DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Cribbs Wants More Playing Time

Browns wide receiver and kick returner Josh Cribbs called in, despite the power down in his neighborhood this morning, to talk with the guys about his role on the team and to promote his Halloween party at Rumors Night Club on Friday, which benefits the Susan G. Komen Fund. Josh was asked if he would like to be a bigger part of the offense by Kiley. To hear his answer and his comments on the state of the Browns, his thoughts on the NFL pushing back the kickoffs and answered who is better: Brandon Weeden or Colt McCoy? You can listen to the entire interview below.


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I'll be honest, I cannot access the interview link ... so I have no judgment about this. Could others maybe provide their own summary/take on his interview? Was he asking for PT? Did he "not" endorse Weeden?

I found this to be a little strange.

The Interview cuts off after 2:55 before they even get into asking him any football questions. They spent almost 3 minutes talking about the weather.

Isnt "Yes I would like more Playing time" pretty much the standard answer. If he said no everyone would rip him apart. There is no story here IMO.

I heard a very small part of it yesterday where he mentioned that he would like to finish his career as a Brown, but that he also wanted to win and be successful in the NFL, alluding to the possibility of going to another team. FWIW

Host: "I'm not a big fan of the coach, i think the playcalling is atrocious, and we don't get to see you much on offense any more. Do you want to be a bigger part of the offense and your thoughts on playcalling."

JC: "Definitely, you don't want to be that guy, but definitely I'd love to be more involved. I'm a firm believer that you find ways to get your athletes the football. "

Host: Mentions Vikings / Percy Harvin. "That's what we should be doing with you."

JC: Can't say anything bad about Shurmur. He's getting better as a head coach. "I agree with you 100% I should be playing more on offense."

Host: "I think we need to develop guys who are strictly wide receivers."

JC: "I want to win now."

Host: "Where should you play on offense."

JC: "At receiver, running back, anywhere i get the ball in my hands... I'm not asking to be out there 100% of the time. But when I'm not involved in the offense at all, you have to ask questions"

Link worked for me, so this what was said, paraphrased mostly.


Cribbs.. Thinks we are improving and will be a contender in each game and in the future years.

On playing more...
Yes, he would like more playing time. Believes in getting your athletes the football. Shurmer has improved and does a good job, but wants to help the team, and feels he can do that if he gets the ball. Feels like he should be on O 100% of the time, at receiver and RB. He wants to win now, put up points now. Backtracked on being on O 100% of the time, but wants the ball to help the team, not just on returning and covering kicks.
(My thoughts... good, I want players who want to play, who want the ball, doesn't mean they will get it, but good that he wants it.)

On Brandon Jackson...
He is talented, very much so, but decisions have to be made on how many can be active for a game and he isn't part of that so he cannot say exactly why he hasn't been active, but likes who goes there as well.

On kickoffs being moved...
Was upset, but knew it impacted everyone else in league. Wanted to see stats on why it was done, doesn't believe the stats bear out it being moved.

On Shurmer...
He has improved, especially with his presence on field, dealing with the players 'issues'. He has done a great job on preparation and the structure of the team. Likes that Chilly was brought in to help as well.

On Haslam and going forward...
Believes he wants to win and whatever decisions he(Haslam) makes he believes will be made to make the Browns winners, and he will agree with that, including keeping the current coaches and structure or changing them, whatever he (Haslam) decides.

On TRich... (hosts, or 1 of them, thinks he isn't very good in short yardage, and dances too much, but is great in space)
Trent is very durable, went thru the injuries like a champ, has been phenomenal, and has hit the hole like he does, he is very strong. He works hard, and will improve on what they (the hosts) say he (TR) lacks.

On the 4th and 1 playcall... Can a decision like that be deflating to a team, as if the coach is saying he doesn't have faith in the players.
During game they believe in the coach and the decisions. After the game you might go back and rethink it and ask what he was thinking so you can better understand, as well as many other things, but he is the coach and has to make many decisions like that every game, players do the same - go back and rethink certain plays and decisions you made. As players we always want to go for it, but we trust that the HC knows what hes doing.

Is Weeden or McCoy better....
Weeden is better for this team going forward and what the staff wants to see. Starting out Colt was better, if we wanted to start out winning he would have started out with Colt because he knew the O better. Weeden has improved and continues to get better, and gets more comfortable with the play calling he will get better and be a better QB in this playbook.
(They asked if he could pick who the QB is right now to go into the future , who would it be. Cribbs said, 'aww don't ask me that', so they moved on.)

On both being on the team...
Likes having both on the team, it is a comfort knowing that McCoy is back there.
Says, only bad thing about not playing Colt is that it stops his development, he has progressed, the only bad thing about Weeden over Colt was that it stopped Colt's development. McCoy is young and still has a chance to be a great QB in this league.

What position, and at what skill level could we use on this team....
Doesn't want to answer that because it could 'get him into trouble'. Says we have a lot of young players who haven't yet reached their full potential, so he can't say what position(s) need upgraded.
(My thought, tough question for him to answer, if he is honest he throws teammates under the bus, so I think he did a good job saying we haven't yet seen what some can do and would be silly to write them off right now).

