INDIANAPOLIS – Friday afternoons for NFL players are typically a time for relaxation.
Practice for the upcoming game has ceased and Saturday will bring a day of travel for those playing road games that week.
Billy Winn spent last Friday watching Serena Williams surprisingly bow out of the U.S. Open semifinals.
While watching Williams get upset, Winn was told to come upstairs at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility.
For Winn, there would be no trip to New York that weekend for the Browns regular season opener.
Instead, it was time to pack his car and head to Indianapolis. Winn was being traded to the Indianapolis Colts.
"Totally unexpected, but I'm definitely glad I'm here," Winn, a 6-4, 300-pound defensive lineman, said earlier this week.
A sixth-round back in 2012, Winn played in 40 career games (18 starts) during his three seasons with the Browns.
Winn is listed as a defensive tackle in the Colts 3-4 scheme, a system that is similar to what he played in with the Browns.
Although he might not feel it right now, Winn is now the second-most experienced Colt in the seven-man defensive line room.
"It's almost like the first day of football ever. Just learning new terminology, your playbook, new teammates, learning the area, getting a feel for your coaches," Winn says.
"It's a little overwhelming, but it's something that I can handle."
Just want to thank the entire Browns organization for 3 GREAT years. It's been awesome. Next stop #Indy #Colts — Billy Winn (@BillyBoi90) September 11, 2015
Colts inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson played with Winn for two seasons in Cleveland and knows the needed depth he can provide up front.
"His strength is he can play all three down positions," Jackson says of Winn.
"He's athletic, has some pass rushing ability and I know for sure he will be able to help us once he gets what we are doing, schematic-wise, down. He's going to be a tremendous help for us."
During Winn's five-hour drive to Indianapolis on Friday evening, the man entering the final year of his rookie contract had plenty of time to reflect on his next NFL stop.
The Colts have opportunities along their defensive line and Winn sees that for a team with recent postseason success.
"We want you to help contribute---that was the mindset that I had on my drive over," Winn says.
"I want to help this team win and I want to help this team contribute to everyone's ultimate goal and that's to win a Super Bowl."
Attack the day. #Indy #colts #ColtsNation — Billy Winn (@BillyBoi90) September 15, 2015
