DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum browns closer to contract w cribbs

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Jason La Canfora, of the NFL Network, reports the Cleveland Browns are moving closer on a new deal with WR Josh Cribbs. The two sides have the framework of a three-year deal in place that would replace the final three years of his current contract. The main sticking point at this time is the amount of guaranteed money, according to a source. Cribbs is looking for $10 million in guaranteed money while the team is offering half of that at the moment. The Browns could add a team option year or two to the contract.

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wow thats alot of money up front for a special teams player

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wow thats alot of money up front for a special teams player

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It is... but when I think to myself, "Self, who is the heart and soul of the Cleveland Browns right now?" The answer is Josh Cribbs. I'm not one for breaking the bank for the guy but it seems he's being reasonable so let's meet him somewhere in the middle and get a deal done.

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Joe Thomas could also be the answer to all three of those questions.

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Right. I agree with you. But those weren't the questions posed.

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Since when is answering the question a requirement around here?

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Joe Thomas could also be the answer to all three of those questions.

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Ya know,, 10 mill guaranteed for a man that does the things he does and for what he means overall to this team, isn't really much money. I mean, all things considered.. he's worth that.

I think we paid donte stallworth close if not more than that for what basically was one year of nothing..

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Give him his $10M, change the term to 4 or 5 years instead of just 3, and call it done!

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I would rather see incentives than guarenteed money...pay him after he produces.

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I would rather see incentives than guarenteed money...pay him after he produces.

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That's what they are attempting to do now, pay him for his production over the last few years when he was woefully under-compensated.

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would hope the Browns learned something from Stallworth's contract and wasting money...one never knows what the future holds so it would be best to go easy on the guarenteed money, IMO.

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Ya know,, 10 mill guaranteed for a man that does the things he does and for what he means overall to this team, isn't really much money.

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He'd take $10 million guaranteed and the Browns are reluctant?

I know there is negotiation, but then there's common sense and (one would hope) a willingness to not embarrass ourselves as a franchise. Cribbs deserves $10 mill guaranteed just based on past performance and I'm serious. He's already earned it.
Aren't NFL coaches always asking 'what have you done for me lately?'?

Well, what has Cribbs done for the Browns lately? He's our best player, aside from Joe Thomas, and JC is definitely our biggest playmaker. Good Lord all these months of BS and I thought his agent wanted like $20 million guaranteed and
50% ownership in the Browns.

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I'm just saying ... if he wants gauranteed money, that might be one way.

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Give him his $10M, change the term to 4 or 5 years instead of just 3, and call it done!

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As for Cribbs getting a $10 million signing bonus, that's probably about 2x-4x more than he's actually going to get. No special-teamer is going to get that kind of signing bonus money. People can talk about a few scattered sweeps out of the Wildcat if they wish, but he's no RB nor is he a WR. He is the best special-teamer in the league, but still essentially just that.

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I wish.. Cribbs averaged 6.9 ypc on 55 carries last year.... this is a full yard higher than the next highest guy with at least that many carries. He is an elite weapon out of the wildcat, in fact he only had 19 rushes before our bye (season midpoint) and had 36 after... Seems to me that Daboll just really didn't know how to use him early on.

It also seems to me that he always has his best games against Pittsburgh, whether it's returning or rushing, and that alone is worth an extra mil.

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Josh Cribbs: The 'Madden' ManThe versatile Pro Bowler talks "Madden," "Call of Duty," and his status in

By Jon Robinson
ESPN Video Games



Josh Cribbs of the Cleveland Browns might be one of the most exciting players in the NFL. As for his "Madden" character ... well, that's another story.



In a game built on flash, you'd think the man who holds the NFL record for kickoff return touchdowns would be one of the most electric players to take the polygonal field.



Think again.



While Cribbs is rated a 99 overall as a kick returner, his 89 speed makes him slower than current-day LaDainian Tomlinson in the game, and it's a number that bitter Browns fans have taken to the EA Sports message boards to complain about.



