Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Karlos Dansby

Karlos Dansby believes the Browns should've shown Donte Whitner more respect.

(John Kuntz/cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Browns linebacker Karlos Dansby, who signed with the Bengals last week, criticized the Browns Tuesday for waiting so long to release veteran safety Donte Whitner, a Cleveland native who came back to help his beloved Browns win a championship.

"To see it happen like that late into the free agency, man, it just wasn't cool,'' Dansby told SiriusXM NFL Radio. "It wasn't cool at all. As a professional, man, that man earned the right to do his job... just respect him and let him go.''

Dansby, who thanked the Browns for releasing him on March 16th, early enough in the offseason to find a new job, believed Whitner was safe when he was still around at the end of that day.

"I thought they were going to keep him on because he's a Cleveland kid, homegrown, and I'm thinking if they let me go, they're going to keep Donte on,'' he said. "That was my thinking, because both of us were strong leaders on the defense.''

But Dansby, who signed a one-year deal with the Bengals worth up to $2.25 million, said he tried to warn Whitner after the season that this might happen. On Saturday night, 17 days after Dansby was cut and almost a month after free agency began, the veteran linebacker was proven right. The Browns cut the Glenville High and Ohio State product, 30, midway through his four-year deal.



"I told him, I said 'look man, as soon as I get released, I'm going where I'm going to get a ring,''' he said. "He was like 'man, you think they're going to let us go?' I said 'let's keep it real, we're 3-13, there's going to be a new coach, a new scheme.' I said 'all the vets gotta go. It's just how the game goes, man, and we've both been on that side of the stick before.''



Donte Whitner wishes Browns would've had 'common courtesy' to release him sooner

Dansby, 34, also said the Browns went 3-13 last season because too many players were pulling in different directions.



"I thought we were real close to be honest,'' he said. "There was just too much going on and guys having their own agendas and we weren't playing as a team. (There was) plenty of talent across the board -- a lot of talent. Young talent too, but we just couldn't put it together as a team.''



He noted, "if you can't put it together as a team and guys don't believe in the system and the program then you'll never be successful as a team, because this is an ultimate team game. It takes everybody on the field working as one, one common goal and we just couldn't put it all together to have everybody on the field on the same page.''

Whitner was also upset the Browns waited to so long to get him go. His release came almost a month after teams were allowed to start negotiating with unrestricted free agents and the big money has been spent. What's more, rosters are mostly full by now.

"I just wish they had the common courtesy and would've done it weeks ago when free agency was going on,'' Whitner tweeted Saturday. "25thHour....But I'll bounce back.''

He also took a shot at the Browns' new analytics bent, which favors younger players with smaller contracts. Whitner was set to make $6.2 million and $6.3 million the next two seasons.

"I love you Cleveland,'' he tweeted. "My plan is in a different place. They're playing MONEYBALL now! Be blessed.''

Later in the evening, he thanked the Browns for giving him the opportunity.

Thanks to the Cleveland browns organization for believing in me.. I gave everything! Literally! I wish you guys much success. 😢 I'll b back! — DonteHitner31 (@DonteWhitner) April 3, 2016

The day Dansby was released, Whitner told cleveland.com he wasn't concerned he'd be next.



"I'm not thinking about that,'' the former Ohio State Buckeye said. "I'm just working out, getting in the best shape possible. It's really unfortunate that they let Karlos go. Really good player. I do believe that he'll find work and catch on somewhere because he says he wants to win a championship.

"But I want to win a championship in Cleveland myself, so I wish him the best of luck and I'm just getting ready for the season.''

Whitner said he had recently talked to Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown, but that he hadn't been given no indication he was on his way out.

"We didn't really talk about football,'' he said at the time. "There was no reassurance of anything but I don't think I need to be reassured. I'm always confident in myself. I'm confident in the team and looking forward to working with this coaching staff and going out there and winning some games.''

Like Dansby, he'll be doing that somewhere else now.