On Greg Little....
He is a great practice player. He is getting better, he need the opportunities more and more to prove himself.


That was the end of it.


**I tried to get as close to exactly the quote as possible, but shortened some to get the gist of his words and used as many of the verbs and adjectives that Cribbs used in his answers, but won't swear I got them all.

Thanks Steve. It sounds like Cribbs tried his best to not call out Shurmur (although, he basically does). I did listen to the part about Weeden/Colt.

Josh thinks we'd have more wins with Colt right now ... I actually don't think so.

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do we really need a good kick returner to keep running the ball out to the 40 so a penalty can move it back to the 15

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This infuriates me. It's come to the point where I am shocked when it doesn't happen. It's impossible for me to believe they haven't gotten this under control yet. This past week, there should have been a speech by Tabor that went something like this:

Tabor: Men, we've had more than a few holding and block in the back penalties on kick returns this year, and it has cost us field position. We can't afford to let that happen, so I'd like you to think about this: DON'T %^@#ING DO IT! IF YOU DO IT AGAIN I WILL MURDER YOU AND EAT YOUR BRAINS! THE NEXT MORON THAT CAUSES ONE OF THESE PENALTIES WILL BE MURDERED AND HAVE HIS BRAINS EATEN! IS THAT CLEAR?! SHUT UP! I DON'T WANT AN ANSWER, I JUST NEVER WANT TO SEE IT HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE I WILL MURDER YOU AND EAT YOUR BRAINS! I WILL! SO DON'T %^@#ING DO IT!

I HATE that Cribbs goes out and actually gives the media more spoons to stir the pot with. HATE how he does this every year.

thanks for the post. Sounds like they tried to bait him but Cribbs has been around long enough not to let himself get talked into a corner by a radio jock.

True.

What I do like from Cribbs is that he wants to win, and he wants to be a part of it. Theres no fault in that. Also, to the above poster, it's not like it's his fault. He goes on the air to promote a benefit in the city of Cleveland that he organizes and people ask him football questions and he answers them honestly.

Josh Cribbs is the best football player we've had here since 1999 not named Phil Dawson. Let the man do his thing. I want to see him more involved in the offense. Get him more involved in the offense. Please. It wont stunt his KR or PR abilities, thats silly.

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Josh thinks we'd have more wins with Colt right now ... I actually don't think so.

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I think he was specifically referring to the first 2 or 3 games.. heck he might have been referring just to game 1.

I think he is correct in his assessment.. Weeden is by far better, we might have won a game or two earlier with Colt but then Weeden would just be that much farther behind in his development... I think we went the right route.

The part I disagree with is that Colt is being slowed in his development. I think it could help Colt tremendously to stand and watch for a year or two and go through the practices and the film study without getting knocked around or being forced into throwing it 50 times a game.. I have no idea what Colt's future holds, I think he will get a chance to start somewhere in the future... but I think this time off the field should help him far more than hurt him.

Other than that, I liked that he talked about Shurmur's improvement in managing the game and the players.. basically admitting that everybody knew he was making mistakes and he is working on them..

I'm sure he does want to play more, I hope everybody does. He is a very dynamic guy with the ball in his hands and I think he has a point, I'd like to see him get the ball more, the question is.. how.

Thanks for the extra, BatDawg. He is someone we should use more. In any offense, one more threat is another factor for the D. That said, you can't abandon what works, and you need to go back to it. Defense must stop it or get hurt again. This Metcalf up the middle is not the mindset needed, and I think it is limiting us. But the offense must hurt the defense by gouging them with something to force an adjustment which sets up the next wrinkle. We need plays to be made and be more open to gameplans which have more variety on the play type and mix in my opinion. The proof is in the pudding; TRich is better in space, effective outside, and we need to give him better chances IMO. We can be more vertical which seems a strength for Weeds. We don't seem creative enough or aggressive enough to suit me. Can Shurm do it? Yes. Is he of a mind to fix himself. Really not as sure of that. But offense is a real concern going forward. And getting Cribbs more time and touches can't hurt that effort. FWIW.

These flags are the height of stupidity and really tick me off. How the same penalty is allowed and the lowlife is still allowed to see the field is beyond me. Kill them, eat their brains, and bench them. Buy a bigger bench if necessary. But why are hurting ourselves. This hasn't been occasionally shooting yourself in the foot; it is more like burning a clip and reloading. Just can't be allowed or tolerated. So, Caldawg, it might be too gentle for some of these dolts, but maybe they could get Tabor's drift. Fully agree that the need is real.

I think at times Cribbs feels invincible from public outcry and/or coaches' discipline. He has never really been afraid to express himself to the media, but at this point it's getting old IMO.

Cribbs was the #2 last year for most of the year so being #6 this year is a pretty big shot to the gut. I mean guys have come off the PS and have been targeted often while Cribbs watches. So I am pretty sure he doesnt want to play more and probably feels pretty slighted by this staff.

