Steve King, Staff Writer
11.03.2006
The Browns' Kellen Winslow, Jr. vs. Antonio Gates of the San Diego
Chargers.

Winslow, Jr. vs. his dad, Pro Football Hall of Famer and former
Charger Kellen Winslow, Sr.

Winslow, Sr. vs. Gates.

The discussion as to who is better in each of those already much-
discussed tight-end matchups will only be fueled on Sunday as
Winslow, Jr. and Gates take the field and Winslow, Sr. takes part in
the Chargers' Alumni Weekend festivities.

That's great, especially if you're from San Diego or a Chargers fan.
But if you live in the Cleveland area or follow the Browns, here's
another tight-end comparison that might even mean more to you:
Winslow, Jr. vs. Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome, who played for the
Browns from 1978-90.

Through seven games, Winslow, Jr. leads all NFL tight ends with 40
receptions. That's also best on the Browns overall, as are his 393
yards receiving and three touchdown catches. He's averaging 9.8 yards
per reception.

Winslow, Jr. is trying to become the first tight end to lead the
Browns in receptions and/or receiving yards since Newsome in 1985. It
was the last of Newsome's five consecutive years of finishing first
on the Browns in both categories.

Winslow, Jr. missed all but two games in his first season of 2004
with a broken leg, and sat out all of '05 with multiple leg injuries.
Considering that, then, it could be said that 2006 is his true rookie
season. And if you do that, then Winslow, Jr. is way ahead of where
Newsome finished as a rookie in 1978, when he had 38 receptions,
tying him for second on the team, with 589 yards (second) and two TDs
(tied for fourth).

Winslow, Jr. already has more catches than that now, and the Browns
won't reach the halfway point of their 16-game schedule until Sunday.

Winslow, Jr. is No. 2 on the all-time NFL list of most receptions for
a tight end through his first eight games. He had 38. In comparison,
Newsome had 20.

This is not to suggest that Winslow, Jr. is going to be another
Newsome. That would not be fair to either of them. This is merely
suggesting that if Winslow, Jr. can stay healthy -- then, based on
these comparisons with the great Newsome, he could end up amassing
some impressive numbers this season and beyond.

TALK THE TALK, WALK THE WALK: Browns head coach Romeo Crennel said he
does not have a problem with Winslow, Jr.'s fiery comments this week
about facing Gates. "I think Kellen has a lot of confidence in his
ability," he said. "He uses that as one way to get himself ready to
play. Those comments that he made, talking about it being a
heavyweight fight with Gates, they aren't derogatory. I don't know
how well they (the Chargers) could use them to put on their board to
psych themselves up or anything like that. If it helps him, that's
fine, just as long as he plays in the scheme of the offense. If that
elevates his game, we'll be good."

GIDDY-UP: Browns running back Reuben Droughns set a club record for
rushing attempts in a year last year. He had a season-high 33 carries
last Sunday in the 20-13 win over the New York Jets. So should the
Browns ease off on Droughns or keep dialing his number? "I think we
should ride him as much as we can for as long as he can do it,"
Crennel said.

THE TIME HAS COME: Crennel said the Browns have until Tuesday to
decide what to do with rookie cornerback DeMario Minter, who is on
the Physically Unable to Perform List with a knee injury. They can
either place him onto the active roster, or on the Injured Reserve
List, where he would have to sit out the rest of the season. "He has
been running and making progress," Crennel said.

QUOTABLES: "We are in the NFL, and we line up and play. Even though
they are as good as they are, they put their pants on one leg at a
time. That means we have a chance." -- Crennel when asked if the
Browns had the defense to stop the Chargers.