And rightfully so.



But even with the undervaluing of his burn, Cribbs still admits to being a fan of the "Madden" series, even if he doesn't get to enjoy the same success with cyber Cribbs that Browns fans get to cheer in real life.



"'Madden' is a classic," Cribbs tells me as we sit down to talk about his admitted video game obsession. "That game never gets old, never gets boring.



"I'm really into playing 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2' lately, but I didn't get to bring my Xbox 360 down to Miami [for Super Bowl week], and I really miss it.



"Is that how you know you're addicted?" he asks with a laugh.



"My biggest mistake was putting my Gamertag on Twitter," Cribbs continues. "I got so many people trying to talk to me through the game, and it was cool at first, but it was a little overwhelming. I had to stop playing for a little bit just so it would calm down.



"I can't give out my tag no more, I know that."



Here's what else Cribbs had to say about everything from learning the game of football through "Madden" to what he plans to give Mike Holmgren next season.




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Jon Robinson: Could you imagine that one day you'd be playing in the NFL against some of the same guys you grew up playing as and against in "Madden"?



Josh Cribbs: That's something I never could've imagined. All of a sudden I'm in the league and I'm playing against Deion Sanders when he was in Baltimore. Another guy is London Fletcher. I used to play as him all the time in "Madden" when I was in high school and he's still in the league. I idolized these guys and now I'm playing against them for real. I never thought I'd be where I am today.



I think "Madden" instills these dreams in kids. Playing that game gave me a dream to be in that spotlight one day, and here I am.



Jon Robinson: Growing up playing "Madden," did you find that the game actually taught you anything about the sport that you were then able to use on the field?



Josh Cribbs: Believe it or not, that's how I learned to play football, through games of "Madden." When I started out playing ball, I was just doing what I was told. In school, I was never told why we played nickel on third-and-long or why these different formations would work against different defenses. We were just told to run the play, but we were never given the understanding of why they worked. Playing "Madden" and actually getting to control the players and see the outcomes, that helped me learn the why. When you're a kid and you're only 65 pounds, they just want all the speed guys to get in on third down so they could throw deep, but you're not really learning the finer points of the game. Through playing "Madden," you're learning a lot about the sport and you don't even realize it.



Jon Robinson: A lot of gamers think you're one of the most underrated players in "Madden." How do you think your character has been portrayed in the game? Is he fast enough?



Josh Cribbs: Argh! All I can do is grunt that answer [laughs]. I think that explains it all. I'm better in the game now than when I first started back in '05, '06 and '07, but it's time they finally put my guy up to my level for real. They need to add more of how the Cleveland Browns actually run the Wildcat in the game. We're taking things to a higher level.



I like how now teams are going to need to recruit guys out of college who are special teams -- Wildcat guys like myself. Teams need these guys who can do it all.



Jon Robinson: There was that one play this past season where you seemed to bounce off of every Steelers defender as you rumbled downfield. What goes through your mind when guys are hitting you and you just keep on moving?



Josh Cribbs: They were crushed, but I don't know how I did it. That's the type of athlete that teams need to draft. Those are the types of guys who last long and stay in the game. I love contact. I love getting hit. I get up every time. Sometimes I get hit so hard, I'm not even sure what happened, then I get up and I can still see, so I know I can go right back in the game. I love football and you need guys who love football around you.



Jon Robinson: Sometimes you make a move in real life that looks like you have a turbo button hidden in your shoes.



Josh Cribbs: Exactly, and that's what I want it to look like, but it all really comes down to training. When I was younger, I had a group of five friends and that's all we did -- we'd work out and train for fun. Sure, we'd go to the mall and try to get girls, but our fun was working out and challenging each other. We'd get a deck of cards and whatever card you picked, that's how many pushups you'd do, or that's how many sit-ups you'd do. Aces count as 21. Royalty counted as 10. That's the type of fun we had in our youth. Those are the types of friends I had growing up.



