NFL Roundup : Chargers Suspend Winslow for His Decision Not to Play

Kellen Winslow, five-time Pro Bowl selection, was suspended Monday by the San Diego Chargers in a dispute stemming from the club’s insistence that the tight end is ready to play.

Winslow, who underwent ankle surgery in February and knee surgery in June, said he told the Chargers last Wednesday he would be unable to play this year.

The Chargers can’t force him to play against his will. And they chose not to cut him because they didn’t want to pay his $795,000 guaranteed salary for 1988.

Winslow said the team offered to pay half his guaranteed salary for 1988 if he retired. He said he told the Chargers that was unacceptable.

So the Chargers suspended him and released a terse statement:

“The discipline deals with a refusal to play for the club and includes a suspension of Winslow. Indications are that this entire matter is going to be subject to litigation. . . . “

Said Winslow: “I was told by the Chargers’ doctors that I could compete this year and ‘get by.’ I wanted to know what their interpretation of ‘get by’ was. Did that mean I could play this year and not be able to walk the rest of my life?

” . . . To be quite honest, based on what has happened to others in this organization, this should not surprise me.”

Other NFL moves:

--The Denver Broncos traded tackle Ted Gregory, their No. 1 draft choice, to the New Orleans Saints for defensive end Shawn Knight.

--The New England Patriots cut 12-year veteran center Pete Brock, 34, and replaced him with Mike Baab, obtained in a trade with the Cleveland Browns.

--Dexter Manley returned to the Washington Redskins from a 30-day drug suspension. Manley talked with reporters briefly and refused to answer questions.

--Among others released were several Super Bowl veterans: tight end Clint Didier and running back Keith Griffin of the defending champion Washington Redskins; wide receiver Stacy Robinson, guard Chris Godfrey and safety Greg Lasker of the New York Giants’ 1986 champions, and wide receiver Keith Ortego and defensive back Reggie Phillips of the Chicago Bears.

--The Cincinnati Bengals waived fullback Larry Kinnebrew and defensive back Robert Jackson.