Browns trade Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns traded talented but troublesome tight end Kellen Winslow on Friday to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for undisclosed draft picks.

Winslow's five years in Cleveland were marked by injuries and controversy. He missed most of his first two seasons with injuries, but made the Pro Bowl in 2007 after making 82 catches for 1,106 yards. He demanded a new contract after the '07 season.

Last season, he was briefly suspended by the Browns after being hospitalized with a staph infection.

Winslow was the sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft. The son of Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow Sr., he had 219 receptions for 2,459 yards and 11 touchdowns in 44 games.

While there is no denying Winslow's skills or toughness, his injuries prevented the outspoken former University of Miami All-American from fulfilling his immense potential in Cleveland. He missed the entire 2005 season with a knee injury after he crashed his motorcycle while doing stunts in a parking lot.

Winslow then contracted a staph infection in the knee and had to undergo several clean-out procedures. He came back and caught 89 passes in 2006 and followed that up with a Pro Bowl appearance. But Cleveland's drafting of Missouri's Martin Rucker in the fourth round last season was a sign the Browns were preparing for a future without Winslow.

And on the first day of free agency, new coach Eric Mangini and general manager George Kokinis decided to cut ties with the 25-year-old.

"The Cleveland Browns thank Kellen for his contributions to this organization over the past five years," Kokinis said in a statement. "We appreciate his passion for the game and wish him success in Tampa Bay. The draft picks we have obtained through this deal will give us greater flexibility as we look to infuse more talent and create competition and depth on this football team."

Before making the deal, the Browns only had four picks in April's draft.

Winslow missed Cleveland's final four games last season with a severely sprained left ankle and he played for weeks with a sprained right shoulder. During his last interview in December, with coach Romeo Crennel's firing expected, Winslow was optimistic about his future in Cleveland.

"I love being a Cleveland Brown," he said. "We don't know who's going to be here next year. ... I do want to be back here. I love being here. I love playing here. The fans have stuck by me."

Winslow's relationship with the Browns was fractured by an ugly feud with Cleveland's front office. He was briefly suspended for making disparaging remarks about the team, which later rescinded its one-game penalty.

In addition to Rucker, the Browns also have tight end Steve Heiden under contract.