@diehardbrownsfan said:

That's not really true. What Cribbs (or any other NFL player) has is not a true contract. He cannot require the Browns to perform next year if the Browns decide they don't want him. If he is cut, the contract is voided. Unlike an employment contract (see Kokinis) the Browns don't have to show cause to void the contract, they can just cut him. With a player like Cribbs who did not receive a ridiculous bonus, he's taking all the risk. If he plays lousy, the Browns cut him and owe him nothing left on his "contract". Even if he's injured, they only have to pay him for the year that he sustained the injury. If he plays better than expected, on the other hand, the team gains a windfall and can keep him from receiving his market value until the contract expires.

If a player outperforms his contract (which Cribbs is probably the only Browns player that I can think of in recent history that has) his ONLY leverage is to threaten a hold out. I don't blame Cribbs or really doubt the promise that Opie made to him. The team was strapped in the year they renegotiated and multiple years on the contract let him spread the signing bonus out over all of those years instead of a couple. I have no doubt that he really doesn't want to miss a one mini camp session, much less be traded.

I think he's a good example of a player who took care of his business on the field, embraced the program, and brought guys along with him. Harrison said as much. I'd reward that.

@chip-banks said:

Returner or not, didn't he lead our team in touchdowns?

I believe him when he says Opie promised him he would redo the contract. The salary cap was a mess under his management.

I'd throw him a bone and kick up his salary to about $3 million next year (when its likely that it will be uncapped and will not be carried into future years) I'd extend him out for three years after that at $1 million per with some LTBE incentives for special teams that would kick him up to $1.5 and some UTBE incentives for receiver and/or RB . . . maybe set the bar at 800 yards for either or 1400 combined to earn another $1.5 million. I'd add a decent roster bonus for the final year so the Browns can make a decision. You could value that thing at 4 years, 12 million (about what we saved on reducing Quinn's snaps). He'd be likely to earn only about $8 million of it, but with Cribbs I wouldn't put it past him to find a way to make the incentives.

Perfect scenario and most likely outcome. Once again, nice job Mr. Banks. As long as he gets some guaranteed money for what he's done so far, and escaltors for a chance to make more in the future, then its perfect.

@westside-steve said:

Did he?

WSS

He didn't need to. He still had a chance to make all his incentives. If he's the starter next season and does something (a pretty big if) I'll bet you he'll make some pretty big rumblings . . . money or trade.

Also, Quinn's negotiations didn't involve a promise by the GM to redo the contract in the future so that he could acquire more talent (see Donte Stallworth/Rex Hadnot) in a year where it looked like a few players might put a 10-6 team over the top. If memory serves he held out of training camp to get every last nickel.

IMO this is a nonstory until draft day.

@chip-banks said:

Quinn (love hjim or hate him) never asked for a new contract.

Did he?

WSS

Returner or not, didn't he lead our team in touchdowns?

I believe him when he says Opie promised him he would redo the contract. The salary cap was a mess under his management.

I'd throw him a bone and kick up his salary to about $3 million next year (when its likely that it will be uncapped and will not be carried into future years) I'd extend him out for three years after that at $1 million per with some LTBE incentives for special teams that would kick him up to $1.5 and some UTBE incentives for receiver and/or RB . . . maybe set the bar at 800 yards for either or 1400 combined to earn another $1.5 million. I'd add a decent roster bonus for the final year so the Browns can make a decision. You could value that thing at 4 years, 12 million (about what we saved on reducing Quinn's snaps). He'd be likely to earn only about $8 million of it, but with Cribbs I wouldn't put it past him to find a way to make the incentives.

@kshutchins said:

I agree with you. As much as I think this isn't an issue at this point in the season, I think he's handling it wrong. Probably on the advice of his agents. He will get his money and it will be more than he would have gotten before the year started but I think his agents are telling him to play hardball and its unecessary. It also makes him look bad. He's an excellent player and person, let's not forget that, but he needs to relax and wait for the office to at least get staffed before he starts doing this. His agent probably went public thinking that they would garner fan support which is not the way to do it. They got an initial offer, they didn't like it, so now they negotiate. This playing hardball is all posturing, he needs a new agent.

