Coker also benched center Joel Rodriguez and quarterback Brock Berlin, meaning the 14th-ranked Hurricanes (7-2) will have a total of six offensive players in new positions Saturday against Syracuse.
Winslow, one of the top tight ends in the nation and a premier NFL draft prospect, was benched for committing two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in losses to Virginia Tech and Tennessee. Rodriguez was benched for committing a critical holding penalty in the fourth quarter against the Volunteers. And Berlin was benched after throwing 14 interceptions and fumbling three times in nine games.
"We're doing everything we can to address any problems we have on our football team," offensive line coach Art Kehoe said. "If it means somebody's got to get benched or we've got to start somebody else, we're going to do whatever it takes to get this ship right."
Winslow and Rodriguez will not start against Syracuse (5-3), but Coker said they will play in the game. Berlin could play, too, but Coker said it will depend on how backup Derrick Crudup performs.
Winslow was penalized 15 yards in the fourth quarter of Saturday's 10-6 loss to Tennessee for taking off his helmet. After the game, Winslow said his helmet was ripped off. He then lashed out at the officials in a profanity-laced tirade that ended with him referring to football as war and himself as a soldier.
Winslow apologized Sunday.
In a 31-7 loss to Virginia Tech, he was flagged 15 yards for punching linebacker Brandon Manning.
"We've got to understand we can't have that," Coker said. "It hurts our football team. The most pain you can inflict on a player is playing time, so I am going to take away some playing time."
- FIRED MACKOVIC TO GET $900,000: Former Arizona football coach John Mackovic will receive payments totaling about $900,000 over the next four years.
Mackovic was fired in September with 2 1/2 years remaining on his five-year contract and could have chosen a $910,000 lump-sum payment 30 days after his termination. Instead, the university will give him annual payments of about $225,000 for the next four years.