DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Cribbs signs 6 year deal

http://browns.scout.com/2/586525.html

The Cleveland Browns have signed WR/KR Joshua Cribbs to a six-year contract extension, the club announced today. Cribbs, who currently ranks third in the NFL with a 27.7 kickoff return average, has established himself as a legitimate threat on special teams and has expanded his role as a wide receiver in the Browns offense.

Cribbs, 6-1 and 192 lbs., has played in seven games this season and has 24 kickoff returns for 664 yards (27.7 avg.), five punt returns for 46 yards (9.2 avg.), and nine receptions for 81 yards (9.0 avg.). Cribbs already has five kickoff returns this season of 40 yards or more and was previously named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week on Oct. 4, following his 65-yard and 53-yard kickoff returns in the Browns 24-21 win at Oakland on Oct. 1, 2006.

?This is a dream come true for me,? said Cribbs. ?I want to thank Randy Lerner, Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel for giving me this opportunity. I love the city of Cleveland, our fans and I?m excited that I will be here for the long haul. It certainly feels good to be wanted, and now I?m even more motivated because I want to prove to this organization that they made the right decision.?

Cribbs earned a roster spot with Cleveland last season as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Kent State. Converted from the quarterback position in college, Cribbs made a name for himself on special teams with responsibilities on kickoff return, kickoff coverage and gunner on punt return units.

As a rookie in 2005, Cribbs set a franchise record with 1,094 kickoff return yards, including his first career touchdown on a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown vs. Detroit on Oct. 23, 2005. Cribbs finished the year with 45 returns for 1,094 yards (24.3 avg.) and ranked second on the club with 19 special teams tackles.

WOW!!!

Love to hear the terms.

That's awesome... he's earned it and it's a good story too. Hometown boy wrapped up for most of the rest of his career <img src="/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

I would say that this is a pretty strong indicator that not only is he progressing well in his transformation to being a receiver, but that Northcutt is out of Cleveland after the season.

NICe

VERRY good news

by by dennis

Yes I would like to see the numbers..but using him in the slot means Dcutt is gone next year...PLUS the guy can play QB in emergencies..

j/c

This is from http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/article.php?id=6034

Browns sign Cribbs to 6-year extension
Zac Jackson, Staff Writer
11.03.2006

In 17 months, Joshua Cribbs has gone from undrafted longshot to core player.

The Browns affirmed Cribbs' status -- and his importance -- by signing him to a six-year contract extension Friday that goes through the 2012 season.

Cribbs earned the extension with outstanding play on special teams and by showing steady improvement as a wide receiver. His 27.7-yard kickoff return average ranks third in the NFL, and he ranks second on the team with 9 special teams tackles.

Cribbs has five kickoff returns of 40 yards or more and has caught 9 passes for 81 yards through seven games.

"This is a dream come true for me," Cribbs said. "I want to thank Randy Lerner, Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel for giving me this opportunity. I love the city of Cleveland, our fans and I'm excited to have the longevity of being here for the future.

"It certainly feels good to be wanted, and now I'm motivated because I want to prove to this organization that they made the right decision."

The Browns had previously signed five players to long-term extensions since Romeo Crennel and Phil Savage came to the Browns in early 2005: Leigh Bodden, Andra Davis, Phil Dawson, Reuben Droughns and Orpheus Roye.

A college quarterback at nearby Kent State, Cribbs made the Browns' roster last season with his special teams play and went on to set a franchise record with 1,094 kickoff return yards, including his first career touchdown on a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown vs. Detroit on Oct. 23, 2005.

He finished his rookie year with 45 returns for 1,094 yards (24.3 avg.) and ranked second on the club with 19 special teams tackles.

I am still wondering when we will use him on a trick play.

Yes, I think that Dennis' time is done!

Good for Cribbs, NOW STOP BOBBLING THE BALL!!!!

Fantastic to see his hard work and effort rewarded, now keep it going Cribbsy! <img src="/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

If Cutt leaves, who returns punts? Cribbs makes me nervous back there.

I REALLY want to see him in there on a trick play. He was a QB, so let him throw the ball sometime <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

News to me! I thought we've had some pretty good returners, but I guess Cribbsy is out-doing them all.

[bad pun]I hope the Browns get a good return on this investment![/bad pun]

Good move.

I'm happy for Cribbs and I think he can be a good player. However, I am always confused by the hatred for Cutt on this board.

The guy is excellent as a punt returner and he is our best route runner and understand the playbook better than any of other receivers. He should also be utilized like Arians tried to do. Anyone remember the game against NO when Couch threw three picks, but Cutt had a big day including a TD running the ball?

