In the formal letter of suspension hand-delivered to Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow on Oct. 21, he not only told tales out of school, but spoke profanity to Browns director of communications Amy Palcic.

The Plain Dealer published the letter in its entirely Saturday, Oct. 25, and revealed exchanges between Winslow and Palcic, Browns running back Jamal Lewis, Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who all tried at various times to stop Winslow from revealing information about himself and the team.

Winslow obviously, did not listen. He will not play against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday nor will he receive one game check totaling $235,294. He is appealing these sanctions, but if an arbitrator finds in his favor, Winslow will only recoup the game check. Any decision will come after the game in which the 2-4 Browns will try to put distractions behind them, beat Jacksonville and try to salvage the season.

The Browns letter to Winslow states the tight end violated not only a section of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, but the Browns 2008 Maximum Discipline Schedule by “engaging in Conduct Detrimental to the Club.”

The letter states that on Oct. 19 in Washington, “you made public statements that were inappropriate, inaccurate, portrayed the Club in a false light, and diminished the Club’s reputation. In addition, you engaged in profane verbal abuse of a Club’s public relations member in the locker room following the Redskins game.”

That allegation refers to a verbal exchange between Winslow and Palcic, according to The Plain Dealer’s audiotape which can be heard on cleveland.com.

Palcic was standing a few feet away from Winslow’s locker when Winslow said:
“Amy, I’m good. Can you please stop playing big sis and leave? Seeing what I’m going to say and sh–?” (This was apparently the extent of the “profane verbal abuse” in which Winslow was guilty of according to the formal letter.) Winslow spoke in a calm manner and did not raise his voice.
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When Palcic remained standing just a few feet away, Winslow said: “Um, Amy, can you please leave?”

Palcic responded: “Talk, if you want to talk.”

Winslow: “What?”

Palcic: “Talk. I’m not going to cut you off.”

Winslow then took questions from reporters for about four minutes, telling them he was upset with Browns General Manager Phil Savage for not calling him when he was in the Cleveland Clinic for a staph infection and that he felt “like a piece of meat.”

The Plain Dealer also reported he “thought about asking to be traded before last week’ deadline and informed Savage.”

Palcic attempted to end the interview halfway through, but Winslow continued until summoned by Lewis.

But Winslow told Lewis, “I’m good. Let me get one more (question).” But when Lewis persisted, Winslow walked away and joined him, the Cleveland newspaper reported.

But 10 minutes later, Winslow returned to his locker and motioned The Plain Dealer over for a one-on-one interview in which he stated his undisclosed illness was a staph infection, adding, “there’s obviously a problem (with staph) and we have to fix it.”

“Just look at the history around here,” Winslow told The Plain Dealer. “It’s unfortunate, because it happens time and time, again.”

During that interview, Edwards, standing a few lockers away, waved his hands back and forth to get Winslow to stop talking, but Winslow gave him a thumbs up sign and said he was good.

The suspension letter, signed only by Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel, states, Winslow’s actions “significantly disrupted and adversely affected the Cleveland Browns team and organization, and cannot be tolerated.”

The letter concludes, “further violations of the Club rules or engaging in conduct that is detrimental to the Club by result in additional discipline.”

The hearing on Winslow’s appeal is set for Tuesday in Cleveland before arbitrator Rosemary Townley, according to The Plain Dealer.

Overkill by the Browns? Overreaction for having egg on the organization’s face? You be the judge.

In an interview with WKNR prior to a fundraiser at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dick Ambrose , a former Browns linebacker and currently a sitting judge, said he was not a betting man — but he felt Winslow would win the appeal.

For instance, what was the civilized “conversation” between man in uniform and man in suit, about? What was it that caused Kellen to go to The Plain Dealer, thus breaking the secrecy deal?

We may not know any of this until the NFL Players Association hearing on Tuesday to discuss Winslow’s appeal and the case.

Is the hearing open? Probably not.

Meanwhile the Browns are in the Berea facility getting ready for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars. If the Browns win, the Kellen vs. Savage story fade into obscurity where old breaking stories go — until the next staph infection.