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Cleveland Browns release defensive lineman Shaun Smith
by By Mary Kay Cabot
Saturday August 08, 2009, 9:56 AM

Browns defensive lineman Shaun Smith, who was heading into his third year with the team, was released Saturday, a source close to the situation said.

No reason was given for his ouster, the source said.

Smith (6-2,, 325) was a versatile lineman who could play end or nosetackle. Smith appeared in 11 games last season with nine starts. He totaled 47 tackles, including 22 solo.

But Smith's on-the-field accomplishments were overshadowed by a run-in with quarterback Brady Quinn in the weight room during which Smith reportedly punched Quinn in the face. Smith's representatives met with the Browns at the NFL Combine in February to determine whether or not the Browns wanted to keep him in light of the incident.

They were told the Browns were prepared to move forward with Smith.

Smith, one of the most vocal player on the team, was signed by the Browns as an unrestricted free agentin March of 2007 after spending two full seasons with the Bengals.

Good. I have a feeling Rogers won't be so happy though. The two of them seemed to get along really well.

Another example to be made... and a reminder to all their's a new sheriff in town. OR... Smith just became the lesser talent in a busy off season of free agent acqusition.

I wish we would've tried to trade him for a late round pick but I'm shedding no tears for this one. The guy was mediocre, plain and simple. He was decent at nose tackle but Rogers and Rubin provide enough depth there and he's just awful at end. With the attitude he carried around without the game to back it up, it was only a matter of time before Mangini wised up and dumped him.

Good riddance.

Anyone else surprised?

I'm not. Apparently Rubin must be stepping his game up.

Always sounded like he was a divisive player in the locker room - probably best for team morale that he is gone.

See ya. No great loss.

I can't even remember his jersey#, and I watched every Browns game in 2008.

Most obvious release of all time. Always last to his drill, never hustle, big baby.

He will not be missed.

If they weren't going to trade him, I wish they would've waited just in case of injury to one of our DL.
or even someone elses who maybe would be willing to give a low pick if they lose a DL or two.

He was the worst defensive linemen we had in camp.

He should have been released the minute he punched Quinn

Rubin is at the very least, ten times more willing to put the work in than Smith and, IMO, Rubin is already light years away from Smith as a backup NT.

No surprise here. From everything I could gather he was last in first out kind of guy.

not one bit surprised. he never seemed to be one of mangini's 'type'....also, rubin has stepped it up and will be a decent player

Smith took his first strike with his mouth.

If he was a slacker at camp, that would be 2 strikes, add the Quinn incident and he is gone.

He was not a Mangini kind of player.

Maybe he should try baseball.

I wonder who will replace him on the roster.

Actually I thought S. Smith performed better than expected last year, and I'm surprised to see him go before Leonard. Do we need to be down to a certain number we haven't met yet by the 1st preseason game?

I was so pumped when we got Rubin last year in the 6th. I thought he was going to go late 3rd/early 4th and was a monster in lineman drills at the senior bowl!

No surprise especially after the Quinn incident.

About damn time. Talking about cleaning up the locker room yet they haD a guy in there that punched your QB in the face.

About time Mangini. I would've done the day after he punched Quinn.

it had nothing to do with BQ...the inference that we are coddling BQ is just wrong.

That was ironed out between Smiths agent and M/K during the past Combine and Smith was said to be starting a new leaf...through the agents he was told to slim down, which he did.

His play was not that bad but I remember early on Smith getting reamed out by the staff and told if he doesn't curb the mouth he'll be gone...Guess what - He's gone.

Here is the last straw...an excerpt from a Steve King Blog dated 8/8/09

There was an incident midway through Friday’s second practice when Smith walked off the field instead of running with the rest of the rest of the defensive lineman to a place in a side area where they were going to go through some drills.
“Come on, dog, you’re walking on me,” no-nonsense defensive line coach Bryan Cox finally said to Smith while the rest of the group waited on him.
Smith said something back that could not be heard by about five media people standing nearby. Smith went through the motions during the drills, and Cox told him, “If you’ve got a problem, something wrong with your back, you go need to get some treatment.” Then Cox called a trainer over to check on Smith, but Smith didn’t seem to want any medical attention and the trainer eventually left.
Smith then spent time working – and talking – with several teammates, including Robaire Smith, who appeared to try to give him a pep talk. After the drills were over and the linemen ran back out onto the field to join the rest of the club for more team work, Smith and Cox spent a couple minutes talking face to face.
That was the last anyone saw of Smith.

his talent wasn't half bad - but the emergence of stronger than expected play from Corey Williams and come back from Robaire Smith along with good prospects from Rubin and Leonard made Smith's "MOUTH" expendable.

