Romeo Crennel Does Not Deny Rumored Altercation Between Brady Quinn and Shaun Smith
Earlier today, we posted a story regarding a rumor circulating in Cleveland that Brady Quinn and Shaun Smith got into an alteraction in which Shaun Smith punched Brady Quinn.
I just saw on the Cleveland Plain-Dealer website, as reported by Mary-Kay Cabot, that Browns head coach Romeo Crennel did not confirm, nor deny, that the altercation took place.
From the Cabot report:
Browns coach Romeo Crennel declined to confirm a report on WKYC Channel 3 that defensive lineman Shaun Smith punched quarterback Brady Quinn in the face last week in the weight room.
But Crennel also did not deny that the incident took place.
“If it happened, we’re keeping it in house,” Crennel said.
Interestingly, as Cabot points out, Romeo Crennel “would not say whether or not Smith was out (of the Bengals game) because of disciplinary action.”
“Shaun was inactive and generally all the inactive guys are coaches’ decisions,” said Crennel. “That was a coaches’ decision for him not to play. I’m not going to talk about family business.”
Crennel did acknowledge that Smith got into a heated confrontation with an offensive lineman at practice recently, but that to his knowledge it didn’t get physical.
“Guys get heated at practice,” he said. “There was some discussion (between Shaun and an offensive lineman).”
So, we have no official confirmation or denial that Shaun Smith punched Brady Quinn. And PFT reported earlier today that their sources said that Brady Quinn denied the rumors. However, we know that it was 
rumored that Shaun Smith was the player who Browns players said “quit” in the game this season against Denver. And we know that he has, at the very least, been involved in confrontations with other players.
And what kind of a statement is, “if it happened, we’re keeping it in house?” If it happened? Unfortunately for Romeo Crennel, if that was his attempt at diffusing the situation, I’m fairly certain it will only make it worse. If the alleged altercation between Brady Quinn and Shaun Smith did not happen, why would Romeo Crennel say anything other than, “It did not happen”? In this case, a waffling statement like, “If it happened, we’re keeping it in house” is about as good as just coming right out and saying it happened.
And Shaun Smith’s reputation for being a hot head is not going to help this rumor go away either. As the Browns should have learned from the Phil Savage email fiasco, it is usually better to just confront these issues and explain what happened. We all know that things get heated on NFL practice fields and in locker rooms. So it’s not like an altercation would be a surprise. What does not look good is trying to play games with the media and issuing vague statements hoping that the problem goes away. In the 24-hour, web-driven news cycle we live in, these stories go viral and the truth is eventually forced out.
If the altercation happened, and I think it is safe to make such an assumption based on the information available and Crennel’s unwillingness to issue a flat denial, you might as well take the lead so you can better frame the story from a perspective of authority. For the Browns front office, I think they’d have been better off with Romeo Crennel saying nothing. His non-denial denial is like throwing chum in the ocean, and now the media sharks and bloggers will be even more hungry for details on this story now, especially as the rumor seems to be gaining more and more steam in the direction of truth as today goes on.
Tags: brady quinn, Browns, NFL, Romeo Crennel, shaun smith
[...] lending credence to the fact that this may be more than a rumor, earlier today Browns head coach Romeo Crennel refused to deny that an altercation between Brady Quinn and Shaun Smith took place last [...]
[...] read more | digg story [...]
Shaun Smith was suspended for an incident that occurred on Friday, according to reports on WKNR 850.
Apparently, Brady Quinn did not like the way Smith was doing something, and Smith took offense, felt disrespected and threw a punch at Quinn.
Smith did not play against the Bengals due to the suspension. Quinn was not in the locker room during the game, Sunday.
The altercatioin allegedly took place in the cafeteria — not the weight room.
But the best example of how the Browns have become a total train wreck has come from an anonymous letter sent to Tony Rizzo at Fox News.
Rizzo read part of the letter he said came from a person who claimed to be a Browns player who wanted anonyminity.
“Phil Savage is a cancer” that has undermined the Browns and hurt the team, according to the source.
He also said that some guys would sit at team meetings with Head Coach Romeo Crennel, and not give the coach respect.
Some playes had ipods and cell phones wit them; others did not pay attention and some slept.
The anonymous letter writer also said that some of the elite players (can you spell Braylon?) have gotten away with this kind of behavior for the past five years.
That, in my mind, means a lot.
Why, for instance, did Braylon Edwards run wrong routes, drop the ball, etc.? Maybe he was on his ipod or trying to text message.
I am more convinced than ever that Crennel must go in favor of a coach who won’t take b.s. from players.
But, again, I report that the latest rumor is that Crennel will stay another year.
Also, today, Browns former quarterback great, Bernie Kosar, said he would be available for a position with the Browns if Randy Lerner asked him.
Hopefully, Lerner is not so taken by his English soccer team, that he can’t spend some time with the Browns situation.
Lerner may have a good head for business, but Mr. Lerner, please get your head out of your ass, and fix this team!
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JRod Reply:
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:24 pm
@Midnight Writer, nice work on the Rizzo letter. That is very interesting, and based on how the team has played this year, not all that surprising.
But you’re going to have to explain what you say about there being a rumor that Crennel will be back next year. Where in the world could a rumor like that come from? What basis could there possibly be for standing pat and not making a coaching change?
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Jrod,
Good question. Here is how it was explained to me via email by Mark Bishop, WKNR 850: The Browns (Randy Lerner) doesn’t really want to start all over again for the fourth time in 10 years with a new general manager and coach — especially if there is no one out there willing to fix the Browns in 2009.
Rumor has it that Bill Cowher will not be available for coaching ot taking a top management position with an NFL team until 2010 — so why not wait a year with the same Browns regime.
However, heard a rumor today that the Browns offered Cowher $8 million to come to Cleveland — and Lerner is willing to offer $9 million.
Cowher could be wilting. But Cleveland isn’t the only team needing a new coach next year so Cowher can bide his time a bit.
To put another twist on this soap opera, The Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot wrote an article today indicating Crennel will make a case to keep his job.
This comes on the heels of weeks of telling the media he has known all along, if he doesn’t win, he will be fired.
And more on the heavyweight/middle weight fight of the century between the massive Shaun Smith and not too shabby Brady Quinn, did occur in the weight room when Quinn fired back at a typical Smith insult joke and Smith sucker punched Quinn in the nose.
D’Quelle Jackson told Tony Rizzo of WKNR 850’s The Really Big Show this morning, that it was just a “fight between brothers .. like when your big brother hits you.”
Smith certainly is big. I don’t know if I believe Shaun thought of Brady as Little Brother.
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