Hue Jackson says Whitner's release wasn't 'knee-jerk reaction'

The Cleveland Browns released veteran safety Donte Whitner on April 2, a move that took many by surprise due to its timing.

Whitner, along with former Browns teammate Karlos Dansby were outraged by the team's late decision to cut him, as the three-time Pro Bowler would've preferred to get an early start on free agency.

Browns head coach Hue Jackson attempted to explain the team's decision in his press conference Wednesday.

"I know it's unfortunate it happened that way," Jackson said. "But I think we all recognize and know that those things do happen. We made the decision when it was time for us to make the decision. Obviously that decision wasn't made before, because if it was, we would have made that decision earlier. So I get it and I know the feeling in that situation. But trust me, we went through this 1,000 times to get to that conclusion, so it wasn't like it was just a knee-jerk reaction."

The Browns are undergoing a mass exodus, after not retaining center Alex Mack, safety Tashaun Gipson, wide receiver Travis Benjamin, and offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz among others ahead of free agency.

It's not altogether surprising that Whitner would be aggrieved by the timing, with many teams filling a need at safety. However, Whitner is almost certain to carve a role for himself elsewhere and could be a valuable piece for a Super Bowl contender.