Kellen Winslow vows to join new teammates next week

Bucs fans, Kellen Winslow hears you.

He knows many have wondered what to make of his absence during the first two days of voluntary offseason workouts last week, prompting him to address those concerns today in an interview with the Times.

Winslow said his still-incomplete move to the Tampa area has been the main reason for his absence last week and this week. He vowed to be in attendance beginning May 26, when the Bucs begin a third week of workouts at One Buc Place.

Winslow said he consulted with coach Raheem Morris beforehand and said even ownership was made aware he would not be in attendance for the first five sessions of the offseason.

Though he isn't working with his teammates in their non-contact drills, Winslow stressed the fact that he is continuing his punishing personal workouts, something he does each offseason. He vowed to arrive in shape, ready to perform.

"Fans are going to have opinions, but if you know me, you know I'm working my butt off," Winslow said. "I live in San Diego. I want to be there and I will be there."

Winslow isn't oblivious to his public image. He knows there remain many who are skeptical about whether he has matured as he has said, especially after the Bucs signed him to a lucrative long-term contract that includes $20 million in guarantees.

"Fans have a right to feel the way they want," he said. But Winslow is quietly hoping a fresh start in Tampa will help him change attitudes. He's already trying to become part of the community with his June football camp, for which he says he will sponsor 150 kids from a local Boys' and Girls' Club.

Winslow also addressed the subject of NFL Network commentator and former Tampa Bay defensive lineman Warren Sapp, who made light of Winslow's absence on the first day of OTAs (offseason team activities). Attending practice that day, Sapp told reporters, "When your team fires up OTAs and you're not here, I guess you're being misunderstood again, right? Your past doesn't equal your future, but it will damn sure give me some reflection of what you might do. I'll leave it at that."

Winslow said he called Sapp later that day and explained the situation and, according to Winslow, Sapp apologized and said he understood Winslow's position.

"We talked it out," Winslow said.

Comments

[DR]

That's the thing I still don't get from last blog. Raheem was cool with his absence so why does everybody care that he wasn't there? Winslow has enough talent and dedication to get over missing two weekends. You don't put up his stats without being a hard worker. He'll break every single season record for a TE in Bucs history and everybody will claim to be his #1 fan.

[Russell]

God bless the soldier! Love him.

[BucFandango]

Salaaaami, salaaaami, baloooogna.

[Go Long]

DR - maybe he will "break every single season record for a TE" or maybe he won't. But it's really irrelevent when the Bucs win 3 games. But guys like you would rather win 3 games and pound your chest about Winslow breaking some stupid record. He may, he may not. Why don't we let him catch a pass - IN PRACTICE - before you put him a pedestal. Besides that, he isn't even the best TE in the DIVISION. Gonzalez can Block and will put up bigger numbers and will probably win a few more games too. You won't see 9 wins again for a LONG, LONG time. and you deserve it. You don't fire coach's who win. Gruden won! and no I won't get off the subject because I think it's a joke what happened here in Tampa. I have been going to games for years (every home game), but not anymore. I vote with my money. The team has voted with theirs by spending the least amount of money of free agents for the past 5 years - of all the teams in the NFL. and they just continue to do that. THAT is a JOKE!!!!!

[Go Long]

and I am reminded of an old saying....What Goes Around Comes Around. well, it's coming.

[G. Michael Reynolds]

Hm. I like Gruden. And I like Raheem. Wow, guess you can do both.

[DR]

Gruden was 57-55 as a Bucs coach. 45-51 the last 6 years. The Bengals had one more win than the Bucs the past 6 years. Don't blame everything on the Bucs. Gruden had a horrible playbook. Nobody wants to play in a system as dumb as his. He's the only OC that had to bench a RB because he didn't know the playbook. Great trade that was. He's the only coach to beg for a QB that didn't want to play for him.

[Me]

Go Long I have 2 words to describe you. BANDWAGON FAN.
Go do your complaining somewhere else. I'm sure you will be writing how great the Bucs are when they win games!!!!

