Was former Brown lineman out of bounds with his actions against second-year center?
UPDATED: 10:12 p.m.
Alex Mack says Shaun Smith incited him during the game by grabbing his private parts. BEREA, Ohio -- Alex Mack accused former Browns defensive lineman Shaun Smith Monday of foul play during the Chiefs game, specifically grabbing his genitals during a play near the end of the first half.
The reason it's significant is because the Browns' center got into a verbal spat with the trash-talking Smith and may have still been steamed about it a minute later when he jumped over the pile on a short pass to Jerome Harrison and drilled linebacker Derrick Johnson late. The move drew a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty, one that moved the ball back to the Chiefs' 37.
Two plays later, Phil Dawson missed a 42 field goal, which proved to be the difference in 16-14 loss.
"I don't think he should be able to do that," said Mack of Smith. "I'm still fired up about it."
The incident took place after a one-yard run by Josh Cribbs with 1:21 left in the second quarter. After that play, a number of Chiefs players ended up on the Browns' sideline and punches were thrown.
Smith told the Associated Press Monday: "I don't have no comment. I don't recall doing anything like that. I'm not known for being a dirty player or anything like that, so I don't know what that was all about."
According to Mack: "I'm trying to hustle to the ball. I'm trying to help [Harrison] and he's a shifty guy. I'm trying to rush there and get a block and move things, be fired up, play the game with passion. A little too much passion. I probably should've pulled off that. It hurt my team and I feel bad for it, but I'm trying to play the game fast."
Mack didn't say if the Smith grab led to the penalty but acknowledged that "there's things I can do better. You want to be aggressive and attacking. You just can't have penalties."
Smith, who was released in training camp last season, once reportedly punched Brady Quinn and was let go after a few run-ins on the field with defensive line coach Bryan Cox. Despite a mouth that sometimes got him in trouble, coach Romeo Crennel liked him and brought him to Kansas City.
Bad call? The Browns will send a tape of Harrison's fumble to the NFL office for further review.
After watching the film Monday, teammates agreed that it wasn't a fumble, that Harrison was already down when Akron native Mike Vrabel stripped the ball out.
The Browns challenged, but the fumble stood. The Chiefs converted it into a field goal for a 3-0 lead.
"That fumble we had on Sunday was unfortunate," said Peyton Hillis. "It wasn't a fumble. But the refs have their own deal with that. They made the call so we have to live with it."
But coach Eric Mangini stressed that it wouldn't be an issue if the ball didn't come out in the first place.
Added Mack, "the defense makes some good plays and gets lucky with some calls. It's bad luck."
Whatever the case, it was the Browns' 14th fumble in six games, including preseason.
Delhomme progressing: Mangini said quarterback Jake Delhomme is getting better, "but in terms of his status, I'll have further information on Wednesday."
Delhomme was inactive for the game with his ankle injury and stood on the sidelines in his walking boot. A source said he's week to week.
Strategy in question: Mangini explained that he thinks the Browns are making halftime adjustments as well as anyone, but the team is committing too many penalties and mistakes.
The Browns have been shut out in the second half of each of the first two games. Against the Chiefs, the Browns possessed the ball for a little more than nine minutes in the second half.
"You go in, you have a certain amount of time and by the time you get in, guys get a drink, use the bathroom, you get on the board, it's pretty quick," Mangini said. "I've seen a lot of different ways that it's handled and I'd say ours is pretty consistent with the way it's handled across the league."
Linebacker David Bowens said changes at the break aren't overrated.
"Halftime adjustments are what win or lose a game," he said. "You can obviously see the difference in statistics."
Why more Moore? Should tight end Evan Moore have gone back in the game in the third quarter after getting drilled in the head by a Chiefs defender? Moore went to the sidelines but trotted out two plays later on third down.
After a punt, he walked into the locker room and confirmed afterwards that he had a head injury. New research has shown that players should not go back in immediately after head trauma.
"With all of that stuff, I really let [head trainer Joe Sheehan and the doctor] handle it," said Mangini. "It's a medical issue. I've never pushed to get a guy back in who's not cleared medically."