Shaun Rogers: Cleveland Browns NT Arrested on Gun Charge

Cleveland Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers was arrested for allegedly trying to bring a gun on an airplane Thursday at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer .

This is not good news for the Browns or Rogers, beyond the obvious legal reasons.

The Browns have been spending the last year getting rid of players who weren't on board with the team's new philosophies and those who were perceived as malcontents.

Rogers demanded a trade just after head coach Eric Mangini was hired, claiming he was being snubbed by the new coach and wanted out. Fences were mended, but Rogers' situation hasn't improved with this latest incident.

Rogers was injured late in the year, and his replacement, Ahtyba Rubin, did a better job of stopping the run. The reason given was that Rogers was too fast to be a truly effective nose tackle.

Rumors and discussion in the offseason included trading Rogers for more high-round draft picks, or moving him down the line to take better advantage of his speed and better utilize Rubin.

With this arrest, unless it's a case of mistaken identity, erroneous paperwork, or a bad cop, Rogers will be suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

With 12 picks in the upcoming draft, the Browns have plenty of room to maneuver, but you just don't replace a guy like Rogers with a fifth- or a sixth-round pick unless the Football Gods are smiling on you.

Cleveland Browns fans usually are waiting for the other shoe to drop when things start going well. This offseason had been going so well, the superstitious among us are not surprised about this.

Last year it was Donte Stallworth killing a pedestrian while driving drunk; this year, it's a gun charge for someone who had no good reason to be carrying a gun.