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Do IT this week: Layering
Browns coach says practice can get heated
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Tuesday, Dec 23, 2008
BEREA: Teammates and opponents have been targets of Browns defensive lineman Shaun Smith's abrasive personality.
Last week, a heated verbal exchange between Smith and quarterback Brady Quinn resulted in Smith punching Quinn in the face, WKYC-TV's Jim Donovan reported Sunday night.
Donovan, also the play-by-play voice of the Browns, said the two were told to go in the weight room by players who were not practicing and that's where the punch was thrown.
Quinn is on injured reserve after undergoing surgery on his right index finger, but he was on the sideline for the 14-0 home loss Sunday to the Cincinnati Bengals. Smith did not practice last week and was listed as doubtful with a lingering calf injury he's played through.
Browns coach Romeo Crennel would not say whether Smith had been suspended. Crennel did not confirm or deny the incident, but said Smith was inactive because of a ''coach's decision,'' and not his injury.
Generally, Crennel said he could fine a player for an altercation after looking ''at all the background.'' He said Smith would be available for Sunday's season finale at Pittsburgh.
Smith did have an issue with an offensive lineman at practice earlier this season, Crennel said.
''Guys get heated at practice,'' Crennel said. ''There were no fights or anything at practice. He's a defensive lineman, he's going against an offensive lineman, so sometimes guys get heated. There was no fight involved, there was some discussion involved.''
Smith is a chatterbox who starts talking during warm-ups — at practice and in games — and his comments can be scathing.
During training camp, running back Jamal Lewis was upset when linebacker Shantee Orr hit him after a pass reception, but Smith came to Orr's defense, saying, ''He's trying to make the team. Shut up.'' During stretching for that evening's session, Smith said, ''Please don't touch No. 31,'' referring to Lewis' number. Smith also abused center Hank Fraley during warm-ups after a rough game in the second half of the season.
Crennel acknowledged that Smith's talk ''could potentially rub a guy the wrong way.''
Joining the Browns as a free agent from the Bengals in March 2007, Smith has two years remaining on his contract.
Browns tight end Darnell Dinkins discussed Smith's confrontation with Quinn on a Monday morning radio appearance on Cleveland's WQAL (104.1-FM), but said he did not witness it.
Christopher Maduri, senior vice president and market manager of WQAL, said Dinkins said that something happened between the two and that he later saw a mark on Quinn's face.
WQAL would not release audio of Dinkins' time on the Wilde and Fee show.
Crennel was vague when asked about Donovan's report, but he did not refute it. ''Any rumors about altercations, I never talk about family business,'' Crennel said. ''I haven't talked about family business since I've been here. So I'm not going to address it at this point. If it happened, it stays in house.''
Asked how often altercations have occurred during this 4-11 season, Crennel said, ''I haven't had many altercations this year. In a family, you always have some disagreements and they get handled within the family.
''I've got one brother and three sisters. When we were growing up, we had altercations. That's part of being a family. You deal with them and you move on.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
BEREA: Teammates and opponents have been targets of Browns defensive lineman Shaun Smith's abrasive personality.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Tallmadge, OH
Posted 07:40 AM, 12/23/2008
Talk about a team in disarray. That's the Clowns !!!
Yo Mama, PA
Posted 08:29 AM, 12/23/2008
The Clowns are back in town
Yo Mama, PA
Posted 08:30 AM, 12/23/2008
The Clowns! haha
Posted 08:46 AM, 12/23/2008
Smith is an idiot. If he was any good the Bengals would have kept him, it's not like they didnt need the help.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 09:02 AM, 12/23/2008
Another trash-talking idiot on a pitiful 4-11 excuse for a football team. That just about says it all.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:36 AM, 12/23/2008
Wouldn't expect anything less from a former Bengal.
Stow, OH
Posted 09:43 AM, 12/23/2008
Smith sounds like a real pain in the arse and should be let go like the rest of the trash we have .But because of our brilliant GM ,he has 2 yrs. remaining on his contract.
Posted 09:54 AM, 12/23/2008
From a former Bengal? As though the Browns franchise has any room to talk. Guess what, you are the Bengals!!!! There is a difference though.....the Bengals have been to a few Super Bowls.
cuyahoga falls, oh
Posted 10:06 AM, 12/23/2008
another one of savage's jello selections
Posted 10:10 AM, 12/23/2008
Quinn and Smith are fools. Both of these grown men should know by now, how to settle their probelms
without the media. Besides, it sound like Smith is bad news, and Quinn is a cry baby. Grow UP
A, O
Posted 10:11 AM, 12/23/2008
Now we have bengals fans here! Although, I have some respect for you guys.
At least we have somthing in common. We both (Along with the rest of the country) HATE those arrogant and ignorant steelers fans!!!
Wilmington, NC
Posted 10:17 AM, 12/23/2008
I love Brady (platonically), but I don't think I would ever pick a fight with a 300 lbs. linemen, no matter how many Myoplex commericals I have been in.
Kent, Oh
Posted 02:34 PM, 12/23/2008
I don't really care for the way Shawn Smith plays but every team has its fights during practice. Everyone stands around and watches the fight for awhile and then eventually the coaches will break it up like it never happened. It's good for a team, brings them unity. A fight in the locker room is totally different. You leave that stuff on the field. I don't care how much smack people talk if they can back it up. I don't think Smith can. The Bengals are pathetic. Don't compare us to your stinking team.
Posted 04:27 PM, 12/23/2008
Clint Longley got on Tom Landry's XXXX list when Cincinnati Purcell's Roger Staubach was punched in the Cowboys Locker Room.
Seriously whether it is Vikings Joe Kapp or Linebacker Lonnie Warwick parents s h o u l d shoo aside the notion to their children any interest.
Here from Cincinnati I grudge you Browns will get some great draft picks and that though Quinn created the Crennel FIRING blood is thicker then mud.
Bury this garbage.The laughter on WTAM was warranted however,you got Football Players !!!!
Posted 05:20 PM, 12/23/2008
The pathetic Bengals just shut out your team on your field. The pathetic Bengals have won a division title this decade. The pathetic Bengals have been to a Super Bowl. Sorry guys, but the Browns franchise is only something special in your head. You're the Lions with better fans.
akron, oh
Posted 11:30 PM, 12/23/2008
Had a white guy taken a punch at a black guy, Jesse and Al would be here already and Black Buddha would be fining Quinn a year's pay. Black guy assaults a white guy, nothing happens. Buddha doesn't suspend him so a brutha doesn't lose a game check.... His last official act as coach.....
Akron, OH
Posted 06:46 AM, 12/24/2008
hannaman - The jab wasn't meant to be a stab at your team's record, but about how the majority have had some controversy in their background. The joke isn't funny if I have to explain it.
Urbana, Oh
Posted 07:08 AM, 12/24/2008
Hey Lou, why turn this into a black-white thing? The problem is the media shouldn't even post a story like this. there is frustration, finger-pointing and anger within the ranks. This is just another distraction for the media to feed on. They are grown men, so what if they have a disagreement...S--- happens. My opinion is media shouldn't even be in locker rooms. Keep the game on the field and do the post game interviews there. Things like this shouldn't even be reported, because it only makes the team and the city look worse (as if we can't go any lower)