We'd do the same thing with "Madden." We might bet pushups on a game and they're on demand, so you need to do them right there whenever I tell you. We even use the 21-skunk rule, so if you're down 21, it's game over.



Jon Robinson: How serious are your skills at "Call of Duty?"



Josh Cribbs: I sit there all night and play online. I play with my brother a lot and we're working together as a team. We're sitting there shouting at each other, "Look out for the sniper to the left! Somebody's behind you, let's get him!" and all that crazy stuff. It's a lot of fun. I've got this big screen that I play on and I sit right in front of it as I play. You know how your mom always told you not to sit too close to the TV or you'll mess up your eyes ... my eyes are messed up.



My theater screen is so big that it's almost like cheating. I can see everyone coming from the sides, I can hear them through my speakers. I love it.



Jon Robinson: EA Sports is working on "Madden NFL 11" right now. What's one thing you'd improve about the game?



Josh Cribbs: I want to see more punts being muffed. If there's a rookie out there or if he's not a good returner, I think they should make more mistakes back there. If his return rating is low and a defender gets in his face, I want to see him drop the ball more. Another thing I want to see is the quarterback falling down after they snap the ball every so often. Sometimes, a quarterback just slips out there for real, and it would be cool to see the quarterbacks in the game slip, and then you need to try to either catch your balance or get back up and throw the ball. There should be more bloopers in the game, because that stuff happens out there for real, so it should happen in "Madden."



Jon Robinson: So if you could take over the Browns franchise in "Madden," what's the first thing you would do?



Josh Cribbs: I'd start me at quarterback and receiver and throw it to myself [laughs]. Nah, what I'd really do is put me at quarterback and run the ball all the time. I would also give my character a little better throwing ability so I wouldn't have to just run around back there. I want to throw the ball.




Jon Robinson: How about in real life? What's the status of getting you a new contract to stay in Cleveland?



Josh Cribbs: [Mike] Holmgren reached out to my people and we told him that we're open to communication with him because they let go of all of the people who made the previous offer to me. Things are looking up for me, they're looking up. We're pretty close to getting something settled.



And when I do get that new contract, I'm going to go out and prove to him every game that I'm worth it. Every time that I score, I'm going to get the ball and sign it "To Holmgren" and give it to him just so he has the proof that I'm worth every penny. I have a chip on my shoulder now, but I want them to know just why they're giving me a new contract. I still have a lot of great years left and I'm going to go out and prove it every chance that I get.

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And when I do get that new contract, I'm going to go out and prove to him every game that I'm worth it. Every time that I score, I'm going to get the ball and sign it "To Holmgren" and give it to him just so he has the proof that I'm worth every penny. I have a chip on my shoulder now, but I want them to know just why they're giving me a new contract. I still have a lot of great years left and I'm going to go out and prove it every chance that I get.

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How can you not love this guy.

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I would rather see incentives than guarenteed money...pay him after he produces.

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That's what they are attempting to do now, pay him for his production over the last few years when he was woefully under-compensated.

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DC...Cribbs signed a contract just a couple of years ago...this crap that the Browns owe Cribbs because he played better than expected won't fly.

The Browns owe Cribbs nothing for his past performance...nothing.

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I'm all for getting Cribbs a new and better contract, God knows he deserves it.

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Word from the wise. Who says wisdom doesnt come with age

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At the time Cribbs signed the contract, he was told that the contract is being signed to ensure his stay in Cleveland and he was told the contract will be re-negotiated down the road. I remember Savage and Cribbs saying this because at the time I thought Savage was a genius for signing him to such a small deal.

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If you patience is wearing thin, then dont root for him. Because Cribbs, the other 99% of Browns fans and probably 100% of anyone who plays or had played in the NFL who think he deserves the raise that was "promised" to him, wont care what the other 1% thinks.

