What exactly is it with Browns general manager Phil Savage?

From AP:

After Sunday's 23-17 win in Jacksonville, Savage downplayed the importance of the text messages and said he and Winslow's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, had been working toward a settlement since Thursday.

Savage also suggested Winslow had been hospitalized for something other than staph and the club was trying to protect the player's privacy.

"If there's going to be disclosure, there's got to be full disclosure," Savage said outside Cleveland's locker room in Jacksonville. "We were trying to do the right thing by him and his family."

Savage was asked why Winslow had been hospitalized.

"I don't know," said Savage. "I think it's all in a gray area right now. You can ask him (Winslow)."

Before coach Romeo Crennel's news conference Monday, an agitated Savage came into the team's media room to discuss his postgame comments.

"Once and for all, Kellen's illness was determined to be a staph infection," Savage said tersely. "He had been in the hospital for two or three days; it takes a couple days to figure out what something is. Secondly, there was no secondary illness. Thirdly, he is in the building, he has worked out and the team meets at 1 o'clock.

"That's the end of the story. It is over with, OK? There is no secondary illness. Staph infection. Everybody's got it, right?"

If that's the end of the story, maybe Savage shouldn't have caroused reporters who are inherently curious. Who else was exactly talking or writing about this issue? As far as I can tell, all the reporters were writing the "Winslow is back with the team" story. Outside of Jerry Jones of the Cowboys, what other general manager in the NFL goes out of his way like this to discuss things with the media?

Can it be a good thing? Sure, Savage's Thursday appearances on WTAM are wildly informative. But there is a proper time and place for Savage to be addressing the media. This is not one of them.

Savage is proven to be an incredibly adept talent evaluator, but if he continues to talk to the media like this, it could change the perception people have of him.

Notes…
Think on this one optimists: The Browns have won three of the last four games and have four of the next five games at home.

Safety Nick Sorenson, who helped break up the final play of the game in the end zone, did so with a mild concussion.

Stats, stats, stats
• Did you know Jamal Lewis is on pace for about 1,100 yards rushing this year?
• D'Qwell Jackson is fifth in the league in tackles with 66. Fellow middle linebacker Andra Davis only has 32. Shaun Rogers is second with 36.
• The Browns are plus-six in turnover margin. That's usually not a good predictor of future success.
• Joshua Cribbs is averaging five less yards per punt return this year compared to 2007
• The 51-yard touchdown catch by Steven Heiden is two yards longer than any play Winslow has made as a Browns player

This entry was posted on Monday, October 27th, 2008 at 5:55 pm and is filed under Kellen Winslow, Phil Savage. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.