No generation gap

It would be easy for Kellen Winslow II to coast into the NFL on the strength on his father’s reputation. Kellen Winslow Sr., after all, built a legacy during his Hall-of-Fame playing career.

But Winslow II wants to establish his own legacy, and as the son prepares to become one of the top picks in this weekend’s NFL Draft, it’s not hard to figure out where he got his motivation to be the best.

“I used to watch my dad play when I was little, and it was something I wanted to do, since I was 4 or 5,” the former University of Miami star said of playing professional football. “I’ve been aiming for this day. I just wanted to be the best. I wanted to be like Jerry Rice and my dad. That’s where my passion comes from.”

If the evaluations of NFL scouts and draft experts are correct, Winslow II is going to be one of the highest-drafted tight ends in NFL history (though probably not higher than Ron Kramer, who was selected fourth overall by the Green Bay Packers in 1957). There is a good chance the Washington Redskins will take Winslow with the No.5 pick Saturday, making the 20-year-old prodigy the centerpiece of coach Joe Gibbs’ first draft class since 1992.

Wherever Winslow winds up, those who follow the NFL Draft seem to agree he has a chance to become the best tight end the league has seen since, well, his father defined the position two decades ago.

In nine seasons with the San Diego Chargers, Kellen Winslow Sr. became the modern-day model of an NFL tight end. With the body of a linebacker and the hands of a wide receiver, the elder Winslow proved tight ends could be legitimate downfield passing threats, not simply extra blockers on the offensive line who occasionally catch a pass as a quarterback’s third or fourth option.

He is one of only four tight ends in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, joining Mike Ditka, John Mackey and Jackie Smith, and his stellar career numbers certainly were enough to ensure his place alongside those greats. If there were any doubts about his Hall of Fame credentials, though, Winslow Sr. buried them forever in a Jan.2, 1982 playoff performance for the ages.

The Chargers’ 41-38 overtime victory over the Miami Dolphins is considered one of the greatest games in postseason history, and no one shone brighter that day than Winslow Sr. Despite taking a physical pounding, he caught 13 passes for 166 yards, scored a touchdown and blocked what would have been a game-winning field goal for Miami at the end of regulation.

“It was just a great-out effort,” said Winslow II, who was born a year later and has seen the game on tape. “He refused to lose that game. Just all-out effort, it seemed to me.”

Winslow Sr. instilled that same drive in his son, teaching him about football and life during his childhood in San Diego. Winslow II’s parents split when he was 3; his mother, Katrina Ramsey, now lives in Temple Hills.

Father continues to mentor son. After Winslow II and the Miami Hurricanes lost the national championship in devastating, overtime fashion to Ohio State in 2003, the two drove together from Tempe, Ariz., to San Diego, talking about life. Winslow II would not have made the decision to skip his senior year of college and enter the draft without first getting his father’s blessing.

“A great impact, the biggest impact,” the younger Winslow said of his father’s influence in his life. “It’s just like ’The Lion King’ or something like that. He guided me through everything.”

Which isn’t to say Winslow II hasn’t earned a ticket to the NFL on his own merits.

Recruited by Miami to play wide receiver, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Winslow II was converted to tight end and spent his freshman year backing up Jeremy Shockey. Once the outspoken Shockey went to the New York Giants — where he continues to terrify people with his play on the field and his antics off it — Winslow II became the center of attention in Coral Gables.

In two seasons as a starter, Winslow caught 117 passes for 1,331 yards and nine touchdowns. Perhaps more impressively, he became one of the most recognizable players in the country, doing it at a position that doesn’t often produce household names.

“Kellen brought a lot of glamour to a position that is not really known to be a glamorous, big-time position,” said Florida tight end Ben Troupe, who is also expected to go high in the draft. “But with his play these last two years, I think he’s really brought it to the mainstream as far as college sports.”

NFL personnel directors are convinced Winslow’s success will carry over to the pro game and ultimately make him a star.

“He looks like the complete package,” Houston Texans general manager Charley Casserly said. “He’s big, strong, runs and catches the ball extremely well, he’s improving as a blocker. I like his maturity as well. There just aren’t any weaknesses that I can see.”

Well, at least no perceived weaknesses on the field. Winslow II does come with a few question marks off the field, particularly when it comes to his (some would say) lack of maturity.

The most notable incident came following Miami’s 10-6 loss to Tennessee last November, a game in which Winslow, on a legal block, injured an opposing player. Asked about the incident afterward, Winslow went into a profanity-laced tirade that some found offensive.

“It’s war,” he said. “They don’t give a freaking you-know-what about you. They will kill you. So I’m going to kill them. … [Expletive] soldier.”

Winslow later apologized for his comments, saying he spoke in the heat of the moment and meant no disrespect to members of the military (his stepfather is a 20-year veteran of the Air Force).

Several months later, Winslow says he has learned from his mistakes, but he’s not about to change his aggressive ways on the playing field.

“I was young. It was dumb,” he said. “But on the field, I’m going to be the passionate, want-to-win guy. That’s it. … You don’t want a soft guy on the field. I’m a real passionate guy. All I want to do is win, and I think that’s what [NFL teams] want.”

There are also questions about Winslow’s choice of agents — brothers Carl and Kevin Poston — especially from the Redskins’ point of view. The Postons are known as tough contract negotiators who aren’t afraid to let their clients hold out of training camp, and they’re also currently embroiled in a dispute with the Redskins over linebacker LaVar Arrington’s recently signed contract extension.

There is speculation Washington will be reluctant to draft Winslow because owner Dan Snyder won’t want to deal with the Postons, but the agents don’t foresee a problem.

“I think that’s more media stuff,” Kevin Poston said. “I understand where it comes from, but I think the Redskins are too smart to pass up on somebody because of us.

“You have to look at our record over 15 years. Last year we had the No.2 overall pick [wide receiver Charles Rogers] and he was in camp on time. We’re not trying to hide guys or not put guys in camp, anything like that.”

Question marks or not, there is little debate over Winslow’s football skills. He is, without debate, a premier player with a solid pedigree.

And if you take him at his word, a player driven to be as great a player as his father was … and then ascend to even greater heights.

“I want to be a complete player,” Winslow said. “I don’t just want to be a receiving tight end. I want to be the complete tight end, and I want to be the best ever.”