Bucs' Winslow expects to be traded or released
Tampa Bay tight end Kellen Winslow's absence from offseason team activities was more than suspicious. On Monday, he shed light on the matter, telling Sirius XM NFL Radio that the coaching staff has informed him the team is going in another direction.
Winslow could be traded or released by the Buccaneers to save approximately $5.25 million of salary cap space. His receiving production is expected to be filled by wide receiver Vincent Jackson, who signed a $55.5 million deal as a free agent in March.
The Buccaneers worked out former Colts tight end Dallas Clark last week. If they don't sign Clark, who is coming off of two injury-shortened seasons, they'll roll the dice with one of many unproven options on the roster. It's likely 2011 fourth-round pick Luke Stocker would get first consideration but 2012 seventh-rounder Drake Dunsmore might be ready take over sooner rather than later.
Dunsmore's versatility as a fullback-H-back-tight end hybrid with excellent hands has drawn numerous positive reviews from coach Greg Schiano. Tampa Bay also added Chase Coffman, a veteran receiving tight end from Missouri who never found his niche with the Bengals.
Winslow turns 29 next month. He was acquired in a trade from the Browns in Feb. 2009 and signed the richest deal in NFL history for the position at the time -- six year, $36.1 million with $20.1 million guaranteed.
He was the sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft and came back from a serious knee injury suffered in a motorcyle accident in 2005.