Anyway I doubt the guy is back next year. He will be able to get more money elsewhere.

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JC: "At receiver, running back, anywhere i get the ball in my hands... I'm not asking to be out there 100% of the time. But when I'm not involved in the offense at all, you have to ask questions"

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I'd written this "story" off as a non-story. I want every player who plays on offense to want the ball. Regardless of whether or not I agree that he should be used more (I do) the above quote walks awfully damned close to the line which, once crossed, points the finger directly at the head coach and says "You don't know what the Hell you're doing."

The ever-mercurial Josh Cribbs...he just can't go a full season without doing something like this into a mic...

Under Daboll, Cribbs was a headliner and now he is only a special teamer. Even the role of a special teamer has been dramatically reduced due to rule changes. He thinks he has more value to the Browns than he really does at this point.

j/c

too bad he didn't address himself on doing a better job returning punts-- he really gave up alot of field position to the chargers by not catching those punts.

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I want every player who plays on offense to want the ball.

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Except Pinkston... everybody but him.

Unless he's playing fullback, in which case I want him having the ball over Marecic

music to Peen's ears.

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I'd written this "story" off as a non-story. I want every player who plays on offense to want the ball. Regardless of whether or not I agree that he should be used more (I do) the above quote walks awfully damned close to the line which, once crossed, points the finger directly at the head coach and says "You don't know what the Hell you're doing."

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I'm thinking this staff would rather get the reps for the more natural receivers than to play Cribbs much more with is depriving the young guys of said reps.

I'm also thinking he could be used more as a RB of sorts but then we have decent depth at RB of guys who are indeed RB's.

Cribbs has a problem in that he wants to contribute more as a receiver and perhaps as a RB as well as his return duties. In two of the three responsibilities he's kinda the odd man out.

It's quite a quandary for a guy who gained his collegiate fame and undrafted draft status as a Quarterback. He's trying to fit in and in many ways he does. Unfortunately, at skill positions, he's always fighting for a spot against players who've played that position their entire lives. Still, he puts up a fight and causes coaches to make decisions that are not easy. But in the long run, positional players are probably going to get the first shot.

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The ever-mercurial Josh Cribbs...he just can't go a full season without doing something like this into a mic...

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No he can't. And he's a communications major to boot.

I believe it. Afterall, he's getting his message across loud and clear

I had a friend send me this link, but I can't access it from work. Can someone listen to this if they have time. I guess it is quotes from Cribbs about McCoy/Weeden. Thanks.


Cribbs ... Again

from your link:

ACCORDING TO JOSH CRIBBS MCCOY WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER THAN BRANDON WEEDEN WITHOUT A DOUBT FOR THE BROWNS
Posted by LG on November 3, 2012 at 9:13 pm.
There are lots of people in the city of Cleveland that support the Cleveland Browns and think they have a clue when it comes to football. The Fans of the Cleveland Browns just want a winner and who can blame them? There is a whole generation of Browns fans that have never been able to see a winner, they have seen season after season full of nothing but struggles. They have witnessed coach after coach come through the revolving doors at the front entrance of the Cleveland Browns head-quarters in Berea, Ohio. They still haven’t gotten to see what they have waited for. This season the Browns fans had the wool pulled over their eyes. They were duped by the management of the Cleveland Browns and their head coach Pat Shurmur, they were told the Browns would be a better team in 2012.

We the fans have watched the Cleveland Browns lose 6 of the 8 games the team has played and now with the truth starting to show, the Browns are not a better team than they were last year. For the last 8 years the Cleveland fans have seen one guy go out on the field week after week to provide thrills and give his best to the fans of the Browns no matter what. That man is Josh Cribbs and when Josh Cribbs talks I think the fans should listen. Cribbs recently did an interview where he was asked point blank who the better quarterback would be for the Cleveland Browns, without hesitation Cribbs pointed to Colt McCoy. As fans I think we should listen and you can.

Thanks to Bob for furnishing us here at Cleveland Sports 360 the link to the interview. Bob is a guy who knows football and leaves intelligent comments at the Cleveland Sports 360 site. Here is the Link to the Cribbs interview and I think if you are a Browns fan you should listen to this Cribbs interview.

The interview really gets interesting around the 18 minute mark. The Cleveland Browns would have won more games this season if they would have stuck with the quarterback they already had in place. The Browns head coach went out of his way to screw the fans of the Cleveland Browns and now we get to live through yet another losing season. Have a listen to the Cribbs interview, it is well worth the time…. Oh yeah, when you are done, please don’t leave a bunch of stupid comments telling us Cribbs don’t know football. I think he does and I think he is one of a few that knows Cleveland Browns football better than most.

Saying Colt would be better from that interview is a BIG stretch. I just listened to it, he didn't say that at all.

He said that Colt knew the playbook, and he had an advantage because of that.

Cribbs did do quite a bit of whining about not being involved in the offense. More than I would expect. He said something to the effect of "I'm going to Halloween as a different player so I can get in the game." Wow...

Well, Cribbs is one of the most experienced offensive skill position players the Browns have.