Winslow's absence from Buc workouts a perception problem

TAMPA - I volunteered to write this.

It's time, for the time being, to not worry about Kellen Winslow Jr. not showing up for voluntary workouts over at One Buc Place.

Yes, it's the second straight week "soldier" has been missing. Apparently, he is in the process of moving to Tampa from California.

Man, he better turn up next week rubbing his back from lugging all those sofas or asking, "Hey, anybody need boxes?"

What is this, Two Men and a Winslow?

But before Bucs fans who worry about Winslow start worrying all over again, note that he is expected to be at workouts next week.

Also note that Bucs coach Raheem Morris and general manager Mark Dominik seem perfectly fine with Winslow's absence, at least they were last week, when Dominik smiled and said, "We're OK, we're good."

Then again, what choice do they have?

But let's go back to a key word: voluntary.

These are voluntary workouts.

The Bucs are OK with Winslow, they're good.

Good enough for me.

I just hope Winslow doesn't move any motorcycles.

Guys miss workouts all the time. Barrett Ruud missed workouts last week. Earnest Graham has skipped them, too.
Granted, you would think that, in the name of first impressions, Winslow would volunteer to immediately show the pewter and jump right into working with his new quarterbacks, new coaches, new offense, what with all the money he got.

You'd also think that Winslow, who at his introductory news conference spoke of being misunderstood, would understand how his absence might also be misunderstood.

But this is not a federal case.

It's about perception more than anything else.

Me? I'm willing to wait and see.

I don't think Winslow missing these workouts is a sign of things to come. Things might still come, but it won't be because he missed these workouts. Remember a few years ago, when Michael Strahan hemmed and hawed about retirement, kicked back and missed Giants training camp? Tom Coughlin didn't blink very much. Then Strahan showed up.

Hey, didn't the Giants win the Super Bowl?

If Kellen Winslow Jr. shows up and works his tail off and goes out and catches 75 balls and makes touchdowns, none of this voluntary stuff is going to matter.

Come to think of it, it might not matter now.

(tbo.com)