http://www.cleveland.com/browns/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1197020465287340.xml&coll=2Cribbs doubles up on Pro Bowl ballot
Friday, December 07, 2007Tony GrossiPlain Dealer Reporter
In an effort to improve Josh Cribbs' chances of making the Pro Bowl, the Browns successfully have petitioned the league to have Cribbs listed at two spots on the ballots distributed to players and coaches - as a returner and as a special-teams player.
Cribbs is the NFL's leading kickoff returner with a 31.2-yard average. But most fans don't realize Cribbs also is the Browns' leading tackler on special teams with 17 tackles. He's the only returner in the league holding that distinction.
Cribbs currently is running second to New England's Wes Welker among AFC returners in the fans' online vote. New England's Larry Izzo leads the fan balloting at special teams player.
The fan vote counts for one-third of the total. Players and coaches vote next week to make up the rest of the total ballot.
Cribbs can count on at least one vote from his counterpart Sunday in the Meadowlands at East Rutherford, N.J., Jets returner Leon Washington.
"If I had to vote for anybody but myself, I'd probably vote for him," Washington said in a telephone conversation Thursday.
"The first thing I think of about Joshua Cribbs is how good a football player he is. He's really helped that team a lot over the past three years. You watch him cover kicks and he's also a heck of a playmaker in the return game.
"The guy leads the team in kickoff returns and in tackling. That's what epitomizes what you want to do on special teams. It's a lot of fun watching him play."
Washington is second in kick-return average at 30.6 yards. He has three touchdowns to Cribbs' two.
Welker obviously is benefiting from the immense popularity of the undefeated Patriots. He doesn't return kickoffs and is the league's No. 7-ranked punt returner with a 10.8-yard average - which is less than Cribbs' 11.6 mark on punt returns.
Washington said he's trying to avoid thinking of Sunday's game as a personal duel between him and Cribbs.
"My thing is to give my team a chance to win," Washington said. A few minutes later, he conceded, "Obviously, this game has a lot of significance [in the Pro Bowl vote]."
No no-huddle:
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The team that scores first is 128-64 in NFL games this season.
The Browns have fallen behind in eight of their 12 games. In three of their four road losses, they have dug holes of 16-0 (Oakland), 20-0 (New England) and 14-0 (Arizona).
Coach Romeo Crennel indicated he did not think opening a game in a no-huddle offense is the answer.
He pointed out that running a two-minute drill at the end of a half is much different than running a no-huddle offense at the start or in the middle of a game.
"In the two-minute [drill], you cut down on your offense and you're limited to what you can do and what you anticipate seeing is somewhat limited," Crennel said. "Whereas with the no-huddle, the whole offense is available to you as well as their whole defense to them.
"We've talked about a lot of different scenarios, but sometimes we feel the devil we know is the best devil to know."
Snowflakes:
Cribbs was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November. Left tackle Joe Thomas was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month.
"I was a little shocked," Thomas said. "I didn't know they voted on it by month. I don't know if I played any better in November [than in previous months]."
Injury report:
Tight end Steve Heiden (ankle), linebacker David McMillan (knee) and linebacker Antwan Peek (knee) did not practice on Thursday.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
tgrossi@plaind.com, 216-999-4670
