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As Akron Beacon Journal sports writer Patrick McManamon first reported this morning, Kellen Winslow's comeback from off-season knee surgery will be quite a bit more involved than first impressions indicated.

According to McManamon, the star tight end had microfracture surgery on his right knee Jan. 30, a process that takes four months to rehab.

Team officials confirmed the procedure Thursday.

The surgery is delicate, and although results have improved, it has not always been successful.

Microfracture surgery replaces damaged or lost cartilage. It was designed specifically to relieve bone-on-bone rubbing. Three tiny holes are made in the knee to allow it to bleed and to provide a suitable environment for tissue growth.

The theory is a large clot will form and ready the area for cartilage growth.

Over time, instead of bone rubbing on bone, bone will rub on scar tissue. The pain is projected to be lessened, and the chances of playing are increased.

The procedure is performed arthroscopically, but it requires the patient to use crutches for six to eight weeks and prohibits strenuous athletic activity for four months.

Although some athletes -- notably basketball players -- have come back as good as new, some football players have and some have not.

Renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Steadman pioneered the surgery in the early 1990s and the list of NFL players to have had the surgery is extensive.

It includes former Bills great Bruce Smith and former Raider, Niner and Raven Rod Woodson, both of whom continued their respective careers after the procedure. Former NFL running back Terrell Davis' microfracture surgery did not help him, but his was a last-gasp operation.

Former Browns defensive end Courtney Brown had microfracture surgery and was never the same.

Panthers running back DeShaun Foster had the procedure in October 2002 and returned to practice the following summer for training camp. But former Panthers wide receiver Patrick Jeffers had it and never played again.

Stephen Davis, then with the Panthers, had the procedure in November of 2004 and returned to start 11 games -- and score 12 touchdowns -- in 2005 while splitting time with Foster.

In basketball, Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns and Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets are among those who have played at a top level after microfracture surgery.

As Panthers general manager Marty Hurney -- who knows a little about it -- said of recovery from the procedure: "I think everybody is different."

While athletes have experienced mixed results with the surgery, all agree the rehabilitation process involved with it is nothing short of nasty. ...

As for Winslow. ... The fact he needed the procedure showed what he played through last season, when he tied a Browns record with 89 receptions.

Winslow continually said he was playing on one knee. Now, as McManamon suggested, it's evident why -- his right knee's cartilage essentially was missing by season's end.

McManamon went on to suggest the injury and procedure are just further damage to a knee that Winslow wrecked in a motorcycle accident in May 2005. He also suffered from a staph infection after the surgery to repair a torn ligament in the knee.

Winslow came back to play well last season. He conceded that he will never be what he was before the accident, but he contended last August: "I think my 90 percent is better than any tight end out there."

General manager Phil Savage said Tuesday that the team expects Winslow to be back full-go by June or July, which should make him available for training camp if his knee responds.

Savage, who did not detail the microfracture procedure, said it's not known whether Winslow will take part in the team's June mini-camp. ...

My guess is he won't. I'll also be surprised if Winslow opens camp at full speed and isn't limited to some degree. This is, after all, a major development.

That said, it's far too early to assume it will continue to limit his playing time -- or production -- once the regular season begins. Those interested will obviously want to follow his progress closely in coming months and I'll be doing my part to help.

Keep an eye on the News & Views section of the site for all the latest. ...

Other notes of interest out of Cleveland this week. ... When Savage was pressed repeatedly about the quarterback position this week, he defended Charlie Frye and backup Derek Anderson and said he would be content to bring back both to compete for the starting job.

"As I sit here today, I can pretty confidently say I'll feel OK about [the quarterbacks] because I feel we'll have done some things around them to make them more of a success," he said.

Savage said that Matt Leinart, Jay Cutler and Vince Young -- quarterbacks taken in the first round in the 2006 draft -- would have fared no better than Frye and Anderson, given the team's circumstances at offensive line and running back.

"I just think there are a lot of issues that go beneath whether a guy can just throw the ball or not," he said.

"That's what the offensive staff really is trying to work through right now. If it's Charlie, we can do this list of things. If it's Derek, we can do this list of things. If it's somebody else, what are those guys strengths and weaknesses?"

The early consensus is that Oakland will use the No. 1 pick on hard-throwing LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

If that holds true, the Browns will have to choose among the following players at third or fourth: Wisconsin left tackle Joe Thomas, Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson and Michigan defensive tackle Alan Branch.

Cleveland officials will flip a coin with Tampa Bay during this week's NFL Scouting Combine to determine whether the Browns or Bucs get the third or fourth pick.

Savage said there is a tier of "six or seven players" from which he would be comfortable selecting with the Browns' pick.

As Cleveland Plain Dealer beat man Tony Grossi reminded readers, this will be the fifth time in nine years the Browns own a pick in the top five. They would like to believe they won't be picking this high again for some time.

So, Grossi contends, the question is whether they should take a quarterback while they're in that stratosphere.

"I think it's something we talk about basically every day," Savage said. "Is it critical? Yes. Is it the most critical decision for the 2007 season? In conjunction with a lot of other things, I'd say they're all pretty important."

But when it comes to evaluating young quarterbacks, the Browns find it hard because they went through two offensive coordinators last year, the offensive line was a mess and running back Reuben Droughns had a poor year.

As Beacon Journal staffer Terry Pluto recently wondered, how much do you blame Frye or Anderson for that?

