection. As part of the settlement, Winslow will pay a $25,000 fine for the disparaging statements he made, but he avoided the potential loss of $1 million under his contract, which says that he’ll sacrifice that amount if he engages in conduct detrimental to the team. He also will receive his game check of more than $235,000 for Sunday’s visit to Jacksonville, even though he won’t be playing. Winslow also will not be prevented from making future public statements about his health or the safety or working conditions at the team’s facility. Bottom line? Winslow was right, the Browns were wrong, and at least the team was smart enough to back down before everything blew up at the arbitration hearing on Tuesday.