Read and React: The Motorcycle Diaries

Kellen Winslow Jr. may have taken a pummeling in his motorcycle accident, but it's nothing compared to the damage his image has suffered.

Still stinging from last season's rookie holdout by Winslow, a slew of Cleveland Browns fans emailed this week saying they'd like to see the tight end join former coach Butch Davis in the unemployment line. Not only that, many Browns followers would like the franchise to chase down all of Winslow's bonus money and then send him to the nearest corner with a dunce cap. More than anything, they seem miffed at the shadow Winslow's accident has cast over the new regime's progress.

Things don't seem nearly as gloomy across the country, where San Francisco 49ers fans are bathing in the infusion of enthusiasm brought by new coach Mike Nolan. While most think the 49ers will have to be patient for a year or two before seeing the franchise turned around, San Francisco fans seem to think that's a pessimistic outlook.

And while we're on the subject of pessimists, we had a few dozen emails complaining that "exasperate" and "exacerbate" aren't interchangeable words. Break out the dictionaries for a little lesson at the bottom of today's mailbag.

In the meantime, keep the thoughts coming. And remember: If you want your email to be considered for publication, include your first and last name, city and state.

To the mail …

KELLEN WINSLOW JR. ("Offseason notebook: Winslow's rookie move," May 5, 2005)

Don't blame the motorcycle. Blame Kellen. If he knew how to ride it and used the proper protection, (helmet, jacket, gloves) he wouldn't be hurt. And blame the Browns for giving him a load of money before he played.

Pavlos Pavlopoulos
Atlanta, Ga.

My Brownies need to make Winslow ante up every red cent of his contract and bonus. Winslow has been a selfish, self-centered basket case since playing at the University of Miami.

Dan Malek
Indianapolis, Ind.

I'm a big fan of Kellen Winslow Jr., but Browns fans have suffered enough with first-round busts. Get your money back and cut your loses now. I loved to watch Winslow play at Miami, but he is heading down the wrong path. He needs time to mature, but the problem is it may be too late after only one season.

Michael Edwards
San Antonio, Texas

Kellen Winslow Jr. reminds me of Boobie Miles from the movie "Friday Night Lights." So much talk about what he is going to do, showing some glimpses of greatness and then it all ends. It's about time these guys started to act like they appreciate the opportunities that they have.

Theo Hamer
Baltimore, Md.

I not only question Kellen Winslow Jr.'s judgment, but the judgment of the Browns for even drafting him. His attitude sucked from day one. His "me first" crap was stupid. It was made even worse because his father condoned it and even seemed to encourage it. I sort of lost my respect for Winslow Sr. at that point. I think the Browns should cut their losses now and dump the kid. He's never going to listen or be a team player no matter what he says.

Phil Dazley
Toledo, Ohio

Kellen Winslow Jr. deserves every bit of bad karma that comes his way. This might seem really harsh to some, but what did he ever do in the NFL to hold out (before his rookie season)? I remember thinking what a spoiled kid he was. The words "shut up and play" certainly came to mind when I witnessed that last year.

Marc Accardi
Plantation, Fla.

The Browns should show this young man and others around the league that a player gets what they earn. Winslow Jr. has been nothing but a headache since he was drafted. Ownership should restructure his contract to have nothing but incentives. He doesn't produce? Then he gets league minimum. The millions he demanded (and got) are a total joke and a travesty to the game.

Scott Lunsford
Wichita, Kan.

Once it's determined that Winslow Jr. is out for 2005 and is not of immediate value to the team, he should be cut and the Browns should take back ALL the money they can.

Tony Greene
Rochester, N.Y.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS ("Breath of fresh air," May 9, 2005)

I've been a 49ers fan since 1975, and we've been through a lot of ups and downs. And every time, we've bounced back. This time is no different. Only the names and faces have changed. If we had been one of those other teams that had never won a Super Bowl, a lot of this stuff wouldn't even be talked about.

William Peacock
Louisville, Ky.

Andre Carter is a defensive end, not a linebacker.

Martin Gruner
San Francisco, Calif.

Actually, Carter will be playing outside linebacker in coach Mike Nolan's 3-4 defense.

Your mixing of metaphors in your 49ers piece was like the taste of foul air. Why don't you take one for the team, try and help the ball club and just play within yourself like all the other good old sports boys?

