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As Canton Repository sports writer Todd Porter so eloquently framed it this morning: "On a crisp spring day, much like a Sunday in the fall, the Browns were handed their first loss of the season.

"To a parking lot.

"A community college parking lot at that. It wasn't even another professional parking lot or a Division I parking lot. ..."

This after tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. took yet another wrong turn, sustaining injuries after being thrown from his motorcycle at a speed approximating 35 mph Sunday night. Winslow reportedly flew over the handlebars, left flesh on pavement and came to a rest in a landscaped area. The $10,000 Suzuki he wrecked has a top speed of 172 mph.

Porter added: "That Winslow. He told us he was a warrior. We just didn't think weekend warrior. ..."

Westlake police Lt. Ray Arcuri provided a more official version of the incident, telling reporters that Winslow lost control of his Suzuki GSX-R750 motorcycle and hit a curb. Winslow knocked over a 4-foot-tall shrub on the way down and landed in an area of dirt and branches.

"He landed in some landscaping," Arcuri said. "There's pavement there. He's lucky he didn't land on it instead of the landscaping."

Arcuri said Winslow was wearing a helmet, but it must not have been fastened correctly because it came off when he landed.

Winslow complained of chest pain and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he spent the night. He was transferred to the Cleveland Clinic on Monday afternoon.

"He was evasive about injuries," Arcuri said. "He was complaining of chest pains. He was already strapped on the board and being put into the ambulance when officers arrived."

Arcuri said that no alcohol or drugs were detected by the investigating officers. Winslow's motorcycle had a 30-day temporary license tag that expires on May 9, Arcuri said.

For what it's worth, local radio station WTAM reported that a neighbor claims to have seen Winslow popping wheelies near the home days before his spill and warned him he could get hurt. Police said Winslow did not have a learner's permit and could face charges for that and reckless operation.

The Browns have limited comment to a statement released Monday night.

"Winslow has sustained some internal injuries, which are stable," the statement said. "There is also swelling in his right shoulder and knee. The extent of these injuries will not be known until further medical evaluation is completed after the swelling is reduced.

"Winslow will remain at the Cleveland Clinic overnight. No timetable for his release has been determined."

Club officials would not elaborate, but Northeast Ohio News-Herald staffer Jeff Schudel reports that two sources close to Winslow confirmed the possibility of a punctured lung and broken ribs. Further tests will be conducted when the swelling goes down, a source told Schudel.

That swelling is worrisome as it could indicate a bigger problem that won't be known until Winslow is examined further.

As Cleveland Plain Dealer beat man Tony Grossi noted, the accident happened the evening after the Browns completed their first rookie mini-camp under new head coach Romeo Crennel.

The mini-camp fueled optimism about the pairing of Winslow and receiver Braylon Edwards, the Browns' recent No. 1 draft pick.

Winslow was the team's top draft pick a year ago, but his rookie season ended when he suffered a broken lower left leg and torn ankle ligaments in his second game Sept. 19 against Dallas in Irving, Texas. He had two surgeries on the injuries.

Browns officials said last month that they expected Winslow to be fully recovered by June 1. Under that timetable, the first look at Winslow and Edwards on the field together would have come at Crennel's full team mini-camp June 13-15.

Of course, it's now unclear whether Winslow will be ready to get in on the fun by then.

And as Schudel suggested, team officials' first concern is Winslow's well-being, but they can't be happy with his choice of leisure activity.

It's also worth noting that ESPN.com and the NFL Network have both reported Winslow's contract contains wording that forbids him to ride a motorcycle.

Profootballtalk.com editor Mike Florio offered additional insight Monday night, advising readers that Winslow becomes potentially responsible to pay back bonus money due to "injury as a result of a breach of Paragraph 3 of the Contract" or "as a result of participation in hazardous activities which involve a significant risk of personal injury and are non-football in nature, including but not limited to skydiving, hang gliding, mountain climbing, auto racing, motorcycling, scuba diving, or skiing."

According to terms of the contract, Winslow was scheduled to receive an option bonus of $4.4 million in March. He also was scheduled to be paid a $2 million installment of his $6 million signing bonus before the start of the 2005 season. His base salary was to be $305,000.

The Browns are not obligated to pay his 2005 salary if the incident prevents him from playing.

In case you missed it, the complex contract negotiated by the Browns and Kevin Poston, Winslow's agent, was one of the main storylines in the NFL last summer.

As Grossi reminded readers, the deal was consummated after Winslow missed 12 days of training camp, 15 practices and one scrimmage. At the time, Poston hailed it as the biggest contract ever for an NFL tight end -- six years for a maximum of $40 million.

But the injuries Winslow suffered in Week 2 prevented him from reaching incentives that would trigger one-time bonuses and salary escalators totaling more than $10 million.

Ouch. ...

But of course, Winslow isn't the only one who could wind up feeling additional pain. The Browns were relying heavily on the former Hurricane to help dig out of a 4-12 season. The combination of Winslow and Edwards was supposed to open up the field.

According to Repository staffer Steve Doerschuk, after drafting Edwards, general manager Phil Savage said, "We feel pretty good about adding Braylon to the mix with Kellen ... I passed [offensive coordinator Maurice] Carthon upstairs, and he's really happy."

Edwards elaborated.

"Kellen Winslow is a phenomenal player," the wideout from Michigan said. "He had the unfortunate mishap last year, but. ... He's one of those guys who, whenever you need a play, he can make it for you. He forces a lot of mismatches in terms of safeties and linebackers trying to cover him.

"He makes it harder for the defense to scheme against just the run or just the receivers because you have to take into consideration the things he can do. He helps the receivers and in turn we help out the running game.

"Kellen is the kind of guy who can take over a game at the tight end position. That's unheard of."

But as Doerschuk summed up, "For the moment, at least, the motorcycle issue has curbed the enthusiasm."

Stay tuned. ... We'll have more on Winslow's injuries as further details are made available.