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Winslow Opts Not To Volunteer For Second Day Of Minicamp

By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 1, 2009

What area of the Bucs' offense concerns you the most?

TAMPA - One day of practice apparently was enough for Kellen Winslow.

Tampa Bay's new tight end declined to work out with his teammates on the second day of a voluntary minicamp, although Winslow was at the team facility on Wednesday.

"This is a voluntary deal,'' Coach Raheem Morris said, "and Kellen did everything he needed to do. This has nothing to do with health. It's a voluntary deal and Kellen didn't go today.''

Winslow was acquired from Cleveland a month ago on the first day of free agency. He led all NFL tight ends with 89 catches in 2006 and posted 1,106 receiving yards in 2007.

Winslow, 25, figures to be a focal point of Tampa Bay's attack this season under new coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski.

Tampa Bay's first minicamp under Morris will conclude Thursday and he refused to comment on the club's potential interest in Jay Cutler, the disgruntled Pro Bowl quarterback of the Broncos who is now officially on the trading block, according to Denver owner Pat Bowlen.

Morris was asked about the scarcity of franchise quarterbacks around the league.

"Just look through history,'' he said. "They come along every once in a while, but you need one to be successful long-term. They don't come along often.''

Morris said quarterback Luke McCown continues to show improvement and talked about the importance of the man under center.

"The quarterback is the leader, no matter what,'' said Morris. "He's got to be that guy. I'm liking the direction he (McCown) is going. He's got to make us love him.''

Out on the field, second-year cornerback Aqib Talib swayed to the funky rhythms blaring from the loudspeakers.

"Nobody likes practice more than Aqib,'' Morris said of Tampa Bay's new starter at left corner. "He doesn't stop talking from the time the music goes on until it goes off. The kind of energy he brings to practice is the kind he brings to every game.''

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