Horrible post? Why? Because you have no reasonable response? No way to disprove the facts?

@dumasswhiteguy said:

Leodis McKelvin was the one who fumbled the kickoff vs. new England, not Parrish.

@lcdawgfan13 said:

not likley. Fail

He loves Cleveland, loves playing for the Browns, and loves the fans! And the fans love him! He IS the face of the team! Outside of Joe Thomas, he is the best player on the team!

cool hes not better then Shaun Rogers and that wont put points on the scoreboard or W in the schedule. Fail

And he is ALREADY the all-time leader in KR TD's. How many catches did our receivers have this year?

MoMass 34 catches 624 Yds 3 TD

Harrison 34 220 2

Furrey 23 170 0

CRIBBS 20 135 1

Stuckey 19 198 1

Cribbs held his own there. It was spread out quite nicely for what we had. Our QB's didn't exactly light it up to ANY receiver. Braylon had more catches AFTER being traded than any of our receivers had.

yawn 1 TD nuff said i never said any of our other WR played well so i dont see your point. Fail

As far as rushing the ball goes.

Harrison 194 carries 862 Yds 5 TD 4.4 YPC

Lewis 143 500 0 3.5

Jennings 63 220 1 3.5

CRIBBS 55 381 1 6.9

I like Cribbs' numbers there too!

wow what a tool you know absolutley nothing about football

Again, our offense was stale for the first half or more of the season. Cribbs and Harrison combined to ignite it late. Imagine the numbers if we had a real OC for a full season!

And your argument about DA? 10 carries 8 yds 2 TD .8 YPC....No, he's NOT a RB too! Quinn was better than him there too...20 carries 98 yds 1 TD 4.9 YPC.

If you still think Cribbs is just a returner, despite the FACTS, then you are ignorant!

the only FACT that matters is touchdown sorry buddy but im 100% correct he is one of the worst players on the team if you take away what he did on ST 100% proven fact

absoltuley horrible post. you should just never post again

so he caught 20 balls.....if he knew how to run routes and shield defenders off, he would have had 40.

we had no QB, and were down to unproven backs with a good amount of talent....rookie and blocking TE's, no BE to stretch the field. this leads to his use in the flash....

if we have a capable offense, his role is further diminished to a gadget and ST player simply because we'll have an offense that does better than threaten 3 and out every drive.

stop over-valuing him....he's great at what he does, but its not gonna make or break this team. if it did, every superbowl contender would require such a skilled returner.

@buckeyebest2 said:

every player cleans out his locker

every player says goodbye to the med staff after the year since they change every year or 2

same with Equipment guys

Cribbs said the Browns' $1.4 million a year offer feels "like I've been betrayed and stabbed in the back. I'm not just insulted by the number, but by the fact they consider me just a kick returner. I'm so much more than that.''

Cribbs said based on the "take it or leave it offer'' he's not at all optimistic about being back and that he'll most likely demand a trade in the near future.

"There's no way I'll play another down for the Browns without the new contract,'' he said. "They won't let me sit, because I have value. They'd be forced to trade me.''

also this part just shows how much of a jackass he really is

he is just a KR he had 20 catches for 185 yards and 1 TD and had 350 Rush yards for 1 TD

Derek Anderson had more Rushing TDs does that mean we should consider him more then a QB?

lawrence Vickers had 1 reciving TD does that mean we should consider him more then a FB?

he has done nothing in his career ever outside of being a KR

Do you even watch the games? Or do you just ignore the all aspects of the game other than kick returns? Cribbs added a whole new element to the offense this year. He also has either led or been among the leaders in special teams tackles for the last 3 seasons now! He is only going to get better as a receiver and running back and whatever else his future team has him do! He loves Cleveland, loves playing for the Browns, and loves the fans! And the fans love him! He IS the face of the team! Outside of Joe Thomas, he is the best player on the team! And he is ALREADY the all-time leader in KR TD's. How many catches did our receivers have this year?

