"Kellen Winslow's five years with the Browns included a career-threatening motorcycle accident, contract demands, a staph-infection controversy and criticism of the offense, no matter who held the play card.

His rocky road that nearly ended in a parking lot in May 2005 took a new turn Friday, when the Pro Bowl tight end was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Browns received the Bucs' second-rounder in the 2009 draft and their fifth-rounder in 2010.

Announced a little more than 12 hours into free agency, the move will bolster the four picks the Browns held in the April 25-26 draft. Trades by former General Manager Phil Savage had left them with selections in the first, second, fourth and sixth rounds.

Internet reports said the Bucs were renegotiating Winslow's contract that was to pay him $4.5 million this year and $4.75 million in 2010. A spokesman for Winslow's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he would have no comment Friday.

In Tampa, Winslow will be reunited with former Browns quarterback Luke McCown, receiver Antonio Bryant and center Jeff Faine and his position coach the past two years, Alfredo Roberts.

''Cleveland treated me right,'' Winslow said. ''Everything didn't go as planned there, but I had a good time playing there. Cleveland was great to me. . . . Braylon Edwards, Brady Quinn, I'm going to miss those guys. But it's a new opportunity.''

The Bucs have a leadership role in mind for Winslow, son of Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow Sr.

''I'm coming here as a leader and I'm coming here to win,'' Winslow said. ''We're going to have a lot of wins in that stadium.

''Big names, they had to make some moves. They're looking for somebody to carry the torch. I'm just a piece of the puzzle.''

Butch Davis, Winslow's coach at the University of Miami, selected Winslow with the sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft, but a source said Davis had reservations about the tempestuous tight end."