DL has become so much improved since we brought Shaun here.
Rogers, Corey, Rubin, Leonard, Coleman, Mosley have improved our depth greatly.

Just not a character guy for M/K...good bye and good riddence...won't surprise me if he becomes a Raven? Jets need depth also.

JMHO

and that's the rest of the story...........

Good find , Thanks for posting

I was a little surprised by this when I first read the post but as i read down I am loving the message this sends to the team.

If you arent in it to win it you can step.

On a side note, I couldnt care less that he punched BQ. Things happen sometimes,its not that big of a deal.


KING

I agree with that, as long as they clear the air afterward, or at the very least don't make a habit out of it. I've seen teammates get into scraps during a hockey practice, then laugh about it afterward. Heat of the moment stuff...

Oh happy day,hopefully this signals the end of the fat slob era in Cleveland.
Smith and Wimbley on the defensive right side was pure agony to have to watch.

After reading that it almost seems like the guy is depressed or has some sort of issues ya know?

Maybe he just doesn't care? I really don't have a clue.

Dear 80 Man Roster,

Can't practice? - Goodbye.

Bad Attitude? - Goodbye.

It's my way or the highway,

EM

NO! We just got rid of a great player...

Naw let me quit. I'm glad we are getting rid of players that's full of nonsense.

As my friend said when I told him the news, "Good, let him go punch someone else's quarterback."

I knew he was going to get cut...

Next is Santonio Thomas...

I now feel a little better for telling Shaun he wouldn't be around this year.

from the horses mouth

web page

Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini's Saturday press conference: transcript
by Staff reports
Saturday August 08, 2009, 7:01 PM
Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerThe Browns waived defensive lineman Shaun Smith to open up a roster spot.
Transcript of news conference of Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini from Saturday, provided by the team.


(Opening statement) -- "Good morning everybody. I have one piece of housekeeping, we waived Shaun Smith. I talked to the players this morning. The cutting of players is never a fun part of the job. Unfortunately, it is a part of the job and it is something we all have to deal with and it's the reality of our situation. In terms of where we are today, in the progression of things, and what we'll be doing today, we've got most of the installation in. I would say a large, large majority of it in. What I expect now from this point on, is for the things that are in to get better executed. The routes to be run more crisply, the coverages to flow better, the communication to flow better, all those things to improve, individually, collectively, because we've gone through the different cycles of install in the offseason, OTAs, minicamps, things like that. Then, through this part of camp, and now at this point we'll be working on that process. There will be elements of game planning coming in here very shortly, so we'll have to learn the way that we do that. The way that we practice with cards. That's a whole other learning process for down the road, but in terms of progression, that's where we are now.

"Today will be a little bit of a preview of tomorrow's action. Primarily Brown and White working together. There will be some situational work against each other. We'll work on the pregame warm up. We go through that process just to, like everything else, have gone through it and there is a comfort level.


"I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. I think it will be good for us, as players and coaches, and I think it will be good for us organizationally, because there are a lot of new people in different spots and there are a lot of kinks that need to be worked out. I'm sure quite a few of them will show up here tomorrow afternoon."

(On why the team released Shaun Smith) -- "We needed to create a roster spot and that's really what it came down to."

(On why they needed to create a roster spot) -- "We will eventually sign a player for the roster spot. We haven't done that yet."

(On if there is anything new with Rex Hadnot's injury situation) -- "No, nothing new to add to that situation."

(On the report that Hadnot has a torn MCL) -- "As I've said, Jeff (Schudel), specifics about injuries aren't anything that I'm going to talk about. I definitely appreciate that you have to ask and hope you understand, and respect where I'm coming from on that."

(On if he would consider bringing Shaun Smith back to the team) -- "I think, with any player that you let go, you always want to leave the door open, because you don't know what is going to happen. That's a discussion you always have, both internally, through the process. You don't know what is going to happen and there's always chances that you can see each other again. It could be quickly, it could be down the road. It's happened quite a bit, not just in my experience in New York, but New England and all the different stops."

(On if he released Shaun Smith because he is satisfied with the depth at defensive line) -- "George (Kokinis) and I go through those discussions each night. You look at depth, and you look at places where you have to create or add players. You're always doing an analysis to try and make sure that, not only can you move forward with the players you have, but also replace players as you need to, whether it's injury, whether it's just need at the position, whether it's guys missing a little bit of time. Whatever the case may be, you have to be able to adjust. We're bound by the limit and we have to adapt to it."

(On if he considered Smith to be disruptive) -- "I think Shaun did a good job while he was here. In terms of his experience prior to me getting here, I wasn't familiar with all those things, and really evaluating it as I arrived and this group arrived. That's what our decisions are always made on."

