Winslow: Playing with pain 'doesn't matter'

FOXBORO -- New Patriots tight end Kellen Winslow spoke for the first time Thursday since agreeing to terms on Tuesday and joining the team in Wednesday's practice. The star tight end was a first-round draft pick of the Browns in 2004, chosen sixth overall out of Miami.

But since, Winslow, 29, has battled chronic knee and leg injuries. Two games into his rookie season, he broke his right fibula and was expected to return in time for the season opener in 2005. But in May of that year, he was involved in a motorcycle accident and was thrown from the bike, tearing his right ACL. His first breakout season came in 2007, when he had 82 catches for 1,106 yards and five touchdowns.

Since 2006, Winslow has played all 16 games in five of his last six seasons, though he admitted Thursday to playing with a great deal of pain in the right knee.  

"Yeah, but it doesn't matter," Winslow said when asked if he's playing in pain. "I think that's a question every year. The thing I concentrate on is not missing games because then there's nothing to hold against me." 

Winslow caught 75 passes for 763 yards and two touchdowns in 2011 and was acquired by the Seahawks in May in a trade with Tampa Bay. He was released by the Seahawks in late August after reportedly refusing to take a pay cut. 

"I would say will, man," Winslow said of his drive to excel in the NFL. "Overcome, and this is my dream to play. If I were missing games every year or something like that, it would be true."

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