[Joe]

This doesn't tell me anything. No where was there a good reason why he was not there. Because "I live in San Diego and I want to be there." W T F? He's employed by the Bucs so he should get to Tampa. The only reason he should miss this is that if he or a family member has a medical emergency.

[BigBucDaddy]

Winslow says he wasn't here because he wasn't finished moving?! He was traded back in what, March? OMG, can those of you in the "real working world" imagine telling your boss that two months just isn't enough time to finish moving and that you weren't going to be reporting to work on time! Hey Winslow, sell it somewhere else you SLACKER, BUM AND SISTA' SOLDIER! You will never shake the "bad attitude" wrap until you LOSE THE BAD ATTITUDE!

[Bucs1Fan]

Cmon people first off its MAY we have a while till the season! 2nd these are VOLUNTARY workouts, last I checked voluntary means you dont have to be here. 3rd Tony Gonzales isnt at his OTAs either and you dont see their fans throwing hissy fits over it. Lets give the guy a chance. All you people will be riding his bandwagon once he makes his first TD! It must be a slow news week...

[Willycp]

Glad to see you leave Go Long! u can take that attitude to Detroit if you want... Like somebody said above, if the HC is OK with the decision, it's OK with me! As long as winslow arrives in shape and is studying the playbook everything should be good at One Buc Place.

[Mr. S]

Hey GO LONG, does your support through payment not translate to actually buying the St Pete Times? Just food for thought.

[Dave]

DR... again you prove your cluelesness. I think Rich Gannon would disagree with your assessment of Gruden's playbook. Google him, I'm sure your football knowledge doesn't run very deep.

[Dave]

And for everyone giving Winslow a pass... if he really wanted to be in Tampa, he would have been. He makes way too much money to have issues moving. I've uprooted and relocated my family almost single handedly several times in my career and never missed a day of work. He looks pretty spoiled and selfish if you ask me... just the kind of guy to build a losing team around. Shoulda given the big contract to Antonio Bryant, at least he wanted to be here.

[Jay]

So dv7401, how long have you been playing TE in the NFL?

[WS]

Go Long- guess that is what your doing with that sausage in your mouth. Don't let the door hit ya on the way out of the Ray Jay! BANDWAGONNNNN!!!

[Bucs1Fan]

DV7401- this is VOLUNTARY! He's not getting paid to be there, I would take my time and make sure my family was situated too before I came to work if it was VOLUNTARY. Jeeeze I'm sure once he makes his 1st TD all you people hating on him will forget he wasnt at the first 2 days of OTAs.

[JC]

$20 million in guarantees can afford you a pretty impressive moving company. Poor excuse for someone wishing to be the "face" of the Buccaneers.

In my eyes, you're not off to a good start Mr. Winslow, you have a long road to make up to win my fandom and support.

[Dave]

Voluntary or not- this guy has been declared the "face" of the franchise by the local media. As such, you'd better damn well make a good impression. The moving excuse is weak and shows how selfish the guy is. All you people defending this clown are just Gruden haters.

[Dave]

Jay-- if I played TE in the NFL I'd be too busy thinking of excuses for not making a good impression in my new community-- I wouldn't have time for these silly blogs!

[OAR]

He's going to miss FIVE Sessions, cause of moving? How much crap can the dude own? The're called moving companies and get your "wanna be a leader" a-- to One Buc and the field! Well I guess his self-imposed nickname the "soldier", should tell us he's not a leader, otherwise it would be the "sarge" or the "colonel".
"punishing personal workouts" is that really a quote or what he said?

[mm]

He's going to miss FIVE Sessions, cause of moving? How much crap can the dude own?

Posted by: OAR | May 19, 2009 at 08:50 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
K2 has a LOT of motorcycles to get here.

[BUCinLA]

“Kellen Winslow hears you”… “I'm working my butt off”… “isn't oblivious to his public image”….” hoping a fresh start in Tampa”… “I’m a soldier”…

SHOW ME SOLDIER!

