Cribbs intends to walk after low offer
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Last straw? Cribbs intends to walk out on Browns after low offer
NFL.com Wire Reports
Josh Cribbs believes it's "unlikely" that he will play another game for the Cleveland Browns. Insulted by the Browns' latest contract offer, Cribbs intends to clean out his locker, and one of his agents said the Pro Bowler will demand a trade.
"I'm hurt because I don't want to play for nobody else," Cribbs said Wednesday night. "But the way they're talking, they're leaving me no choice."
Cribbs was the Browns' most valuable player this season. He played wide receiver and quarterback, and he also returned and covered kickoffs and punts. He even set the NFL career record for most kickoff returns for touchdowns.
But agent Peter Schaffer said Wednesday that the Browns failed to live up to previous promises they made to Cribbs and offered him $1.4 million annually for six years, well below market value. Schaffer said there's "no more middle ground" and he's "extremely shocked" that new team president Mike Holmgren wouldn't understand Cribbs' value to the Browns.
"We're going to formally put in a request for a trade," J.R. Rickert, Cribbs' other agent, told NFL Network's Jason La Canfora. "He will not set foot in that facility again. If they had offered even something like $2.5 million per season, we could have worked with them, but to me, this offer is indefensible."
Rickert said Browns vice president of football administration Dawn Aponte, who handles contract negotiations, told him the offer was final and that Holmgren was in agreement with her.
"Dawn said this was it, this was their offer," Rickert said. "She said it would be 1.4 today, 1.4 in March and 1.4 in August."
Cribbs said last month that the team had promised to give him a new contract by the end of the season. Even in the days leading up to the Browns' season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday, Cribbs remained optimistic that something would get done.
Not anymore.
"I did all the playing I'm going to play on this contract," Cribbs said. "I ain't doing nothing. I'm not showing my face until it's right."
Rickert said he asked the team if it needed or wanted more time to consider things, especially with Holmgren just coming on the job, and that he told Aponte if she didn't change the offer or request more time to negotiate by 5 p.m. Wednesday, he would take the unusual tactic of making the offer public.
"I didn't feel like we had any other choice than to let the Browns fans know exactly what was going on," Rickert said, "and let them know why Josh was preparing to leave."
Said Schaffer: "I'm extremely shocked. I have tremendous respect for Mike Holmgren. I know he knows how to put a team together. I was optimistic that with him coming aboard that he would understand and that Josh would be rewarded. To see there is no change in their position is insulting."
Holmgren said Tuesday that he had contact with Cribbs' representatives when he was at home in Arizona. Holmgren intimated that he planned to take care of Cribbs but only after fair negotiations.
"I believe players should be rewarded for what they do," Holmgren said. "I have no problems with that at all. What happens, though, on occasion is our view of how much that should be and the agent's view of how much that should be differs. We have made an effort.
"We will continue to make an effort to handle Josh's situation. I want Josh here."
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well looks like his NFL career is pretty much over then
he wont get traded unless we get a 1st or 2nd rounder for him which i dont see happening because Holmgren is a No BS guy he doesnt give in to other players "demands" so if cribbs wants to demand a trade and not play then he can have fun sitting on the bench or on the couch at home
too bad he was a great ST guy played with alot of heart but he deserves what he's getting he's proven he cant be counted on for a solid commitment
he signed and agreed to a contract and wont fullfill it so now hes going to have to swallow his pride or have fun rotting
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well looks like his NFL career is pretty much over then
he wont get traded unless we get a 1st or 2nd rounder for him which i dont see happening because Holmgren is a No BS guy he doesnt give in to other players "demands" so if cribbs wants to demand a trade and not play then he can have fun sitting on the bench or on the couch at home
too bad he was a great ST guy played with alot of heart but he deserves what he's getting he's proven he cant be counted on for a solid commitment
he signed and agreed to a contract and wont fullfill it so now hes going to have to swallow his pride or have fun rotting
well looks like his NFL career is pretty much over then
he wont get traded unless we get a 1st or 2nd rounder for him which i dont see happening because Holmgren is a No BS guy he doesnt give in to other players "demands" so if cribbs wants to demand a trade and not play then he can have fun sitting on the bench or on the couch at home
too bad he was a great ST guy played with alot of heart but he deserves what he's getting he's proven he cant be counted on for a solid commitment
he signed and agreed to a contract and wont fullfill it so now hes going to have to swallow his pride or have fun rotting
I agree to a certain extent. Has Cribbs flourished beyond what anyone expected? Absolutely. He is hands down the best ST player in the league. He is the best return man in the game and when he is often the first guy to make the tackle on punts and kick-offs. He has proven himself to be a tremendous asset in the WildDawg formation as well. That being said, he hasn't developed into a legit WR yet and his agent is demanding to renegotiate a contract 3 years before it expires. I love Cribbs, for some crazy reason he really enjoys playing for our shitty franchise and he is one of the few guys that leaves it all on the field every game and really seems to "get" Cleveland in his interviews. Seriously though, if he wants to be pissed at someone, he should be pissed at his agent for signing him into that contract in the first place.
