NFL To Expedite Grievance Filed By Kellen Winslow

Do the Cleveland Browns have a major problem with staph infection in their headquarters facility, as tight end Kellen Winslow claimed?

And do players feel muzzled about speaking their mind in the wake of Winslow’s one-game suspension handed down by General Manager Phil Savage on Tuesday?

These questions were posed to players the day after Winslow was docked a game check - in his case, $235,294 - for saying the club purposely concealed his staph infection from teammates.

Through his representation, Winslow formally notified the NFL Players Association on Wednesday of his appeal of the suspension.

“It’s a grievance proceeding under the CBA, and it’s expedited, meaning it will be decided by the arbitrator prior to Sunday,” said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello in an e-mail response.

Asked if that means Winslow could conceivably play, he said, “Right.”

The players union will represent Winslow and the NFL Management Council will represent the Browns in a grievance proceeding, Aiello said.

Winslow could recoup the game check withheld by the team if he won. It doesn’t guarantee he would play Sunday in Jacksonville. The team could make him inactive for the game.

Drew Rosenhaus, Winslow’s usually ubiquitous agent, has not returned messages to comment.

“It’s unfortunate,” tight end Darnell Dinkins, the team’s union representative, said of Winslow’s suspension. “You want all your best players out there to play. It’s a matter of winning. The way you win is by having the best players on the field.”

Kicker Phil Dawson, one of the Browns’ six team captains, said: “The organization’s made a decision. As a player and captain on this team, you respect what the organization does and just go about your business.”

- Tony Grossi, Cleveland Plain Dealer