The guy is a weapon and it would be a mistake to discard him. Of course, I know most of you won't agree. Anyways........congrats to Cribbs.

GO KAMAKAZI, GO! <img src="/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

I'm glad we could wrap up Kamakazi Cribbs to a long term deal I'd like to see the numbers on it. Hopefully it's not Cutt numbers.

Ya'll are going to be seeing a lot of him returning kickoff's on sunday!

GO BOLTS!

btw... congrats on the new contract, kid

Can we teach him how to return a punt now?

woah, woah, woah.... we gotta teach him how to catch one first.

Great to hear! You've got to hand it to everyone in this: Cribbs earned the contract, and the front office recognized the popularity of the kid. Kudos all around!

Very nice! <img src="/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Cribbs has earned it....................the kid is so exciting every time that he gets his hands on the ball!

He has made a few mistakes when the ball hits the ground in front of him...........but overall he is very dangerous and he will improve!

There will be times when our opponents will be kicking it his way.....knowing that it could cause a bad bounce.............and making it a problem for him.....but they will have to serious gameplan to keep him from gaining major yards on kickoffs! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Me too. I've always like Northcutt. He's a fine PR, one of the best in football. You'd think some here would appreciate him more after watching the adventures of Cribbs returning punts (or trying to <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> ) the past two weeks.
And while he's had his share of drops (who hasn't on this team?), when DN catches the ball he's a dangerous runner.

BTW, congrats to Joshua Cribbs! Good for him. He's an exciting player, for sure. <img src="/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Fellas let me tell you why I personally hate on him.

3 years $9 million dollars to return punts and drop clutch passes. <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

But aside from those things, what's the problem? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

LMFAO!!!

<img src="/images/graemlins/rofl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/rofl.gif" alt="" />

Besides that, he is great! <img src="/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is an excellent move cuz ya know he's gonna be a force to reckon with for years to come. I have to say he needs to get over the nervous nellies when trying to PR. As a KR ..... he's gonna hurt somebody one of the days by breaking a nasty TD run off . As special teams in general this kid plays with more heart and love of the game than I've seen from alot of "big name" draft picks. For the draft of '05 Diamond in the Rough/Hidden Gem award goes to

SEE SIGNATURE!!!

Sheesh... Trick plays? I'd be happy if he could return a punt without me holding my breath!

[color:"white"]Sometimes when you have a gem on special teams you lock him down. People made fun of Butch when he took a LS in the 5th, but he's probably the best in the league right now. That's the definition of value. Now I think it's a little premature to ink Cribbs to a long-term deal, primarily because one could drive a Honda through some of those holes. However, I'm willing to bet the money isn't that large, so cutting him down the road if he falters is probably not a huge deal.

There's a huge difference between returning kicks and returning punts. Cribbs is coming along nicely on the kickoffs but looks like a disaster on punts. I don't personally believe his style fits punts, but I'd love to be proven wrong.

Is this a good signing? Probably, but only because the money may not be great. [/color]

I have been a Pontbriand pimp since the day he was drafted. Its about time other people are catching on to him <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I thought he wasn't a hometown boy.. I mean I know he lived in Kent for college, but I thought he grew up in Washington DC....Am I correct about that?

Either way, I'm glad they signed him long term. I really think this shows that the plans they have for him are greater than just returning kicks.. My guess, next up, trick plays! I love it!

I was wondering the same thing. Especailly since I read the article about Davidson learning under Charlie Weis and want to use the teams stregnths and disguising them with differant sets. Weis always had a few tricks up his sleeve.

If the player in question is as important as he sounds, that is very good news. In soccer players can only sign 5 year deals maximum.

I hold my breath EVERY PLAY!! lol.... so its cool...

Im glad we signed this guy for the long haul... signs of stability!!! and im waiting on that trick play too..

I think Cribbs is going to break for a long TD though pretty soon.. either on Kickoff/punt return.. or a short pass where he slices through the defense and gets the score..

With Cribbs locked up, JJ starting games, and with Wilson on the roster, I also think it shows signs that the Browns wont try to resign Cutt after this season. Not unless its CHEAP. For some reason Cutt always thought he deserved a big payday ever since the last time he was almost a FA (his agent messed that up for him).The same time he sHid he would never play for the Browns again.

Maybe Perkins was signed to the practice squad as a possible future replacement for Cutt as a punt returner.

[color:"orange"]Vers...he's a 7 year vet - him and JJ should be our best route runners.

Honestly I think that monstrous hit he took early on in his career (rookie?) took its toll on him.

Maybe he's been misused as you present it. But he's not a WR that can go get the ball. I don't like the way he adjusts to long balls. He does give spurts of go get em...but a lot of picks in the past I thought he could have broken up let alone make a play on the ball.

