Browns DL Shaun Smith Wants You to Know That He's Not a Quitter

After it looked like some of the Browns players quit during last Thursday's loss to the Broncos, running back Jamal Lewis suggested as much. So did Josh Cribbs. Neither play mentioned names, but according to PFT, various anonymous sources suggest defensive lineman Shaun Smith was the target.

Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage made the requisite "there's nothing to see here" public comments, although I'm pretty sure nobody took them seriously. That's what happens when a supposed playoff team stumbles to a 3-6 record.

Whatever, according to the Chronicle Telegram, Smith knows nothing of being a quitter (via CTSB):

"I'm no quitter," Smith said Friday. "My mom always told me there would be haters in your life, you have to keep moving. "I knew it wasn't true, so I wasn't worried about it, it was funny to me. Everybody who's seen the way I play, they know what it is."

As to where the report originated, Smith offered this: "A snitch? Who knows? ... I've got thick skin, I'm not worried about that. I've got a job to do, stop the run and create some pressure in the pass rush."

So there you have it: Smith isn't a quitter, he's wary of haters (thanks, Mom!), and we all know the way he plays.

Actually, I'll be honest, I don't spent a lot of time watching Smith get manhandled at the line of scrimmage. I know he says his job is to stop the run and pressure the passer but the Browns defense, as has been the case, well, forever, is atrocious (22nd against the pass, 23rd against the run).

Maybe Smith is part of the problem, but it's not like he's dropping every third pass thrown to him, or short-hopping receivers on slants. This isn't to absolve him, just to point out that the Browns problems are bigger than one mediocre defender.