(On if Shaun Smith punching Brady Quinn had a factor in releasing him) -- "I took all the information that I could possibly gather from people, not specific to him, but to all the players, prior to the meeting. That's why I wanted to do the meetings later in my hiring, as opposed to just getting here, because I wanted a chance to really learn as much as I could before sitting down with the guys. I wanted to be able to watch the tape. Make sure I did my due diligence, in terms of learning about the players, then be able to sit down with them and give them an honest assessment of where they were, what expectations were, those types of things. I never like to just jump in, say something, 'have to do this,' and then have to go back later and backtrack as you gather more information. That's why that process initially took so long, as opposed to just setting those meetings right up off the bat. That was the 'why' at that point."

(On if Smith was the 80th man on the roster) -- "Like I said, there are a lot of different factors that go into all the decisions. There are defensive considerations. There are offensive considerations. There are special teams considerations. You have to be able to take all that information in and then try to move forward the best you can."

(On if he was disappointed Don Carey was claimed by the Jaguars) -- "Don has a long way to go before he's going to be able to play any football and you have to make distinctions there, whether you put him on IR, whether you waive him injured. One creates a roster spot right away. One doesn't create a roster spot for some time. Statistically, those guys don't get claimed. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. You make the decision and you move forward. He does have quite some time before he'll see the field again."

(On why they did not put Carey on Injured Reserve) -- "It doesn't create a roster spot. You're still at 80, until a designated time period, where then it reverts back to a roster spot, which was quite a bit of time away."

(On if he was disappointed to lose a draft pick before getting to see what he can do) -- "It's like anything else. You have to go through and look at the probabilities of things happening. Don is a really good kid and I enjoyed being with him and working with him. I got to know him a little bit. We didn't really get to see him on the field as much as we would have liked to. I wish him well."

(On if Brian Daboll and Rob Ryan will call the offensive and defensive plays for each team for the scrimmage) -- "No, they're all split up and they're game planning. Carl Smith will call offense on one side. Daboll on the other. Rob will call it on one side. Jerome (Harrison) on the other. Everybody has different roles. Some people have multiple roles, just because you split the staff in half. They're playing for something, just like the players are playing for something."

(On who will be Carl Smith's defensive coach) -- "He might have Rob-o (Rob Ryan). I have to look back. I split that group up quite a bit of time ago."

(On if he would possibly give Braylon Edwards to each team for two quarters) -- "No, once you're on a team, you're on a team. They had a chance last night, the head coaches did, to evaluate whether wanted to put any trades through to the league. Those would all be considered. If they could, they could. I'll assess it a little bit today and see where I think it is. If we have to adjust, we have to adjust."

(On how long the quarterbacks will play) -- "All four of them will play. There's different rules based on how it is, when you'll see Ratty (Brett Ratliff) and (Richard) Bartel. Everybody will get a chance to play."

(On if any of the young linebackers have given him the feeling that they understand the defense) -- "I think that David (Veikune) has done a real nice job. He's an athletic player, but he's also very stout. He has a good punch. He moves laterally well. It's a whole new world, because he's going from d-end to inside linebacker, as opposed to just, d-end to outside linebacker. His transition actually takes a couple steps. It takes time: 1) standing on your feet, and then 2) assessing everything that's going on inside, where everything prior to that was hand in the dirt. Now, he had moved around some in college, but he was in those defensive line meeting rooms as opposed to the linebacker meeting rooms. I think with Kaluka (Maiava), he's done a nice job too. He's a smart guy. He's done good things on special teams. He's done good things on substitute defense. Both of those guys, it's like the young wide receivers, the waves just keep crashing and they just have to keep getting up."

(On Alex Hall being a two to three down linebacker) -- "I don't really ever look at any of the players as specialists. I think that the one thing that is important to me is they're football players. Often times, if you have the guy that can just rush the passer, nobody pass blocks against him. They run against him. If you have the guy that is just stout against the run and can't do anything else, they throw against that guy. You try to find a strength and minimize it, then you try to find a weakness and attack it, and see how they respond. Ideally, what I want is a versatile, four down player that can help us in all areas."

(On Ahtyba Rubin as backup nose tackle) -- "I really like Rubin. I think that Rubin is a consistent guy. He comes in, works like crazy, stout against the run. He really improved his hand placement. I've liked all the things that I've seen from him so far. I think Adam Hoppel has done some nice things in there as well. He is a much younger guy. He is learning the two-gap, but he has done some good things in there. C.J. (Mosley) has worked at nose at different points throughout his career. There are quite a few guys that have played in there."