[Bucs1Fan]

You people are stupid, he said that comment he was 19 years old!!! The guy is 26, MOVE ON PEOPLE. I bet if he was in front of all you people you'd be kissing his butt. Anyway, I happen to be a realtor, and I looked up something MLS listings for a client, and low and behold Winslow closed on his home not too long ago. So I buy the moving excuse, you cant get your stuff down here until you CLOSE on the house. And isnt he married with a family? So he cant just get up and go like a single guy would, moving takes time. Once again dont judge people without knowing the FACTS

[Joe]

You don't have to move your whole family to be at practice. Many if not most people who move for a job go back and forth until the move is complete. There are a lot of players in this category on the Bucs and other NFL teams and I don't hear that excuse from the others. Fly to Tampa, get a hotel, go to practice. Move after practice. I can't believe people here buying that crap.

[BUCinLA]

I got a job.. I moved first... moved family next... never missed a day of work because I had to be the leader of an organization that was paying me well. Facts? 491 yds avg (614 w/o 2005). Only 2 yrs over 800 with other TE's smoking him. When you say, I am changing or I want to be a leader... you do it by example. SHOW ME!

[mm]

You guys got it all wrong. Being the leader and all, he expected the Bucs to move camp to San Diego. when that didn't happen he had to start looking for a home here. Complete misunderstanding!

[OAR]

Bucs1fan, that nicknmae has stuck with him, probably cause of his attitude. I bet one of his tatoos says it.
Also isn't it funny how Kellen said during his introductory presser that he was "ready to get started and become a team leader." and "it's a fresh start and he's ready to get going". He's going to "earn the respect of the players and work his butt off". Remember those things a few months ago? He said those things when he was 25. Do they count?
BTW: he was 20(july 21st birthday) at the time of that Tenn vs Miami game, which means he's not 26 yet either. Its just the FACTS man!

[DR]

The more I hear about this and think about this, the dumber it gets. Winslow isn't the first and won't be the last to skip voluntary OTAs. People don't understand what he said. He wants to be here and will be here meaning Tampa. He was trying to squash people saying he doesn't want to be here in Tampa. If he didn't want to, he wouldn't have extended his contract. Winslow just has to realize that players drink gatorade while fans in Tampa drink haterade. Look at Edwards stats with a healthy Winslow and with an unhealthy Winslow. Imagine what a healthy Winslow can do for a refreshed offense?

[OAR]

Spin-DR, "Winslow just has to realize that players drink gatorade while fans in Tampa drink haterade." This coming from the cowboy who almost drowned in anything-associated-with-the-Gruden-regime-haterade. Come spin-DR, just cause we don't agree and think the guy should be in OTA's(showing some commitment and dedication to that new signed contract or I like to call lifestyle) doesn't mean we hate him. It's a lame excuse and he should be impressing the fans not making them even have to posts these doubts/questions. I don't think our point is wondering if he wants to be here now or in the future. Just think about it. I mentioned it. It'll come to you.

[DR]

mOARon, you're truly a moron in the purest form. Morris is cool with his absence so who cares. Your hero Favre never attended any OTAs throughout most of his career, yet you supposed fans wanted him here. Imagine if Favre came here like most of you wanted and didn't attend OTAs like he didn't for the NY Jets or Packers for that matter, would you be all over Favre for the same thing,especially at a more important position? No you wouldn't! You'd be on your knees.

[OAR]

Spin-DR, again you claim just cause I defended your assinine comment about Farve being overrated that he is my favorite qb or my "hero"? Whatever, you are the spinner!
I'm not the only onethat thinks Kellen (talk about overrated) get his butt in the OTA's.

[BUCinLA]

Oh, I see the comparison! Farve - 18 yrs in the league and 65,127 yards. Kellen - 5 yrs for 2,459 yards. That proven leadership is comparable! Maybe they will go into the hall at the same time? SHOW ME!