For what it's worth, Browns quarterbacks coach Rip Scherer, who was also recently named assistant head coach, said earlier this month he thinks Frye and Anderson will wage a good battle for the starting job.

"Obviously Charlie has a leg up because he's the incumbent," said Scherer. "But I think it's going to be a competitive situation."

According to Plain Dealer reporter Mary Kay Cabot, Frye recently said that he can't worry about the draft. "I think I've shown the coaches enough that I'm someone to build on for the future."

If the Browns don't draft or sign a quarterback, Scherer is confident they can win with Frye or Anderson.

"Can either one carry a team? That will be proven down the road," Scherer said. "But I don't know many quarterbacks that can. They also have to have a supporting cast, and Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel are trying to improve that."

Scherer said the competition will bring out the best in both.

"They're both such competitors," said Scherer. "I think Charlie will take it as a personal challenge and rise to the occasion. Derek gained some confidence and also feels capable of being that guy."

Frye told Cabot he feels it's still his job to lose.

"[Anderson's performance] doesn't change anything," he said. "I think it just shows that if something did happen to me again, we have a guy that can make plays. Derek took advantage of his opportunities."

Frye said he met with new offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski and came away re-energized.

"He said this is a fresh start for me and after he watched Philip Rivers take over the offense in San Diego last year, I think he expects the same from me," said Frye.

Scherer said both quarterbacks will have to quickly learn Chudzinski's offense, an attack-minded scheme that plays to the strength of the personnel.

Bottom line?

According to Canton Repository staffer Steve Doerschuk, if in-house scouts conclude there's less than a 50 percent chance Frye can break through -- and if they conclude Russell or Quinn will become a real player -- a quarterback should be the pick.

Doerschuk reminded readers the Browns have been here before. They could have solved their QB problems long-term by picking Ben Roethlisberger instead of Winslow in 2004.

And as Doerschuk summed up: "As much as it would hurt -- depriving the team of filling one of several other glaring holes with a sudden-impact guy -- the Round 1 pick should be a QB if the Combine and March scouting reports indicate a go. ...

Remember: The argument to go with a running back is also strong.

Some believe Droughns will look more like a two-time 1,200-yard rusher if the Browns upgrade a pedestrian run-blocking line and get more creativity from Chudzinski.

But a more plausible theory has it that Droughns lacks what it takes to be a No. 1 back on a contending team, but would be ideal if the Browns spend their high first-round pick on Peterson. This scenario would thrust Droughns into a platoon role.

Doerschuk suggests that Peterson would get 15 to 20 carries a game, but Droughns would play selected series to relieve pressure.

But that suggestion would only work if Droughns rejects the mindset he needs a heavy workload to find a rhythm. He might have to make it work to prolong his career. He has decent size and a slugger's mentality, but he wasn't as consistent at hitting the hole hard in 2006 as he had been.

He also lacks the speed to get outside and the burst to keep from getting stalled or stopped from behind on inside opportunities. His upright running style subjects him to the sort of hits that shorten careers. Playing part-time would enable him to take hits and get through a season.

The needs on the offensive line -- already obvious -- became even more so this week.

This after Savage announced on Tuesday that LeCharles Bentley, who missed all of 2006 recovering from surgery on his left patellar tendon, is likely to undergo another operation in May or June that would cost him the 2007 season and possibly end his career.

Bentley is working out in Arizona, trying to build enough strength in his leg so it could withstand another surgery.

The patellar tendon was torn on the first team drill of training camp July 27 and surgically repaired the next day. A staph infection developed and had to be cleaned out surgically about a month later.

As noted above, Winslow also developed a similar infection during his recovery -- as have other members of the team.

So, a coating in the form of a glaze to prevent staph infection will be applied in the locker room and other areas players frequent this week. The training complex will have to be vacated during the procedure.

"We're doing everything we can to make sure that isn't a problem next year," Savage said. ...

Also according to Pluto, the decision to replace Terry Robiskie with Wes Chandler as receivers coach was an obvious attempt to connect Braylon Edwards with a coach who can command his respect.

The Browns, with a recommendation from team scout/adviser Paul Warfield, turned to Chandler, who made four Pro Bowls and caught 56 touchdown passes in his distinguished career. His last job was coaching the receivers for the Minnesota Vikings in 2005.

As Pluto suggested, "Chandler can tell Edwards, 'Look, I played the game. I was good at it. Here's how it works, here's what you need to do."'

It can't hurt. ... It should be noted that Edwards is telling the Browns that he plans to start fresh in 2007 and that he learned from some of his mistakes last season. According to Pluto, the Browns are glad to hear that and hope he follows through.

It's not an excuse but it's a fact that Edwards is only 23 and was handed a $17 million bonus at the age of 21 -- and that's not exactly the ideal prescription for maturity.

As Pluto suggested, sometimes these young guys with lots of cash only learn some things the hard way -- when they are embarrassed. And that's something Edwards was on a fairly regular basis last season. ...

And finally. ... Running back Jason Wright was signed to a one-year extension this week. He is now signed through the 2008 season.

"He's a terrific representative of the Browns," Savage said.

Wright rushed for 189 yards on 62 carries last season, including a 74-yard performance vs. Pittsburgh on Nov. 19 during which he averaged 4.1 yards per carry. He also caught 6 passes for 82 yards, including a 70-yard day during a win over Kansas City on Dec. 3.

Still, he's considered a complimentary player at best; his return certainly won't factor into any decision on Peterson's worthiness of first-round consideration.