Former Browns defender Shaun Smith
The league suspended former Browns defensive lineman Shaun Smith for four games for violating the its steroids policy, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported. According to Schefter, Smith can serve the suspension while he is unsigned.
Smith was released by the Browns on Aug. 8 after a run-in with defensive line coach Bryan Cox. But he was already on a short leash, reportedly told in the off-season to "shape up and shut up."
Smith was quickly signed by the Detroit Lions and drew interest from other teams, Schefter reported, but did not make the Lions' final roster.
In other Browns news, linebacker Marcus Benard, offensive lineman Corey Hilliard and defensive lineman Keith Grennan were added to the practice squad Wednesday night, while defensive back Brandon Anderson of the University of Akron was released.
Benard and Hilliard were waived Sunday. A product of Eastern Washington, Grennan spent most of the last two years on San Diego's practice squad.
Shaun Rogers says that Smith is ready to rejoin the Browns as the team's "ugly fat guy with little talent".
In his new role with the Browns, Smith will serve as the anti-role model, with Mangini pointing to Smith whenever a mental mistake has been made by anyone. Now, instead of running laps, Mangini will just point at Smith and say "Look at this toad over here! Do YOU want to turn into this waste of human flesh? I think NOT!"