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This week though, we hear details of the contract negotiations, saying $5 million guaranteed is not enough for Cribbs...probably leaked to the media by Cribbs agents. Word is, Cribbs agents want $10 million guarenteed...

Cribb's agents appear to make it a habit of attempting to negotiate Cribbs contract via the media everytime they are not happy with the terms being negotiated...$5 mill vs $10 mill, in this case. IMO, they are being more than a "little greedy".

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At the time Cribbs signed the contract, he was told that the contract is being signed to ensure his stay in Cleveland and he was told the contract will be re-negotiated down the road. I remember Savage and Cribbs saying this because at the time I thought Savage was a genius for signing him to such a small deal.

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leg...I can't find any evidence to back up your claim that the Browns told Cribbs they would re-negotiate his new (2006) contract, when he signed his new contract in Nov. 2006.

If you find it, post it...



When Savaged signed Cirbbs to that contract, I saw an interview with Cribbs, then Savage talking how his contract ensures him being a Brown and gives the team an opportunity to rework it down the road. Cribbs said his main objective was to get the contract signed for immediate job security. I probably saw it on STO. Of course the GM wont put it in writing that a player will get a pay raise on an original deal. I did read that Cribbs agent at the time said that it was talked about just ensuring Cribbs is a Brown and the contract can be reworked after he proves himself on the field and with hard work. Im not going to be able to find an article from 3 years ago and I didnt feel the need to archive it. Have you not read at all this past season as Cribbs himself, and his agent, said Randy Lerner promised his a raise? I have been reading those two say Cribbs was promised to renegotiate the contract after first time he held out and was told lets see if he can stay consistant and do more than special teams, which he has done. Cribbs was injured 2 years ago, came back and said he will wait until after the season and report on time. But then Savage was fired. Dawson also wanted a new contract at the time.

I have read on this board where Cribbs talked about how he hopes Mangini doesnt lose his job because he dont want to have to be told that he has to prove himself to new management. If there are any Cribbs contract threads in the archives, you will read where he said that. You dont remember where Mangini said that he dont want to get into reworking contracts based on old management because this is new management? Then Cribbs said he will come to camp on time and have to prove himself all over again. Cribbs and his agent have both said that not only has Savage say that a contract will be reworked but both are on record saying that Lerner himself promised a contract. The naysayers that dont think Cribbs deserves a raise was saying that Lerner doesnt make roster and contract decisions say they shouldnt hold Lerner to his work. But I say, hey hes the owner. He shouldnt have said it if he didnt mean it and that it doesnt matter if they have new management, Lerner is the owner and regardless of who he says has say over contracts, he has the final say. I do know that Lerner doesnt want to make football decisions but even if he wasnt a football fan, how can he not see the importance of Cribbs to this team? I believe any other owner in this league not named Brown, would see the importance of Cribbs and would have given him a contract extension. Fans say, "we need management that knows what they are doing like they do in Pittsburgh." Well, Pittsburgh rewards their players. Hines Ward threatened to hold out and got a raise. UDFA LB Harrison got an extension a year or two after he signed a contract. Good management and ownership takes care of players that deserve it.

Am I the only one who remembers the qoutes from Cribbs and his agent that they were promised a contract extension if he reports on time and continues to do well. Or how Cribbs went on record to say that Mangini promised him a contract at the end of the season to see how much money is left over? They were talking about giving Cribbs some left over money from this season so that it counts against the 09-10 cap. There was also articles as to how Cribbs cant get an extension because Holmgren stripped EMs ability to negotiate on contracts before the season is over because nobody even knew if EM would be here after the season.

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If you patience is wearing thin, then dont root for him. Because Cribbs, the other 99% of Browns fans and probably 100% of anyone who plays or had played in the NFL who think he deserves the raise that was "promised" to him, wont care what the other 1% thinks.

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legal...show me where I said my patience is wearing thin with "Cribbs"...when you find it, post it, ok?

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