MoMass 34 catches 624 Yds 3 TD

Harrison 34 220 2

Furrey 23 170 0

CRIBBS 20 135 1

Stuckey 19 198 1

Cribbs held his own there. It was spread out quite nicely for what we had. Our QB's didn't exactly light it up to ANY receiver. Braylon had more catches AFTER being traded than any of our receivers had.

As far as rushing the ball goes.

Harrison 194 carries 862 Yds 5 TD 4.4 YPC

Lewis 143 500 0 3.5

Jennings 63 220 1 3.5

CRIBBS 55 381 1 6.9

I like Cribbs' numbers there too! Again, our offense was stale for the first half or more of the season. Cribbs and Harrison combined to ignite it late. Imagine the numbers if we had a real OC for a full season!

And your argument about DA? 10 carries 8 yds 2 TD .8 YPC....No, he's NOT a RB too! Quinn was better than him there too...20 carries 98 yds 1 TD 4.9 YPC.

If you still think Cribbs is just a returner, despite the FACTS, then you are ignorant!

- Tom F.

Cribbs needs to fire his agents. They are trying to play hardball when we all know full well he is going to get paid. I hate agents/lawyers/herpes. That's why I don't have any one of them.

@4browns said:

+1

nice post, totally agree. his entitlement mindset is destroying all the hard work he just finished a few days ago. moving MUCH too swiftly for a front office that's still conducting interviews (!).

don't look under other kid's christmas trees if you don't think you can handle it Josh. you made this bed, there's no guarantee for you to get ANYTHING so you might want to instruct your agents not to kill your value playing hardball>>>while you're expecting a "favor".

He sounded very frustrated and betrayed by the Browns organization because the Savage regime promised to redo his deal if he outplayed it then Savage got fired. Mangini said he would redo his deal after this year if he performed again beyond expectations, he did but Mangini is no longer the head honcho in the Browns organization any more.

He sounded very humble and briefly talked about his ongoing charity work and a new business he just opened up in Cleveland - a bouncy house/video game arcade for kids. Doesn't seem like a man who wants to leave Cleveland.

He also brought up KR/PR/Back up DB Roscoe Parrish of the Bills makes $3.2 million. WTF? This is the same guy whose fumble late in Buffalo territory caused them the game against the Browns and in the first week of the season to New England. If this guy makes this kind of money to lose 2 games a year for Buffalo the Browns should at least pay the same to Cribbs who almost single handedly won us 2 games this year. Said the Browns low balled him with a $1.4 million per year offer. IMO he deserves Parrish money but I wouldn't pay him Hester money - Hester's agent robbed the Bears in that one. Pay the man what he's worth and keep him in Cleveland.

cribbs isn't completely innocent though. he is a grown man who makes his own decisions. he has to know that the off season is long and that you rarely get a contract done on the first offer. please josh, stop listening to your a-hole agent and be patient. these things don't happen overnight. the more cribbs makes a big deal out of it the less likely holmgren is to give in to him. for those of you out there with kids: how often do you give in to your kids when they pout and whine and scream and throw a tantrum? never. this is what is going to happen if cribbs doesn't relax a little bit.

@brownsfan_althaus said:

His locker is still cleaned out if thats what you're asking.

Holmgren does not want to pull a Kosar/Belichick thing with the fans right from the start, unless Cribbs gets us a 1st round draft pick.

Dawgfanforever88 said:

That was QUICK.

Guys dumping on Cribbs sucks. This team sucked A$$ for the first 3/4 of the seaon and the ONLY positive we could talk to anyone about was Josh Cribbs. He kept hope alive and deserves the respect he's earned in doing so !