His drops come at very crucial moments and for that I feel bad for him cause nobody will forget those drops.

This is the best play I've seen from him in his career - he definately does all the right things and if CF scrambles gets himself in position to make a play better than any of our WRs - but physically has come up short on a lot of those plays.

I see Cribbs developing quickly and I think he brings the same electricity that Cutt brings but a tougher version...successfully tougher. Cutt has shown me a lot this year...even some good blocks (took 7 years but made a couple of good blocks) which he still is pretty weak at. But I've seen Cribbs make some tough catches in traffic and I can see him grow into the slot very fast making Cutt obsolete.

Cutt will probably go on and have more success than any WR we have let go before...assuming he chooses his team wisely. I see Patriots as his best venue.

JMHO - Peen, what we talked about last year is coming to fold nice <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

That hit your talking about must have been the one against Baltimore as a punt returner. That guy came like a bat out of hell. Luckily the fumble was overturned because of a penalty. The hit was called helmet to helmet and I believe the guy was fined.

On how Cutt is used.... Cutt is short and fast. The same attributes most CBs have but Cutt probabley weighs less them most CB, possibley making him weaker. He dont create mismatches.

In regards to Cutts drops during crucial moments.. Unfortunately, thats why Savage and a few fans on here were not looking forward to bringing Antonio Bryant back. Savage wouldnt even talk to his agent. So I dont see why Cutt, who isnt half the WR as Bryant IMO, will get a phone call from Savage after this season.

[color:"white"]We can put away the nice talk about 'Cutt, and call him the player that he is.

He owns what are probably the worst hands on the team, and that's saying something with Edwards out there. He's one of the weakest blocking WR's in the league, and isn't nearly physical enough to fight for the ball, which he doesn't do anyway.

He's an all-pro punt returner, but that's where his usefullness ends. The emergence of Winslow all but removes Northcutt's value as a receiver in the middle of the field, and considering the exhorborant amount of money he makes to essentially return kicks, his days here are over.

He wanted to be a starter. He got his wish, and he failed. He's actually digressed as a receiver over the last year or two despite having Frye's trust. The reality of the situation is that he's just too small for this league as a regular receiver, and his poor hands make him a huge question mark.

Vers, you've said how tough he is. That means squat when you can't hold onto the ball, and I question his desire because I've seen him refuse to even try to fight a CB for deep balls that are contested.

He'll get a good payday on the open market as a punt-returner, but his days here were over when we signed Jurevicius and drafted Wilson. Winslow's emergence is the final nail in his coffin, and I for one won't be sad to see him leave. [/color]

I agree Toad - he's done a good job at returning punts and has been average at WR... but he's done in cleveland at the end of this season... would have liked to see him gone last year, but whatever.

Hey EO, what's your take on Cribbs when he plays gunner? I've seen him lay the wood many times as a gunner. That is something you don't see often enough. He's tough and doesn't hold back when he plays. jmo

What this guy said. I agree Toad but think he is a below average WR.

Cutt might be tough but he is too small? Well Randel El isnt much bigger, if he is at all, and he dont have a problem going for the ball. I dont think Cutt has the heart to play for this team. I think he is doing that Browns Huddle because his agent wants to make him look like a team player for his next potential suiter. They need to make him look like he is a player that cares about his team and community because showing them game clips aint going to get him his big pay day that he thinks he deserves.

I never liked Cutt. Great punt returner, but never liked him. Dropped everything in his first 2 years which led to almost everyone calling him Dropcutt. Had 1 good year and a couple of punt returns and thought he deserved a big pay day. He said he would never play here again. When Butch gave him a contract, his first day of practice, Sean Jones gets an int. and gets his knee taken out by Cutt. Out for the year. My first thought was that he did it out of spite. I will never know, but that was my first thought. To the people that say Winslow talks to much. Cutt went to the media for the, who knows how many times, crying to be a starter. Over Bryant and Edwards? Yeah right. He got his wish when Edwards got hurt and didnt do squat <img src="/images/graemlins/plthumbsdown.gif" alt="" /> He wont sniff the money Bryant got in San Fran. He also cried in the papers about those punt returns getting called back for holding last year. IMO, he threw his teammates under the bus when he said " get rid of whos committing these penalties, or get rid of me".

So Vers., when you ask "I dont understand the hatred on this board for Northcutt", not only is he a horrible WR but a horrible team player.
He did have a couple of good games in 7 years, but who didnt? When David Patten was here in 99' and 00' he was old and undersized, played for teams with less talent, and still produced better then Cutt ever did for the Browns.

[color:"white"]Excellent post wd. <img src="/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> [/color]