Why did the Winslow non-story got so much play last week? It was the perfect storm:
- Timing. Free agency signings tapered off, while the draft is still over a month away. Something needed to fill in the gap.
- Media motivation. PFT is run by a Steelers fan, of all things, so he doubtless gets his jollies by sending Cleveland all atwitter.
- Wheelie’s high profile. He’s crucial to the offensive identity the Browns hope to establish under Chud. His unavailability would have profound consequences.
- Wheelie’s past problems. The pump has been primed, as they say, by his previous injuries, so the storyline glides along a familiar path.
- Specialized subject matter. The knee is complicated equipment, and the nuances of microfracture surgery do not make for simple public digestion.
- The “cursed” Browns meme. This story complies with the standard portrayal of the Browns, continuing a narrative that already featuring Baxter, Bentley, Courtney Brown, Jamir, Zeus, and — depending on your appetite for the topic — players stretching as far back as Ernie Davis. (I’m not immune either.)
- Dishonesty from the official sources. For all their other virtues, the team and Winslow himself have established themselves as not to be trusted when it comes to the timely, complete, and accurate disclosure of player injuries and treatments, this case specifically not excepted. From this dark, slippery breeding ground, lowlife forms of information and informants spawn and spread virally.
