Ziachild007 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Dinkins confirms Smith-Quinn spat; Crennel hedges in press conference by Mary Kay Cabot/Plain Dealer Reporter Monday December 22, 2008, 6:50 PM Joshua Gunter/The Plain Dealer Shaun Smith was placed on the inactive list for Sunday's loss to the Bengals. While head coach Romeo Crennel declined to confirm that Smith had been in a confrontation with QB Brady Quinn, he conceded that Smith's jousting in the locker room "could potentially rub a guy the wrong way."Reports have surfaced that Browns defensive tackle Shaun Smith punched quarterback Brady Quinn in the face last week in the weight room after a verbal spat, and there are strong indications that the reports are true. WKYC's Jim Donovan first reported the punch on Sunday evening. Then, Monday morning, Darnell Dinkins confirmed on WQAL-FM that an altercation took place between the two and that Quinn had a mark on his face as a result. Dinkins said on the morning show that coach Romeo Crennel was "very upset" about the incident and that he took swift action. But one of the strongest signs that it really did happen was the fact that Crennel did not deny it Monday in his news conference. His most telling quote was, "If it happened, it stays in-house." Crennel also lent credence to the reports when he said Smith was inactive for Sunday's loss to the Bengals because of a coaches' decision. Smith didn't practice all week because of a calf injury and was listed as doubtful for the game, but that's not believed to be the reason he was idle -- at least not the whole reason. Crennel also said Smith would be available for the season finale in Pittsburgh on Sunday. "Any rumors or any deals about altercations, I never talk about family business," said Crennel. "I haven't talked about family business since I've been here. So I'm not going to address it at this point or start talking about it." Smith, who's known for trash-talking his teammates during the week to keep things interesting, has had at least one other confrontation with a teammate this season. Apparently, not everyone takes his ribbing in good fun. Earlier this season, he verbally sparred with an offensive lineman and the player had to be held back. "Guys get heated at practice," said Crennel at the time. "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, but no fight." According to a source close to the team, Smith started jawing at Quinn and Quinn shot back and incited Smith. Smith then punched him in the face, according to Donovan's report. Although representatives for Brady Quinn declined comment on Monday, tight end Darnell Dinkins admitted there was an incident between the quarterback and Shaun Smith last week.Crennel acknowledged that Smith's chatter isn't always well-received. He's been chiding his teammates, mostly offensive guys, since early in training camp. "Yeah, sure, it could potentially rub a guy the wrong way," said Crennel. Asked if he'd fine a player for an altercation, Crennel said, "Potentially. It just depends. You'd have to look at all the background if that were the case." Smith would not speak to reporters in the locker room last Thursday and seemed testy. Still, Crennel said he hasn't had many altercations between his players this year. "In a family you always have some disagreements and they get handled within the family," he said. "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. That doesn't mean I dislike my brother or I dislike my sisters. That's part of being in a household, everybody trying to establish their turf. But that's part of it. You deal with it and you move on." Making Smith inactive instead of suspending him may have been a way to avoid getting the NFLPA involved, because players routinely appeal their suspensions. It also may have been an attempt to keep a potentially volatile situation quiet. A player punching the franchise quarterback in the face -- one who's already on injured reserve because of a surgically-repaired right index finger -- is another black eye for an organization that's had one controversy after another this season. If he'd been suspended, he also would've had to forfeit a game check. Everyone associated with the situation is in complete lockdown. Even WQAL wasn't permitted by its parent company, CBS radio, to replay the Dinkins audio. The following either declined to return messages or replied "no comment:" Quinn, Smith, Dinkins, Quinn's agent Tom Condon, Smith's agent Jonathan Feinsod, Smith's other agent Neil Schwartz and a few team sources. Smith has said on many occasions this season that he trash-talks his teammates for fun. Even Crennel usually gets a chuckle out of him. Some of his best material has come in pre-practice warmups. But in these tense times, the jawing seems to be no laughing matter. If it's true Smith punched Quinn in the face, the Browns will have one more thing to revisit in the off-season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loaf Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 so I've heard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziachild007 Posted December 23, 2008 Author Share Posted December 23, 2008 so I've heard Read somewhere that Smith is one of the guys that has been accused of not giving 100%. Loaf, do you think that has anything to do with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myhousekey Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 (edited) Hopefully Quinn doesn't end up with a staph infection....or even worse.....swollen testicles. Edited December 23, 2008 by myhousekey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 "Reports have surfaced that Browns defensive tackle Shaun Smith punched quarterback Brady Quinn in the face last week in the weight room after a verbal spat, and there are strong indications that the reports are true. Shaun Smith needs to know his role. Being an average player in the nfl, it's probably not a good idea to punch the face of the franchise in the face. Idiots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMD Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Guys that mouth off like that to their own teammates are cancers allowed to spread. And it is no surprise that he talks trash to his own teammates but cannot take it when someone does it to him. No wonder the browns have problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Guys that mouth off like that to their own teammates are cancers allowed to spread. And it is no surprise that he talks trash to his own teammates but cannot take it when someone does it to him. No wonder the browns have problems. I'd like to see him take a shot at Joe Thomas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loaf Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Read somewhere that Smith is one of the guys that has been accused of not giving 100%. Loaf, do you think that has anything to do with it? I don't know. I can't stand watching them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtdickens Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 I went to the game this past weekend and I am done. That was the most pathetic thing I have ever seen from the Browns. Get rid of the coaches and Winslow and I may be back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelBunz Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 I don't know. I can't stand watching them. Sooooooo.......you're NOT one of the guys in the stands with signs asking Cowher to come to Cleveland?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 I went to the game this past weekend and I am done. That was the most pathetic thing I have ever seen from the Browns. Get rid of the coaches and Winslow and I may be back. Wait... Winslow was the reason they sucked this weekend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtdickens Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Done being a fan for those reason. Wait.........You still think LJ and Gore are better options than MB3? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vet Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 In other news....Cleveland Browns defensive end Shaun Smith was seen looking through the Plain Dealer "want ads" today. A potential career as a bouncer at a titty bar appears promising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 (edited) Done being a fan for those reason. Wait.........You still think LJ and Gore are better options than MB3? Dude, it was Gore Vs Grant... I think I won that one, but I'm confused as to how or why you bring up something as irrelevant as that. Just didn't see how KW2 had anything to do with this weekend. Forgive me for angering you. ETA Gore outscored MB3 in my leagues. Edited December 23, 2008 by piratesownninjas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Vatican Hitsquad Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Hopefully Quinn doesn't end up with a staph infection....or even worse.....swollen testicles. well played Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 I heard Brady Quinn kept trying to grab Smith's junk, and Smith finally decked him and shouted "No means no!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikesVikes Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 The kicker wasn't available for Smith to get into a fight so Quinn it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 I'd like to see him take a shot at Joe Thomas. Yeah seriously... what a pansy, going after the pretty boy QB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 I heard it was a towel fight..And they ended up blinding Larry Driscoll Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted December 23, 2008 Share Posted December 23, 2008 Guys that mouth off like that to their own teammates are cancers allowed to spread. And it is no surprise that he talks trash to his own teammates but cannot take it when someone does it to him. No wonder the browns have problems. That's priceless coming from a Cowboys fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammy D. Posted December 24, 2008 Share Posted December 24, 2008 That's priceless coming from a Cowboys fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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