Joe Bini
Los Angeles, Calif.

I know what you're saying. My back is up against the wall. I need to step up and take it one day at a time, right?

I notice that you left out the biggest problem that faces the 49ers – penny-pinching, incompetent ownership. As a longtime New England Patriots fan, I suffered through the Sullivan family, Victor Kiam and James Orthwein. Once Bob Kraft took over and learned how to be a good owner, it was amazing how all the problems that plagued the Patriots for 35 years suddenly went away.

Tom Lacey
Plainville, Mass.

I'm not sure I'd say Kraft's cash is what revitalized the Patriots.

To say the 49ers are "years" away from turning around is simply not true. Someone who follows football such as you knows turning any team around can happen in a much shorter time with free agency. If you simply look at the expected improvement in the offensive line, they could cure a lot of woes from last year.

Peter Osuna
Antioch, Calif.

Considering the salary-cap issues the 49ers have dealt with in the past, free agency might not be the most prudent route to getting the franchise right. Expect Nolan to do it the way most of the great franchises are doing it now: Through years of good drafting and smart personnel management.

I'm not a 49er fan, but I was thinking that Freddie Mitchell might be a good fit for San Francisco. They need at least an adequate receiver and he wants to be showcased. If he can perform on the field half as well as he does verbally, you would have a good nucleus in Alex Smith and Mitchell.

David Trevaskis
Anaheim, Calif.

Mitchell is not what San Francisco needs. He wasn't even a good No. 2 receiver – and that was playing alongside Terrell Owens. A team would be insane to expect him to be a good No. 1, especially playing with a rookie quarterback. Oh, and he kind of has a big mouth, too.

I'm tired of comments that running back Kevan Barlow hasn't lived up to expectations. Was he expected to succeed behind an offensive line that gave up 50 sacks? Before we cover the 49ers' grave, let's see what happens after a season that can't possibly have as many injuries and definitely has a staff that understands what coaching is all about.

Robert Hunt
San Diego, Calif.

HOLDOUTS

I wish Ronald Reagan was still alive. Remember how he dealt with the airline employees holding out in the 1980s? That dude knew how to get the job done, which is more than I can say for the majority of general managers in the NFL.

Jacob Simon
El Dorado, Wis.

Drew Rosenhaus is becoming to football what steroids are to baseball: bad news. I understand it's his job to get the most money for his clients, but while they are still under another contract? I can see it if it's the final year of the contracts, but these guys have two-plus years left on their contracts.

Al Zempel
Shawano, Wis.

Minicamps, training camps, mandatory offseason workouts and meetings exist because the training they provide is necessary for team chemistry. Any player who chooses to hold out will adversely affect the team as a whole. Contract negotiations (when they lead to holdouts) are bigger than the individual holding out.

Paul Carroll
Washington, D.C.

It is time for the NFL to revoke Drew Rosenhaus' license to represent players. He obviously has no principles and is a detriment to the sport of football. All contracts with players represented by Rosenhaus should be written on toilet paper. At least then they would be good for something.

David Morley
Melbourne Beach, Fla.

I have a comment for the players like Javon Walker of the Green Bay Packers: Just because you come in and have one good season, and Brett Favre pretty much turns you into an All-Pro, doesn't mean you deserve more money! How about this for a future contract – you get a raise, but if you don't match last year's numbers, we want it all back.

Nick Olson
LaValle, Wis.

The only reason Drew Rosenhaus is successful – and why players are flocking to him – is because the NFL management lets him get away with this garbage. Nobody forced these players to sign their current contracts and I'd wager all of them were very happy to get said contracts originally. Rosenhaus has found a weak spot on the underbelly of football and is exploiting it.

Mike Cofell
Cape Coral, Fla.

DICTIONARY TIME

You said Kellen Winslow, Jr. "exasperates." Who writes your column for you, Norm Crosby? Do you really write for a living? Please try "exacerbates" next time.

Ed Cudlipp
Tampa, Fla.

Thanks for all the English majors that dropped the several dozen emails insisting that I must have meant "exacerbates." Actually, I did mean "exasperates." I said Winslow "exasperated" his situation by holding out as a rookie. To exasperate is to frustrate, annoy or irritate. It's not a stretch to say Winslow "irritated" his situation by holding out before the 2004 season.