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well looks like his NFL career is pretty much over then
he wont get traded unless we get a 1st or 2nd rounder for him which i dont see happening because Holmgren is a No BS guy he doesnt give in to other players "demands" so if cribbs wants to demand a trade and not play then he can have fun sitting on the bench or on the couch at home
too bad he was a great ST guy played with alot of heart but he deserves what he's getting he's proven he cant be counted on for a solid commitment
he signed and agreed to a contract and wont fullfill it so now hes going to have to swallow his pride or have fun rotting
I agree to a certain extent. Has Cribbs flourished beyond what anyone expected? Absolutely. He is hands down the best ST player in the league. He is the best return man in the game and when he is often the first guy to make the tackle on punts and kick-offs. He has proven himself to be a tremendous asset in the WildDawg formation as well. That being said, he hasn't developed into a legit WR yet and his agent is demanding to renegotiate a contract 3 years before it expires. I love Cribbs, for some crazy reason he really enjoys playing for our shitty franchise and he is one of the few guys that leaves it all on the field every game and really seems to "get" Cleveland in his interviews. Seriously though, if he wants to be pissed at someone, he should be pissed at his agent for signing him into that contract in the first place.
I agree to a certain extent. Has Cribbs flourished beyond what anyone expected? Absolutely. He is hands down the best ST player in the league. He is the best return man in the game and when he is often the first guy to make the tackle on punts and kick-offs. He has proven himself to be a tremendous asset in the WildDawg formation as well. That being said, he hasn't developed into a legit WR yet and his agent is demanding to renegotiate a contract 3 years before it expires. I love Cribbs, for some crazy reason he really enjoys playing for our shitty franchise and he is one of the few guys that leaves it all on the field every game and really seems to "get" Cleveland in his interviews. Seriously though, if he wants to be pissed at someone, he should be pissed at his agent for signing him into that contract in the first place.
well look at it this way
when you look at the roster you see
WR #16 Josh Cribbs
not
ST #16 Josh Cribbs
he is a bad WR doesnt run good or correct routes, his hands arent as great as some people thought he seemed to drop alot more passes then he should (although they may not be offically be recorded as drops) and he wasnt getting any seperation
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Last straw? Cribbs intends to walk out on Browns after low offer
NFL.com Wire Reports
Josh Cribbs believes it's "unlikely" that he will play another game for the Cleveland Browns. Insulted by the Browns' latest contract offer, Cribbs intends to clean out his locker, and one of his agents said the Pro Bowler will demand a trade.
"I'm hurt because I don't want to play for nobody else," Cribbs said Wednesday night. "But the way they're talking, they're leaving me no choice."
Cribbs was the Browns' most valuable player this season. He played wide receiver and quarterback, and he also returned and covered kickoffs and punts. He even set the NFL career record for most kickoff returns for touchdowns.
But agent Peter Schaffer said Wednesday that the Browns failed to live up to previous promises they made to Cribbs and offered him $1.4 million annually for six years, well below market value. Schaffer said there's "no more middle ground" and he's "extremely shocked" that new team president Mike Holmgren wouldn't understand Cribbs' value to the Browns.
"We're going to formally put in a request for a trade," J.R. Rickert, Cribbs' other agent, told NFL Network's Jason La Canfora. "He will not set foot in that facility again. If they had offered even something like $2.5 million per season, we could have worked with them, but to me, this offer is indefensible."
Rickert said Browns vice president of football administration Dawn Aponte, who handles contract negotiations, told him the offer was final and that Holmgren was in agreement with her.
"Dawn said this was it, this was their offer," Rickert said. "She said it would be 1.4 today, 1.4 in March and 1.4 in August."
Cribbs said last month that the team had promised to give him a new contract by the end of the season. Even in the days leading up to the Browns' season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday, Cribbs remained optimistic that something would get done.
Not anymore.
"I did all the playing I'm going to play on this contract," Cribbs said. "I ain't doing nothing. I'm not showing my face until it's right."
Rickert said he asked the team if it needed or wanted more time to consider things, especially with Holmgren just coming on the job, and that he told Aponte if she didn't change the offer or request more time to negotiate by 5 p.m. Wednesday, he would take the unusual tactic of making the offer public.
"I didn't feel like we had any other choice than to let the Browns fans know exactly what was going on," Rickert said, "and let them know why Josh was preparing to leave."
Said Schaffer: "I'm extremely shocked. I have tremendous respect for Mike Holmgren. I know he knows how to put a team together. I was optimistic that with him coming aboard that he would understand and that Josh would be rewarded. To see there is no change in their position is insulting."
