CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow released a statement Tuesday night after being suspended for one game without pay for conduct detrimental to the club:
"First I would like to say that I am disappointed that my organization felt the need to suspend me for speaking out regarding my medical situation with staph. I take responsibility for the fact that there might have been a more constructive way to release this, but when I tried to do so I was discouraged from making the issue public. Regardless of how this was released the information would still remain the same. I contracted staph, again.
"I spoke out on this because I felt it was the right thing to do and that is why I was so passionate about it. This has nothing to do with football and this has nothing to do with my current contract situation. This is a health concern.
"Please understand I care deeply for my organization, my teammates, and the Browns fans. At no time was I ever trying to cause distress for the team or be a distraction but the fact remains there is a health issue that needs to be addressed further.
"I remain loyal to the Browns organization, my teammates, the fans and the city of Cleveland. I remain a hard worker on and off the field in support of my teammates and our goal to have a winning season. I hope to be a Brown for a very long time. I know that the organization and I can move forward and focus on having a successful season, which I believe everybody agrees upon."
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.
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