TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Buccaneers tight end Kellen Winslow says he been told that he no longer fits in Tampa Bay's plans for next season.
The ninth-year pro told SiriusXM radio on Monday that first-year coach Greg Schiano was "kind of upset" that Winslow has not been working out with the team this offseason and told the player over the weekend that he will facilitate a trade to another club.
"That's kind of shocking, but that's what it is," Winslow said, adding that Schiano told him the coach "would help me out with a trade."
Winslow has been one of Tampa Bay's best offensive players since being acquired from Cleveland in a trade three years ago. He 77 receptions for 884 yards and five touchdowns in 2009, 66 catches for 730 yards and five TDs in 2010 and 75 receptions for 763 yards and two TD's in 2011.
The Bucs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Despite a history of injuries and undergoing several knee surgeries during his career, Winslow appeared in every game over the past three seasons for Tampa Bay.
The 28-year-old was the sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft by the Browns, who sent him to Tampa Bay in exchange for second- and fifth-round draft choices. Winslow has 437 career receptions for 4,836 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Winslow said he has been working out near his home in San Diego and missed last week's initial set of organized team activities in Tampa. He said he was planning to join the team on Monday, but that he got a call from Schiano on Saturday.
"He was kind of upset that I wasn't there working out with the team in the offseason and for the first week of OTAs," Winslow said.
"But I've been there the last three years and I've had a successful career so far," he added. "You don't just get rid of one of your best players because of that. ... I don't have nothing bad to say about coach Schiano. It was just a disagreement on why I'm not there yet."
