The one thing that Cribbs had had is an ability to stay on his feet, and excellent vision on returns. That's why he never really worked out well as a receiver. He was in the middle of the defense instead of having the defense in front of him for him to take a quick look at once he got the ball in his hands. He's OK in space, but he's never shown that elusiveness as a receiver that he has as a returner.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
No doubt there's a lot of fight left in that dawg. He's a fan favorite for a reason and it's not that he's successful, it's that he gives it his all every time he steps on the field. With Cribbs you're going to get 110%, every down he's out there.
He's starting to take more of a pounding though and he's got a family to think about. It's not that he's no longer a good player or a good team guy, it's that he's a good guy, period. I'd like to see this guy in particular call it a day while he still has his health.
Cribbs is still the same player he has always been, when they took away the wedge, and moved up the kicks is when his stats started going down. I hope he retires a Brown, dude plays with his heart on his sleeve, and give 110% each time he gets a chance to make a play. What else can you ask for from a player?
Any one who watched Cribbs when he came here compared to now, knows good and well his muscle mass is much higher and that he bulked up. It is so obvious it's not even a debateable issue.
Weight has nothing to do with muscle mass. And even at that, he does weigh signifigantly more than his first couple of seasons here.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Quote: No doubt there's a lot of fight left in that dawg. He's a fan favorite for a reason and it's not that he's successful, it's that he gives it his all every time he steps on the field. With Cribbs you're going to get 110%, every down he's out there.
He's starting to take more of a pounding though and he's got a family to think about. It's not that he's no longer a good player or a good team guy, it's that he's a good guy, period. I'd like to see this guy in particular call it a day while he still has his health.
If he called it a career after this year ... I would not think anything less of the Man and I would like to think that his health should far out way anything else if it came to that.
He has been a class act and I wish him the best in what ever he decides.
I wish that more players where cut from the same cloth.
I"ll appreciate him while he is still here, others may not until after he is gone.
Quote: What Cribbs did the best was find the creases and get through them, and he shrugged off tackles like he was vintage Earl Campbell...
Cribbs was never a burner, he just found space and exploited it. Thats what he still does, and hes still consistently the first gunner down the field.
Agreed- in full.
A quick look at his "to the house" runbacks will show him hitting the first crease virtually untouched, scanning/adjusting to set himself up for the second seam, then running through arm tackles to daylight. We saw it time and again. It happened a few times on his punt returns when coverage broke down, but he is always at his best under a full head of steam. You can easily see what King & I am talking about by viewing this highlight clip:
He's always run with great straight-ahead power, but was never known for shiftiness or jukes. It's why I always said he was better suited for KO returns than punts. A punt returner must rely on quickness at the point of the catch- to elude the first wave of gunners/defenders, and to squirt to daylight. Think Devin Hester.
Now that the rules governing KO's have changed, some of that punt returner's skillset is required for kick returners to "break one home." We might not ever get to see another Cribbs homerun (unless the stars align), but we can still look forward to a good number of runbacks like the one we saw folowing his fumble.
Kid brings is every time... and more often than not, is still only one or two defenders from braking bad.
Quote: Is it just me or does he look like hes lost a "step"? Canadadawg and i were talking during the game on Sunday and to us he appears slower and lacks that initial burst returning kicks. Your thoughts?
Absolutely love the guy but...he's taken enough of a beating. I think his family is correct. Before he gets permanently disabled he should hang them up. Go out on a high note. Hopefully, all of those times his bell has been rung won't haunt him later. He holds an NFL record that won't be broken any time soon with the kickoff rules currently. And he came out of nowhere to become one of the largest impact players in the NFL. Would hate to see him go, but if I were him, I think I'd listen to the family.
Plus, Cribbs is someone who could easily hook on as an announcer or some sort of pregame personality. He's been a recognizable name, so he can also get some endorsement deals. If it were me, this would be my last season.
BTW Dean, love your sig.
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
Quote: Any one who watched Cribbs when he came here compared to now, knows good and well his muscle mass is much higher and that he bulked up. It is so obvious it's not even a debateable issue.
Weight has nothing to do with muscle mass. And even at that, he does weigh signifigantly more than his first couple of seasons here.
But that isn't what you said....is it.
You said he's bulked up and because of that he's slower. Pure and simple.
I showed you where he lost weight before the season started, yet he's not any faster.
It is what it is.
Now, KingSteve, dude, there's no "hate" on Cribbs. You make it sound like it's blasphemy to point out the obvious, which is that the Cribbs of 2012 is not the same guy named Cribbs that played here in 2008. He's still a productive player, even if he's no longer the best at his position.
