Kellen Winslow goes and Braylon Edwards stays?

I was going to use this space on the spectacular return of Martin Brodeur to the ice and the Devils 4-0 win over the visiting Colorado Avalanche,but the news from Cleveland on the initial day of free agency was the temporary top story.

No,the Browns didn't announce an immediate signing,but they did make a speedy splash as they shipped Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay for two undisclosed draft picks.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that the Browns received Tampa's second round pick in the 2009 draft and the Bucs fifth rounder in the 2010 draft,although there has been no official confirmation of those terms.

Winslow missed almost as many games as a Brown as he played(44 to 36) and he was known to have been seeking a new contract having secured the services on noted shark Drew Rosenhaus to work on such,so I cannot say that this is a surprise.
The Browns also needed to add some extra draft picks after former GM Phil Savage foolishly traded picks away last off season and the extra two makes up for the absence of the third rounder that Savage shipped away in order to draft seldom used linebacker Beau Bell in last years draft.
On the flip side though,Winslow,for all of his issues and immaturity, was the one player on the team that you could count on to catch the ball and always leave his heart on the field and that will be missed.
Steve Heiden seems to be more of the Eric Mangini mold at tight end and Heiden is reliable and steady enough to at least give Cleveland a solid,albeit non-Winslow like,performer at the position and considering that the Browns used a fourth round pick last year (after another Savage trade up) to add Martin Rucker,one could argue that Winslow was the most attractive trade bait that the Browns had and yet was the player that the Browns could most afford to trade.

SO as much as I hate losing a player such as Kellen Winslow,I can understand it and even support it (as long as the reported terms are correct),but with the current issues with Shaun Rogers (Rogers wants a trade after being "snubbed" by Mangini and having issues with the weigh-in program that is being installed),the Browns are looking at having their top two players from last season both being banished from Lake Erie-that is called a major concern and PR hit.
With Winslow gone,Rogers trying to force a deal and yet the least popular Brown-Braylon Edwards still here,the Browns are on the proverbial hot seat.

As much as I despise Edwards for his dropped passes,half-ass effort,diva behavior and willingness to blame everyone and everything for his poor performances,I would not trade Edwards unless the offer was a good one.
One wins when you sell high and buy low,moving Edwards right now does the opposite.
The Browns are rebuilding (again) and could use a talent upgrade.
Short of obtaining a number one,moving Edwards now does not accomplish that goal.
Keeping Braylon Edwards (for now) makes the most sense,as much as it pains me to type that.

Bullpen Notes

Norm Van Lier,a former Chicago Bull star in the 1970's and Bull commentator for Comcast Chicago died yesterday at 61.
Van Lier did not show up for work and was found in his home.
Van Lier was a hustling,hard nosed player on the defensive end and was one of the stalwarts of the best non-Michael Jordan teams in the history of the franchise.
Van Lier brings to mind the CBS announcing of Brent Musberger from the time period in my head every time I think of him.

Title fight tonight at the Rock as new IBF Cruiser boss Tomas Adamek defends the belt that he won at the Rock from Steve Cunningham against powerpunching Jonathan Banks in a pick em bout.
This one to comes down to whether Adamek can handle the power shots of Banks and how Banks deals with the pressure from Adamek.
This is a tough call,but I will take a shot at the upset-Banks by late stoppage,likely on cuts....

Back tomorrow with the hockey recap..

Photo Credits
Winslow;Seattle Times
Van Lier:Topps
Adamek-Banks:Tom Casino-Showtime