Reports have surfaced that Browns defensive tackle Shaun Smith punched quarterback Brady Quinn in the face last week in the weight room after a verbal spat, and there are strong indications that the reports are true.

WKYC Channel 3's Jim Donovan first reported the incident Sunday during the 6 p.m. news after word of an altercation broke on profootballtalk.com during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals . Then, Monday morning, Darnell Dinkins confirmed on WQAL FM/ 104.1 that a scuffle took place between the two and that Quinn had a mark on his face as a result. Dinkins said on the morning show that coach Romeo Crennel was "very upset" about the incident and took swift action.

One of the strongest signs it happened was Crennel did not deny it Monday in his news conference. His most telling quote was, "If it happened, it stays in-house."

Crennel also lent credence to the reports when he said Smith was inactive for Sunday's loss to the Bengals because of a coach's decision. Smith didn't practice all week because of a calf injury and was listed as doubtful for the game, but that's not believed to be the reason he was idle - at least not the whole reason. Crennel also said Smith would be available for the season finale in Pittsburgh on Sunday.

"Any rumors or any deals about altercations, I never talk about family business," said Crennel. "I haven't talked about family business since I've been here. So I'm not going to address it at this point or start talking about it."

Smith, who's known for trash-talking his teammates during the week to keep things interesting, has had at least one other confrontation with a teammate this season. Apparently, not everyone takes his ribbing in good fun.

Earlier this season, he verbally sparred with an offensive lineman, and the player had to be held back.

"Guys get heated at practice," said Crennel. "There were no fights or anything at practice. He's a defensive lineman, he's going against an offensive lineman, so sometimes guys get heated. There was no fight involved, there was some discussion involved, but no fight."

According to a source close to the team, Smith started jawing at Quinn, and Quinn shot back and incited Smith. Smith then punched him in the face, according to Donovan's report.

Crennel acknowledged that Smith's chatter isn't always well-received. He's been chiding his teammates, mostly offensive players, since early in training camp. "Yeah, sure, it could potentially rub a guy the wrong way," said Crennel.

Asked if he'd fine a player for an altercation, Crennel said: "Potentially. It just depends. You'd have to look at all the background if that were the case."

Smith would not speak to reporters in the locker room last Thursday and seemed testy. Still, Crennel said he hasn't had many altercations between his players this year.

"In a family, you always have some disagreements, and they get handled within the family," he said. "I've got one brother and three sisters. When we were growing up, we had altercations. That's part of being a family. You deal with them and you move on. That doesn't mean I dislike my brother or I dislike my sisters. That's part of being in a household - everybody trying to establish their turf. But that's part of it. You deal with it and you move on."

Making Smith inactive instead of formally suspending him may have been a way to avoid getting the NFLPA involved, because players routinely appeal their suspensions. It also may have been an attempt to keep a potentially volatile situation quiet. A player punching the franchise quarterback in the face - one who's already on injured reserve because of a surgically repaired right index finger - is another black eye for an organization that's had one controversy after another this season.

If he'd been suspended, he also would've had to forfeit a game check.

Everyone associated with the situation is in complete lockdown. Even WQAL wasn't permitted by its parent company, CBS radio, to replay the Dinkins sound. The following people either declined to return messages or replied "no comment": Quinn; Smith; Dinkins; Quinn's agent, Tom Condon; Smith's agent, Jonathan Feinsod; Smith's other agent, Neil Schwartz; and a few team sources.

Smith has said on many occasions this season that he trash-talks his teammates for fun. Even Crennel usually gets a chuckle out of him. Some of his best material has come in pre-practice warm-ups. In these tense times, the jawing seems to be no laughing matter. If it's true Smith punched Quinn in the face, the Browns will have one more thing to revisit in the off-season.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670