DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk K-9 Consensus Eric Metcalf or Josh Cribbs

If you had your choice of Browns Special Teams Returners....which would you prefer to have???? single choice
	Eric Metcalf
	Joshua Cribbs
	Other
Votes accepted starting: 03/29/08 07:16 AM You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

Of course Im going with "What did you do for me lately" but Metcalf provided one of the best sporting events I ever attended with 2 punt returns against Pittsburgh.

Have to throw in the icecube Gerald McNeil. He wasnt as good as metcalf, but still.

More average yards amassed with Cribbs and that's what it's all about in the long run.

Metcalf scored more TDs as a Brown, but Cribbs is only one behind him right now in that department.

I love Metcalf... but for a returner I'd take Cribbs every time.

I don't think there's any doubt that Metcalf's 2 returns against the Steelers is one of the top 10 or 15 performances in our entire history... I had to go with Josh on this one though. He changes almost every game with his returns. Add to that the fact that he breaks so many long ones that don't go for touchdowns but basically equal at least a field goal for or offense and I think you almost have to vote for him. And how many of his great returns have been called back because of BS holding penalties away from the play? The Dinkins penalty in the second Pittsburgh game still makes me freaking sick (I still think the spotting of the ball was terrible, there's no way a hold inside the 40 of Pitt should result in us starting the ball inside of our own territory). I will say that I love them both though. I was young when Metcalf up the middle became prominent but my lasting memory of Eric was playing Madden 94 on my SNES (I think) and having him on the AFC Pro Bowl roster and putting him at starting HB and gaining about 300 yards and 5 touchdowns

i'm going with cribbs...

i think he brings more to the browns, i love his toughness...

if it wasn't for devin hester, cribbs would be the talk of the league, as far as returners go, and even with hester, cribbs still gets a lot of love...

he's a game changer, a momentum swinger...

not to mention what he does on special teams when the ball is being kicked to the opposition...

just, please, don't start running him up the middle...

I don't think we've seene verything that Cribbs has to ffer yet.

Both

I pick Shuan Rogers. That INT return he had he was a beast. Seriously Im going with Cribbs also. Take away his return ability are the Browns even an 8-8 team in 07? Think about it. In a game where field position is huge, where would we be without him.

Very true! And to be honest, until you mentioned Cribbs in the Baltimore game - I had forgot his great day at returning.

I loved watching Metcalf when he had his hands on the football during kickoff returns!

I hated it when Belichick would call so many plays for EM to run straight up the middle!

Josh Cribbs is very exciting every time he has his hands on the football, and actually every time he is on the field!

Most of these responses remind me of the human nature aspect of memory. We always tend to overvalue the present and discount the past. Case in point: there are actually people who will argue that Kobe Bryant is better than Michael Jordan.

I've got to call it a tie between Cribbs and Metcalf as returners. Both guys could do both punts and kickoffs, and both were a threat every time they touched the ball to take it to the house. Metcalf was a bigger contributor overall, and if the question was based on that alone, you'd have to go with him.

Old timers might remember Bobby Mitchell from the 60's. World class speed, more moves than Ex-Lax, and an accomplished receiver, rusher, punt return, and kick return man. He averaged 16.5 yards per reception, 5.3 yards per carry, 10.1 yards per punt return, and over 26 yards per kick return. Scored 91 TD's, 8 on returns back when they weren't so common, and is in the HOF.

I was hoping someone was going to mention him...hence my "other".....

I think this poll should be limited to people 30+ years old

I was around during the Metcalf years and still picked Cribbs. Normally in these kinds of polls I always go with the old guys. I really feel Cribbs is more of a threat and may go on to be the better returner. Time will tell.

I wasn't around for Metcalf but my dad and most of you think Cribbs is better so I'd go with Cribbs.

Nice poll. I would put Cribbs a hair above Metcalf at this point, but Cribbs has just begun.

The thing I remember most about Metcalf was not the 2 TD returns vs. Pitt...although that was a GREAT memory....but rather his first game...Wasn't it vs Cincy???? In any case The TD he ran for....He had 2 LB's that had him nailed dead on. They had the angle on him. Metcalf didn't have a chance......and Metcalf danced left right left and somehow got into the endzone. It was almost like a skier doing the slalomn. I don't think I have seen anything like that before or since. And there have been some very impressive runners in that time span as well as many Houdini like escapes.

That was the third game of his rookie year, a Monday Night game against Cincinnati. And yes, it was a series of great moves that the announcers oohed and ahhed over for quite some time. I was only 14 years old, and I remember it well.

Bernie basically just threw a bail out pass in the flat to Metcalf, who looked like he had no chance at all to do anything. One juke, then another, two missed tackles where all they got was air, then Metcalf walks into the endzone.

It was also like a coming out party for Metcalf especially since it was on national TV, and believe it or not, that was one of the plays that helped make him the front runner for rookie of the year until a guy named Barry Sanders hit his stride.

I really thought Metcalf was going to turn into something really special, not just to us fans, but to all football fans. I don't think we ever really used him the right way.

I like them for different things.

Cribbs on kick-offs because he has more ability to break tackles due to his size.

I like Metcalf on punts due to his quicker first 2-3 steps which is where punts are usually won or lost.

I have to give it to Cribbs,, not just because I think he's a better return man, but overall, I think he's a better resource for the team... you would have never caught Metcalf tackling anyone on ST.

As far as yards go, isn't cribbs already ahead of Metcalf and only 1 or 2 TD's behind him.. Metcalf played for the Browns from 89 to 94 (5 years) and Cribbs has only completed what, 3 seasons.....

Yeah, I gotta go with Cribbs.....

Cribbs. He can break tackles. Metcalf went down a lot easier.