Family of Miami football alum Kellen Winslow release statement

After being arrested on Thursday and arraigned on Friday the family of Miami football alum Kellen Winslow issued a statement late Friday night. The statement was jointly released by Winslow’s father Kellen Sr and his wife Janelle.

Winslow is being charged with multiple counts of kidnapping, rape and other sex crimes. He is being held without bail in San Diego County jail. Winslow will face a preliminary hearing on June 25. He was a tight end on the Miami football team from 2001-03.

Winslow Senior was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995. Kellen Winslow Jr. grew up in San Diego where his father spent his entire nine-year NFL career with the Chargers. Kellen II graduated from Scripps Ranch High School in 2001 before joining the Miami football team.

Winslow had a stellar career as a Miami Hurricane. He left after three seasons in Coral Gables. Winslow was the sixth pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.

Winslow was with the Browns for five seasons before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spent three years in Tampa. Winslow played one game with New England and one season for the New York Jets before retiring.

Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Winslow’s family is being supportive. The joint statement was released late on Friday night.

"“On behalf of our son and my husband, we want to reiterate our love, support and affection for him during this difficult process,…We will always be there for him and we know the true facts will come out.”"

The local Fox TV station in San Diego posted a video on Twitter of Kellen Winslow Sr. leaving court on Friday.

No more information has been released by the family. Janelle Winslow’s Twitter account is protected. Kellen Winslow Sr. has not sent out a tweet since re-tweeting Barack Obama’s RIP to Anthony Bourdain.

Miami filmmaker Billy Corben who produced The U series for ESPN’s 30 for 30 sent out a tweet with Winslow’s arraignment.

If convicted Winslow could spend the rest of his life in Prison. The lingering effects of a career in football could have played a major role in the alleged crimes.

A USA Today article published late on Friday night spoke to San Diego based defense attorney M. Dod Ghassemkhani about the possible impact CTE played on Winslow and if it could be used in the trial.

The only way they CTE can currently be detected is through a post-mortem examination. Ghassemkhani discussed the situation with USA Today

"“The nature of the facts around this case raise huge red flags…There could be an underlying mental illness that has been untreated.”"

Winslow would not be able to use CTE as a defense. He could use reduced sentence if convicted. Winslow is likely to undergo a complete psychiatric evaluation before the trial. Among the things to be determined are whether he is mentally competent to stand trial and his understanding of the proceedings and what he’s charged with.

Next: Miami football alum Kellen Winslow II pleads innocent

Depending on how the trial turns out if Winslow is convicted, which counts he is convicted and/or acquitted of he could still face numerous years in prison or in a state mental hospital.