Unauthorized Holiday Is Quite Likely to Earn Winslow a $500 Fine

Kellen Winslow observed his 28th birthday Tuesday, but it may prove to be one he’d just as soon forget.

The Charger tight end, who failed to report Monday for practice, meetings and treatment, was facing a fine of up to $500 for his unexplained absence.

Winslow, who could not be contacted by the Chargers either Monday or Tuesday, was apparently fine physically, according to his sister, Valerie.

“He’s been in and out all day,” she said when contacted at his home. “Last time I saw him, he looked OK. Why, is something wrong?”

Coach Don Coryell was concerned about the player’s whereabouts and unhappy that Winslow had not notified the team that he wouldn’t be at practice Monday. Tuesday was a day off, so players were not due to report to the stadium until 9 a.m. today.

Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the players’ union, Winslow can be fined as much as $500 for missing a practice, meeting or treatment period.

Winslow was believed to be unhappy over his lack of playing time in Sunday’s 30-10 win over the Denver Broncos. He was in for only four plays, all runs. At one point, as he came off the field, he flipped his helmet under the bench, as if upset.

The veteran tight end, who had returned to action only two weeks ago from a knee injury that had sidelined him for a year, practiced very little last week.

He suffered a rib injury in a loss to the Raiders Oct. 28, and his right knee was also stiff and sore after that game. Accordingly, he did not practice at all last Wednesday or Thursday, and only slightly Friday.

Trainer Ric McDonald said that Winslow was physically able to perform in Sunday’s game against Denver, however. “As far as I could tell, he was fine,” McDonald said.

In accordance with Coryell’s policy that the best prepared players are the ones who should play most, the Chargers used Pete Holohan and Eric Sievers at tight end most of the time in Sunday’s victory over Denver.

“If he’s unhappy, that’s too bad,” said Ron Nay, chief adviser to team owner Alex Spanos. “He should go to practice.

“I haven’t talked with Mr. Spanos about this yet because it didn’t seem like a major deal. Kellen may have a legitimate excuse. But I wish he had called somebody.”

Winslow was due to report for meetings and treatment at 1 p.m. Monday, according to Coryell. No one noticed that he was not present for meetings or for a short practice session that followed, and it wasn’t until 6 p.m. that Winslow’s absence was noticed.

“We tried to call to make sure he wasn’t dead,” Coryell said. “He might have been in an accident. You never know.”

Winslow apparently had not missed any previous meetings or practices. Before he ended a year-long period of convalescence from his knee injury, Winslow had been under some heat from Spanos to return to action.

The Chargers, according to a published report, were considering a fine and suspension if Winslow was unwilling to play against the Vikings Oct. 20.

Winslow said later that he was unaware of pressure from the front office, and that his priority was to get back in the lineup.

In three games this year Winslow has caught 7 passes for 62 yards.