Holmgren said Tuesday that he had contact with Cribbs' representatives when he was at home in Arizona. Holmgren intimated that he planned to take care of Cribbs but only after fair negotiations.
"I believe players should be rewarded for what they do," Holmgren said. "I have no problems with that at all. What happens, though, on occasion is our view of how much that should be and the agent's view of how much that should be differs. We have made an effort.
"We will continue to make an effort to handle Josh's situation. I want Josh here."
Last straw? Cribbs intends to walk out on Browns after low offer
NFL.com Wire Reports
I've never seen 1 contract negotiated in the media instead of face to face so this is brand new. After finally listening to Holmgren's first introduction speech on 1/5/10, he said there would be an offer (not to be confused with final offer) and they expected Cribbs' side to mow it over. If he's got experience with this kind of thing - he understands the negotiations game and so should Cribbs' agent right? Cribbs has 3 more years on his contract so WHERE does this report have him heading off to?
Worth noting, I'm GLAD I listened to Holmgren's speech. I feel better about him than I did when I read/heard all the rumors and reports. I think I should keep the same concept for this contract negotiation. I'm not sure what the absolute hurry is in the absence of a GM. We all know Cribbs is a priority but do it right instead of hurrying through something carelessly.
Cribbs has vital roles on kick return and kick coverage teams, QB in the WildDawg and he's scored a TD as a WR in a pass route in 1 of our wins. He's HUGE to field position, scoring and doing the dirty work on kick coverages. If anyone should GET how much he does - it's a former coach that understands the game. It sounds like Holmgren understands.
- Tom F.
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I wonder if he's crying like a bitch on his agent's recommendation.
So I don't know what the top ST guys make.
I don't mind him getting neqr that especially if there are incentives.
Ryan Pontbriand is the best long snapper in the league.
We wouldn't pay him Nick Mangold money.
WSS
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I wonder if he's crying like a bitch on his agent's recommendation.
So I don't know what the top ST guys make.
I don't mind him getting neqr that especially if there are incentives.
Ryan Pontbriand is the best long snapper in the league.
We wouldn't pay him Nick Mangold money.
WSS
I wonder if he's crying like a bitch on his agent's recommendation.
So I don't know what the top ST guys make.
I don't mind him getting neqr that especially if there are incentives.
Ryan Pontbriand is the best long snapper in the league.
We wouldn't pay him Nick Mangold money.
WSS
In the time I have known you I haven't known you to make unfair comments or comparisons, so I will assume you just got caught up in the moment.
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Our 5 wins this season were because of him.
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Personally, I don't need to hear all this negotiating nonsense. Too much drama for me.
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My biggest issue is that the offer isn't even in the top 10 for KRs. He should no question be the highest paid KR in the league. He is after-all, the best that's ever played.
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All things considered, I'm shocked by how cocky the Browns are. Are you seriously refusing to pay your best player? Get over yourself, the man has earned a raise. Pay him what he's worth and shut up. Mangini already gave this place a bad rep among free agents with his little extra practice, i mean injury sessions. Now you're sending the message that you won't pay your own guys what they're worth. You wouldn't keep Quinn in to avoid paying him either. This franchise is becoming embarrassing.
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All things considered, I'm shocked by how cocky the Browns are. Are you seriously refusing to pay your best player? Get over yourself, the man has earned a raise. Pay him what he's worth and shut up. Mangini already gave this place a bad rep among free agents with his little extra practice, i mean injury sessions. Now you're sending the message that you won't pay your own guys what they're worth. You wouldn't keep Quinn in to avoid paying him either. This franchise is becoming embarrassing.
All things considered, I'm shocked by how cocky the Browns are. Are you seriously refusing to pay your best player? Get over yourself, the man has earned a raise. Pay him what he's worth and shut up. Mangini already gave this place a bad rep among free agents with his little extra practice, i mean injury sessions. Now you're sending the message that you won't pay your own guys what they're worth. You wouldn't keep Quinn in to avoid paying him either. This franchise is becoming embarrassing.
It's not Mangini giving these offers anymore, it's Holmgren.
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I Love Cribbs as a Brown, but this is only business and dont wear your feelings on your shirt sleeves.
I guess I will just have to wait and see what comes of it before I purchase a number 16 jersey.
In reality they should rename the team the Cleveland Cribbs, he is the heart and soul of this team.