The reason for pointing that out is to highlight the question of what will happen to him when his contract runs out at the end of this season.
I find it hard to believe that this organization would invest some $2 million per season over multiple seasons for a special-teams guy who has clearly lost a step while simultaneously having his role reduced because of rules (special teams) and demotion (wide receiver). I think he could probably still give value, but I doubt we'd go that route when we have so many other glaring holes at regular starting positions.
***Gordon, I really didn't think you could be this stOOpid, but you exceeded my expectations. Wussy. Manziel, see Josh Gordon. Dumbass.***
I have to disagree with you Toad. I don't think Cribbs has slowed down much if at all. The problem is that we have not had the lanes for him to run through the last few years. Our blocking on Special teams has been no where close to what it used to be. Returners just like running backs are not going to do well when they have no holes or lanes to run through
Quote: Yes, he put on weight and muscle mass. He came here at 195 and now weighs 215. That's 20 pounds and most all of it is muscle mass.
That's slowed his burst and somewhat his agility.
Talk about double-talk
He's weighed "215" for years now. The obvious fact is he's lighter than he's been in the past and he's slower than he's been in the past, therefore your statement that he's slower because he's bigger is wrong. He's just slower because of age and wear-and-tear.
Now, since we're bored, it's your turn. Let's see you get out of this one.
***Gordon, I really didn't think you could be this stOOpid, but you exceeded my expectations. Wussy. Manziel, see Josh Gordon. Dumbass.***
I actually noticed this loss of burst some time ago. I don't see it as news actually.
Do I think years of abuse in the kicking game has some bearing on the sutuation? Yes I do.
But the agility factor has been going on for some time now. Even before your claim of age could have played a factor.
For people who were paying attention, it was pretty obvious that as the bulk went on, the agility went down.
The difference is, the muscle gave him a greater ability to break tackles so the production evened itself out. It still does to a great degree. But he slowed down quite a while ago. No real news there.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
don't know who could be hating on him after the last couple of weeks either.
but, the PR stats are really surprising this year. even in his heydey, he wasn't an elite PR (outside of 1 year). he was pretty good, but his elite returning was his ability to read the seams on the KRs.
His PR stats are even more impressive when you factor in the huge difference between his longest and the longest returns of those around him, plus the number of return attempts. That difference alone contributes at least a full yard per attempt more to inflating their averages. That shows that Cribbs is just consistently getting it done every time. McKelvin's longest alone accounts for more than 3 yds per attempt (28 more yds on the longest over only 9 attempts).
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
Quote: don't know who could be hating on him after the last couple of weeks either.
but, the PR stats are really surprising this year. even in his heydey, he wasn't an elite PR (outside of 1 year). he was pretty good, but his elite returning was his ability to read the seams on the KRs.
I never hated on him but I did say a few weeks ago that he seems to have lost a step or something.
SO, maybe he has, but yet, he's still one of the best.. I guess I'm wrong to worry about it,
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.” Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe." Damanshot
Quote: don't know who could be hating on him after the last couple of weeks either.
but, the PR stats are really surprising this year. even in his heydey, he wasn't an elite PR (outside of 1 year). he was pretty good, but his elite returning was his ability to read the seams on the KRs.
I never hated on him but I did say a few weeks ago that he seems to have lost a step or something.
SO, maybe he has, but yet, he's still one of the best.. I guess I'm wrong to worry about it,
there is no doubt that he is not quite as fast as he was "in his prime" there is also very little doubt that he is still an elite guy at "finding the seam"
j/c Agreed he has lost a step, but he is stronger and can still escape. He just uses vision and strength instead of vision and speed. That Dawg isn't quite ready yet to just sit on the porch. He can still hunt.
Quote: His PR stats are even more impressive when you factor in the huge difference between his longest and the longest returns of those around him, plus the number of return attempts. That difference alone contributes at least a full yard per attempt more to inflating their averages. That shows that Cribbs is just consistently getting it done every time. McKelvin's longest alone accounts for more than 3 yds per attempt (28 more yds on the longest over only 9 attempts).
The thing about Cribbs that worries me is that he has had a kick or punt return fumble in each of the past 3 games. That is a concern.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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You make it sound like it's blasphemy to point out the obvious, which is that the Cribbs of 2012 is not the same guy named Cribbs that played here in 2008. He's still a productive player, even if he's no longer the best at his position. 
