Are Any Options Good?

Bud Shaw sums it up pretty well:

• Cleveland has bad luck when it comes to pro sports
  
• There aren't a lot of possible happy endings from this Winslow situation
  
• The team will have to release Winslow to get back his signing bonus; I'd probably favor this option even though it totally sucks.
  
• If the team keeps Winslow that means he keeps his money. Frankly, this is just too wrong for me to endorse. And I believe it is fraught with more risk than the above option.
  

But Shaw is guilty of strikingly low standards here -- sure, we might not EXPECT Winslow to do the right thing and return a huge chunk of money, but that is the standard as a man to which he should be judged. But realistically, the Browns have more to lose -- part of the team's future is tied up here, and they are in a business where the perception of fans impacts them in tangible ways.

Given all that, I'll say what Bud Shaw ought to use his platform to say: The right thing for Winslow to do is to return (or donate) a portion (but not all) of his signing bonus, apologize to the Browns and fans for his poor decision, and promise to reward the Brown's belief in him by rehabbing and being the best player he can be. The dude really could use this opportunity to win over fans, to gain a huge chunk of respect, and salvage his career with the Browns and still get paid a heck of a lot more than he would if he got released and signed as a free agent who is damaged goods.