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Ok so I looked up one of the other former top-tier kick returners of our time
Devin Hester
Year Team Base Salary Sign Bonus Other Bonus Total Salary Cap Value Position
2009 Bears $ 550,000 $ 0 $ 5,200,000 $ 5,750,000 $ 6,885,833 WR
2008 Bears $ 445,000 $ 5,000,000 $ 47,500 $ 5,492,500 $ 1,628,333 WR
I think he got a new contract after the 2007 season when he was in the Pro Bowl
Josh Cribbs
Year Team Base Salary Sign Bonus Other Bonus Total Salary Cap Value Position
2009 Browns $ 620,000 $ 0 $ 25,000 $ 645,000 $ 1,045,000 WR
2008 Browns $ 620,000 $ 2,000,000 $ 25,000 $ 645,000 $ 1,045,000 WR
And because someone else brought it up:
Ryan Pontbriand
Year Team Base Salary Sign Bonus Other Bonus Total Salary Cap Value Position
2009 Browns $ 715,000 $ 0 $ 105,000 $ 820,000 $ 1,040,000 OL
2008 Browns $ 650,000 $ 1,100,000 $ 4,105,000 $ 4,755,000 $ 4,975,000 OL
So the highest paid KR of our time makes approx 5 mil a year. The best KR ever in the NFL makes 645k and the long snapper on the same team makes $820k this year and $4.8 mil last year.
I wouldn't walk away from a $1.4 mil offer, I'd run. And I'd do everything I could to make this management look like the scumbag pimps they are.
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In case anyone else wants to look up more players to compare:
http://content.usatoday.com/sports/footbal...aspx?Loc=Vanity
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You can't handle the truth!!!
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All things considered, I'm shocked by how cocky the Browns are. Are you seriously refusing to pay your best player? Get over yourself, the man has earned a raise. Pay him what he's worth and shut up. Mangini already gave this place a bad rep among free agents with his little extra practice, i mean injury sessions. Now you're sending the message that you won't pay your own guys what they're worth. You wouldn't keep Quinn in to avoid paying him either. This franchise is becoming embarrassing.
All things considered, I'm shocked by how cocky the Browns are. Are you seriously refusing to pay your best player? Get over yourself, the man has earned a raise. Pay him what he's worth and shut up. Mangini already gave this place a bad rep among free agents with his little extra practice, i mean injury sessions. Now you're sending the message that you won't pay your own guys what they're worth. You wouldn't keep Quinn in to avoid paying him either. This franchise is becoming embarrassing.
Jeez tdubs, there's so many things wrong in you're badly worded paragraph I don't know where to begin.
This is Holmgrens call now, 0 to do with Mangini.
No FA's?..The cap was a mess, we couldn't afford any big time FA's..thanks Phil S.
The "opportunity periods" were for younger players not vets..How did that work out for us at the end of the year?
Quinn would have gotten his esculators if he didn't get hurt..AGAIN..we should pay him per completion..lol
FYI..Cribbs has 3 YEARS left..no one held a gun to his head to sign the last deal..really
Cribbs is a great player ,but this issue is Cribbs fault
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I wonder if he's crying like a bitch on his agent's recommendation.
So I don't know what the top ST guys make.
I don't mind him getting neqr that especially if there are incentives.
Ryan Pontbriand is the best long snapper in the league.
We wouldn't pay him Nick Mangold money.
WSS
In the time I have known you I haven't known you to make unfair comments or comparisons, so I will assume you just got caught up in the moment.
In the time I have known you I haven't known you to make unfair comments or comparisons, so I will assume you just got caught up in the moment.
Sorry if I did but what was unfair?
It was pretty much what Holmgren said.
I don't like the public bellyaching though I do like Cribbs a lot.
I think the grousing and threatening to go on strike is counter productive.
I guess the market will bear out whether the team is unfair when someone gives us a #1 and pays him 5 mil a year.
But like somebody said sooner or later everybody just kicks the other way.
Should Harrison now get Adrian Peterson money?
WSS
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In the time I have known you I haven't known you to make unfair comments or comparisons, so I will assume you just got caught up in the moment.
Sorry if I did but what was unfair?
It was pretty much what Holmgren said.
I don't like the public bellyaching though I do like Cribbs a lot.
I think the grousing and threatening to go on strike is counter productive.
I guess the market will bear out whether the team is unfair when someone gives us a #1 and pays him 5 mil a year.
But like somebody said sooner or later everybody just kicks the other way.
Should Harrison now get Adrian Peterson money?
WSS
Sorry if I did but what was unfair?
It was pretty much what Holmgren said.
I don't like the public bellyaching though I do like Cribbs a lot.
I think the grousing and threatening to go on strike is counter productive.
I guess the market will bear out whether the team is unfair when someone gives us a #1 and pays him 5 mil a year.
But like somebody said sooner or later everybody just kicks the other way.
Should Harrison now get Adrian Peterson money?
WSS
Steve shoot me an email [email protected] if interested in potential Akron gig down in Valley.
.jpg.a1a2b9a0c33008fdaf4097d8fe2cfd64.jpg "Riffer X"){kind=avatar}
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