Browns release DL Shaun Smith, Hadnot only has MCL tear

Browns outspoken defensive lineman Shaun Smith, who clashed with defensive line coach Bryan Cox on Friday, was released Saturday morning, a source told the Plain Dealer. Browns coach Eric Mangini confirmed the move, which was first reported on cleveland.com. He said he made it to clear a roster spot for another unnamed player.

Mangini said Smith "did a good job when he was here'' despite the fact he had a reputation for being too outspoken during practices and games. Mangini also declined to say whether or not Smith's run-in with quarterback Brady Quinn in December was a factor in the decision. Smith reportedly punched Quinn in the face during a weight-room spat.

But the signs were there during Friday evening's practice that something was amiss with Smith.

While the rest of the linemen were jogging to another field for position drills, Smith walked and lagged far behind.

"Come on, dog, you're walking on me," said the tough-nosed Cox.

Smith half-heartedly joined the others, but seemed reluctant to participate in the drills, which involved two lineman squaring off to practice hand- and footwork. At one point, Cox, noticing that Smith wasn't participating, said, "If you've got a problem, if there's something wrong with your back, you need to go get some treatment.''

Cox motioned a trainer over to check on Smith, but he waved him off and joined the drills. Some of his friends, including Robaire Smith, who was having fun in the drill going up against Shaun Rogers, talked to Smith a little on the side.

Smith told a source that he didn't do anything wrong and has no idea why he was released. In June, a source told the Plain Dealer that defensive coaches had told Smith to "shape up and shut up'' so he was already apparently on thin ice.

A versatile lineman who started 19 of his 26 games with the Browns over the past two seasons, Smith played both defensive end and backup nosetackle behind Rogers.

With Smith gone, second-year lineman Ahtyba Rubin, the Browns' sixth-round pick in 2008 out of Iowa State, will most likely see more action behind Rogers and in the line rotation.

"I really like Rubin,'' said Mangini. "Rubin is just a consistent guy. He comes in, works like crazy, is stout against the run, and has really improved his hand placement. I like all the things I've seen from him.''

In other Browns news:

* Browns 2009 sixth-round pick Don Carey was claimed by the Jaguars Friday after being waived/injured with a serious shoulder injury on Thursday. Mangini said it's the chance you take when you waive a player, but re-iterated that Carey won't see the field until Spring at the earliest.

* Mangini declined to confirm a report on cleveland.com that Hadnot has suffered a torn medial collateral ligament, which is typically about a 4-6 week injury. Another source close to the situation confirmed Saturday that it's the MCL and that Hadnot will most likely be back sometime in the near future, possibly in time for the first game.

Source: cleveland.com

I've been calling for Smith to be cut for a while now. Between having a younger, more stout backup NT in Rubin, and adding actual 3-4 DEs, there just wasn't any room for him.  Plus he is pretty much the polar opposite of a 'Mangini type' player.

On the bright side, Hadnot did't tear his ACL, and should be back early in the season, so good news there.