NOTRE DAME DISS STARTED SMITH-QUINN FRACAS?

The one detail that has yet to come to light in the wake of the much-publicized melee between Browns defensive lineman Shaun Smith and starting quarterback Brady Quinn is the cause of the brouhaha. Per a league source, the thing got rolling because Smith was razzing Quinn about the performance of Notre Dame football and coach Charlie Weis. After Quinn returned fire, the thing turned physical. Neither Smith nor Quinn have addressed the situation, which is only reinforcing the notion that the reports of an altercation are true.