The postons are at it again...winslow

[general counsel]

espn is reporting that kellen winslow, the 6th pick in the draft, has turned down the exact same deal that sean taylor, the 5th pick, signed. The deal, which could earn him up to $40 million, would have paid him more than tony gonzales makes. Espn says it would make him the highest paid tight end in the history of the nfl.

does everyone remember the cartoon on the postons that someone posted a month or two ago?

lets keep our fingers crossed that The Big Man takes control of the situation rather than leaving the negotiating to the postons.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[Nick]

Offer making Winslow highest-paid TE rejected by Postons
July 30, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports

BEREA, Ohio -- Kellen Winslow Jr.'s agents rejected a contract offer from the Cleveland Browns on Friday that would make him the highest paid tight end in NFL history.

Winslow, the No. 6 overall selection, was not on the field as the Browns held their first practice.

In an unusual move designed to put pressure on Winslow's agent, Kevin Poston, Browns president John Collins released a statement two hours before the club opened training camp to announce that the Browns had made their "best offer" to Winslow.

Collins said the Browns proposed a deal that matched the one safety Sean Taylor, the fifth overall pick and Winslow's college teammate at the University of Miami, signed earlier this week with the Washington Redskins.

Taylor's package included a $7.2 million signing bonus that could exceed $13 million with incentives and the contract can reportedly escalate to $40 million over its length.

The Browns said their offer would "far exceed" the $31 million deal Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez signed in 2002. Gonzalez's deal included a $10 million signing bonus, the most ever given to a tight end.

The Browns' negotiating tactic is unusual because teams almost never disclose contract figures -- even after a deal is done. But the Browns, who earlier this week said they would keep talks private, publicly provided the framework for negotiations.

Poston wouldn't elaborate on his decision to reject the offer.

"I do not negotiate in the media," Poston told the Associated Press. "We are continuing to negotiate with the Browns to obtain for Kellen Winslow II his fair market value."

Winslow's holdout began one day after the New York Giants gave No. 1 pick Eli Manning a rookie-record $20 million in guaranteed money and No. 2 overall pick Robert Gallery received a potential $18.5 million in guaranteed bonuses.

It's unclear what Poston wants, but the Browns feel their offer that matched Taylor's was more than fair.

"Given the close personal and competitive relationship between Kellen and Sean Taylor, as well as their equal talent level on different sides of the football, we did not want to penalize Kellen for being picked one slot below his former teammate," Collins said in the statement.

"Faced with the opportunity to get Kellen in camp on time, we made our best offer."

Poston and his brother, Carl, have a reputation for demanding the most for their clients. The Redskins passed on Winslow in the draft partly because Winslow chose the Postons as his representatives.

In their statement, the Browns said they examined Gonzalez's deal and their offer "provides Kellen Winslow the opportunity to far exceed Gonzalez's compensation."

The Browns have had negotiations with Poston for weeks. The sides had face-to-face negotiations on Wednesday at the team's headquarters.

At the time, coach Butch Davis said the club would not negotiate in the media, but that is exactly where things have gone.

"That's clearly not what we're going to do not only with Kellen, but any of the draft choices not only this year but in future years," Davis said earlier this week.

The Browns traded a second-round pick to Detroit and moved up one spot from No. 7 to No. 6 so they could select Winslow, the son of Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow.

Cleveland's last three first-round picks -- center Jeff Faine, running back William Green and defensive tackle Gerard Warren -- briefly held out of camp before signing.

The Browns may now face an even lengthier holdout by Winslow, who is expected to be a key contributor in Cleveland's offense this season.

It's almost to the point where I'd be willing to hire someone to knock these guys off. Kellen Winslow's "fair market value" is more than any other NFL tight end has EVER made?!

[general counsel]

After all nick, he is a "warrior." I would love to post the postons cartoon on the browns board, they would love it!

general counsel

[RAMMAN68]

It's freeking amazing what kind of money these kids make without even stepping onto the field. I wish I could have an agent negotiate my next raise. :redface:

[HUbison]

After all nick, he is a "warrior." I would love to post the postons cartoon on the browns board, they would love it!

general counsel

Somebody has. The first time they saw it, the threads were along the lines of "it couldn't be that hard to sign him, could it?". I believe now they are getting out the torches and pitchforks to head in the Postons' direction.

[HUbison]

The Browns were fools for drafting him. They are going to have to blow their cap in order to get him signed, and how many teams are superbowl contenders because of their TE. I'll help with that...the answer is none.

[majorram]

This just makes me laugh, the kid hasn't even got on the field yet.... never took an NFL snap and the Postens reject the deal to make him the highest TE in the leaque... What the hell :O :O ...... Please PACE get rid of theses *****!!!!!!!!!

steve

[Yodude]

These dudes are a pair of idiots.

How in the hell can you justify turning down a contract that would pay him more than the best tight end in the league when he hasn't even played a game yet.

Absolutely rediculous!

[theodus69]

I see stupid people. Plese visit the Postons and winslow at we are the stupiest agents and player in football history.com. Winslow is gonna be a bust anyway!

[r8rh8rmike]

The Browns need to make a stand here. Winslow has bad attitude written all over him and his agents, well what can you say. The only way he should get this kind of money is to have performance incentives worked in so he is forced to EARN the best tight end contract in NFL history.