(On Kamerion Wimbley's development) -- "We're working him in different spots, like a lot of the guys that have changed traditionally where they've been, there's some growth and some bumps there. I think that's helping him. I think that's helping him seeing it from both sides, being able to move around the sub defense, learning the whole context of the defense, what we're trying to get done. All those things, I think, will help him. It's important, too, for him to continue to develop his strengths, but also really consciously work on the things that he can get better at."

(On if he expects Wimbley to get to the quarterback more in this defense) -- "For me again, Jeff (Schudel), it's really not showcasing Kamerion. I hope we get to the quarterback as much as possible. It's always about everybody doing what they need to do to get to that guy."

(On how winning three Super Bowls has shaped him) -- "It's an incredible feeling. There is nothing like that moment. I remember it. It still sends shivers down my spine, because that ball went through the uprights against the Rams and the confetti starts to come down. It's amazing, because you've worked so hard to get to that point and you've done it with a group people that, at the start of the season, there's so much change, there's so many things that you have to do to come together. There's so many obstacles that you have to overcome to even get in that game. To win the game, it's special. You can have all the money in the world, you can have all the fame in the world, you can have all the trappings that come with success, but you can't buy that. That has to be earned. You have to earn it every day, the appreciation of it. Going back the other two times, we didn't do as well the next year as we would have liked to. I think that was a great learning experience for me. After watching the playoffs in '06, in New York, I said in my press conference after the game, 'This season isn't going to affect next year,' because it doesn't. You have to do all those right things over and over again to get back to, at that point it was 10-6, or in New England it was the Super Bowl, and we learned from that experience in New England and we were able to get back there. It's amazing."

(On the first Super Bowl after 9/11) -- "It was, obviously, a difficult year for the country. I'd never put it in those terms. It was a hard year for all of us. To be part of something so joyous during a year that had so much sorrow, that's definitely a nice thing."

(On his philosophy on hitting at practice and if it is the same as it was in New England) -- "The philosophy on contact is really shaped from all the experiences. One of the things that I'm always looking for, is to get the players familiar with contact, conditioned for the contact, understanding the fits, but doing it in the safest, most controlled possible way. We stress everyday to keep guys up. There will be situations where you can shed a blocker and you can shed them to the ground or you can just shed them and keep them up. You start shedding guys to the ground, they're going to roll up on people's knees. It's like with the receivers, the DBs are going to go play the ball. We want them to be competitive, we want them to knock down the ball, but we also want them to be conscious of the fact that these are your teammates, and you have to protect your teammates. I've never, ever been an advocate of fighting of fighting in practice. You have plenty of opportunities to show how tough you are. When you get those fights in practice, someone punches a facemask, something happens. I think that's irresponsible behavior as well. I want the guys to be ready physically, but conscious of their teammates, and protecting their teammates and aggressively protecting their teammates."

(On if he would allow a veteran player to report to training camp late if he had something he had to deal with in his personal life) -- "I always try to talk to the guys about any personal situation that comes up. We all have things that are happening outside of this building. You have to be a human being, in addition to being a coach, and you have to understand the births and deaths and personal issues that come up. I like to communicate with the guys and be understanding, because a lot does happen outside of here and you have to look after those things."

(On if he would understand if a player missed two weeks of training camp) -- "I'd have to put it in relationship to what was happening. It's hard to say one way or the other."

(On what he is most looking forward to seeing out of the scrimmage) -- "The overall operation of the team, the coaches, the organization, whether it be the trainers, PR, right on down the line. A lot of us are new, the operations department. There's a lot of moving parts that aren't familiar with game day procedure. Maybe the people here aren't familiar with things that maybe are going to be done differently, if we can go through that and do that. The environment, I'm looking forward to a lot of Browns fans being out there. I said this before, you can't appreciate the passion until you feel the passion."

(On whom from the Patriots teams that he coached should be in the Hall of Fame) -- "Bill Belichick. He'll be in the Hall of Fame."

(On what players from the Patriots teams he coached should be in the Hall of Fame) -- "One of the greatest lessons that I learned from that experience, was that nobody was concerned about Pro Bowls, nobody was concerned about legacy. Not that those things aren't important, but everybody's focus was on team, was on, 'what could I do to help the team win?' To me, that's what made that year so special and unique.

Couple of things I got from the press conference, he was less than impressed with Shaun Smith's attitude. Said he cut him to gain a roster spot for a guy that they haven't signed yet. In most cases you do that at the same time, meaning that Shaun Smith's dramatic showcase of Friday played a large role in him getting cut.
Don Carey must have also really injured himself/not adorned himself to the team. Or a combination of the two. Otherwise he would have been put on the IR.