After being 'weeded out,' Winslow back in

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Tight end Kellen Winslow, who practiced Monday for the first time in more than a month, acknowledged he was unhappy with his playing time before his four-game suspension took effect. Winslow said he was "weeded out" of the game plan in the Week 5 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

"Stuff goes on behind the scenes that ... look, they knew I was going to get suspended," Winslow said of the New York Jets. "Sometimes you just kind of get weeded out or whatever. I knew I wasn't going to take the appeal if I got suspended. My knee was hurting, I'm weeded out of the game plan ... it was just a frustrating time."

Because the Jets knew of the pending suspension, they chose to give fellow tight end Jeff Cumberland a bigger role in that particular game plan, according to Winslow.

Winslow's chronic knee pain flared up in the days leading up to the Monday night game in Atlanta, causing him to miss four practices that week. He caught a 1-yard touchdown pass in the game, but he played only 19 snaps -- the first time he played fewer snaps than Cumberland. Afterward, Winslow declined an interview, saying it wouldn't be a smart move to speak to reporters.

Four days later, the suspension became public.

Winslow said he feels well-rested and fresh after spending five weeks at his home in California. He returned to the Jets briefly last week, but the team received a six-day break for the bye week, so he returned to the West Coast.

"I went home to San Diego and cycled a little bit and ate Mexican food," said Winslow, a cycling enthusiast.

For what it's worth, Winslow said he still hasn't been notified by the NFL Players' Association as to which performance-enhancing substance caused his positive test. He claimed it may have been an allergy medication. He said his goal is to help the team any way possible.

"He was missed," quarterback Geno Smith said.


(espn.com)