Kellen Winslow Has Found a Pot of Gold

(Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)

These days, Kellen Winslow, Jr. has a lot to smile about.

After acquiring Winslow just a little over a month ago, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers extended Winslow’s contract which became the most lucrative contract for a tight end in NFL history.

The numbers:  six years, $36.1 million with $20.1 million guaranteed.  Oh and with the incentives, he could reach a potential $42.1 million.

Perhaps the Buccaneers liked what they saw from Winslow at minicamp.  Bucs tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts has previous experience with Winslow and possibly gave the Bucs some good insight as to whether Winslow was worth a contract extension.

In 2008, he played ten games with the Browns, eight of which he was a starter.  That year, he had 43 receptions for 428 yards resulting in three touchdowns.

2007 was his best year, averaging 13.5 yards per reception, a total of 1,106 yards with 82 receptions and five touchdowns, a Pro Bowl season.

In reviewing the stats of other tight ends in the league, he is among greats such as Kansas City Chiefs’ Tony Gonzalez and Dallas Cowboys’ Jason Witten, whom have posted similar high numbers.  So we know that Kellen Winslow, Jr. is capable of having a great season, but did the Bucs spend their money wisely?

After bidding adieu to Jeff Garcia, the Bucs have quarterbacks Luke McCown, Brian Griese, and Josh Johnson to fill the void.

Griese is very knowledgeable of the Bucs system, having been a Buc prior to being released by Tampa and signed by the Chicago Bears.  Throughout his career, Griese has had a few seasons where he has had double-digit consecutive games with at least one touchdown.  Last season, the Bucs struggled trying to score more than a field goal in the red zone.  So Griese, though not spectacular, may help greatly.

McCown is another capable quarterback.  He was with the Browns during Winslow’s rookie year so there is some familiarity there.

And Josh Johnson?  Well, he’s from the Bay Area in California, where I also grew up so I’ll give him a point for that.  (I feel like Tony Reali on Around The Horn.)  Aside from his roots, he had a good college career but hasn’t been given a chance to show it on the NFL stage yet.

The situation at quarterback is a bit disheartening for anyone new coming into the team.  The defense took a blow when the Bucs lost future Hall-of-Famer defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and released linebackers Cato June and Derrick Brooks.  Hopefully Barrett Ruud can take over as the leader of the Bucs defense.

Other than Antonio Bryant at wide receiver, the Bucs do not have much of a receiving core, so Winslow at tight end would help the team greatly.  Still, the Bucs could use some more offensive weapons.

I wasn’t involved in the contract negotiations so I don’t know if the terms of Winslow’s contract extension was actually necessary; however, it seems that the Buccaneers could have saved some of the money that they offered in the contract extension to entice whoever is left in free agency.

So, as Happy Gilmore said to Bob Barker, “The price is wrong, (expletive)!”

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