When it really comes down to it, other than two decent seasons in 2002 and 2007,the past century has been one to forget for the Cleveland Browns. Since returning to the NFL in 1999 the Browns have long suffered from a series of horrible management decisions that have made them one of the worst performing teams in the last decade. For some reason the Browns management staff just can’t seem to make the necessary choices in order put the team in route to success, including their most recent ordeal with kick returner and wide receiver Joshua Cribbs.
I know that running a successful NFL team might not be the easiest job in the world but some things go without saying. Why in the world a team that has not had many highlights since returning in 1999, wouldn’t be willing to sign their most prized player shocks me. Most people would find this issue to be resolved as easily as picking up a pen and signing the deal as soon as the season ended.
Cribbs has three years remaining on a six-year, $6.77 million deal. He made a base salary of $900,000 this past season. The Browns have offered to raise his annual salary to $1.4 million for the final three years of his contract, Cribbs' agent, Peter Schaffer, said. Cribbs has told the media several times that it’s not about the money but about receiving “fair value”.
I can’t begin to see where there could even be any confusion of whether or not Cribbs deserves a more significant pay increase or not. Let’s see…where do we begin? Not only is Cribbs a kick and punt return specialist but he gives the Browns a short field whenever the other team decides to put the ball in his hands. They certainly are in need of great field position due to the simple fact that every time their offense touches the field they are putting the ball in the hands of starter Brady Quinn with a 2009 passer rating of 67.2 and backup Derrick Anderson with an even more astonishing rating of 42.1. Cribbs also finished the year with four return touchdowns, one receiving and one rushing. His multi-dimensional versatility easily makes him the most dynamic player on the field for the Browns.
My question for the Browns would be to ask them what more can this man do to receive the additional money that he has rightfully earned. This year is the third consecutive season that he has made the Pro Bowl. No other player has done such in the last ten years that the Browns have been back in Cleveland. His eight combined kick and punt return touchdowns are a new NFL record set within his first five years in the league. Not to mention that he has remained in the top 3 kick returners over the past 3 years with the highest kick return average of 2009 being that of 27.5 yards. During his career with the Browns Cribbs has played wide receiver, wildcat, quarterback, kick and punt returner and even showed great talent on the kickoff and punt teams. I truly don’t understand how you can feel that a player that means so much to your team doesn’t deserve any type of contract bonus. Especially considering no one else has shown any other signs of stepping up in his place.
In the end, I’m fully convinced that the decision to go without resigning Josh Cribbs would not only be a devastating blow to the Cleveland Browns team in 2010, but more so it would show the fans of Cleveland that the organization is not committed to winning. To put a menial price tag on winning is unacceptable for any team in professional sports. Especially with a franchise as deep rooted and with a historical fan base such as the Cleveland Browns. This offseason will show exactly where the Browns want to be in terms of turning this franchise around and putting themselves back on the road to success.
Cribbs has three years remaining on a six-year, $6.77 million deal. He made a base salary of $900,000 this past season. The Browns have offered to raise his annual salary to $1.4 million for the final three years of his contract, Cribbs' agent, Peter Schaffer, said. Cribbs has told the media several times that it’s not about the money but about receiving “fair value”.
I can’t begin to see where there could even be any confusion of whether or not Cribbs deserves a more significant pay increase or not. Let’s see…where do we begin? Not only is Cribbs a kick and punt return specialist but he gives the Browns a short field whenever the other team decides to put the ball in his hands. They certainly are in need of great field position due to the simple fact that every time their offense touches the field they are putting the ball in the hands of starter Brady Quinn with a 2009 passer rating of 67.2 and backup Derrick Anderson with an even more astonishing rating of 42.1. Cribbs also finished the year with four return touchdowns, one receiving and one rushing. His multi-dimensional versatility easily makes him the most dynamic player on the field for the Browns.
My question for the Browns would be to ask them what more can this man do to receive the additional money that he has rightfully earned. This year is the third consecutive season that he has made the Pro Bowl. No other player has done such in the last ten years that the Browns have been back in Cleveland. His eight combined kick and punt return touchdowns are a new NFL record set within his first five years in the league. Not to mention that he has remained in the top 3 kick returners over the past 3 years with the highest kick return average of 2009 being that of 27.5 yards. During his career with the Browns Cribbs has played wide receiver, wildcat, quarterback, kick and punt returner and even showed great talent on the kickoff and punt teams. I truly don’t understand how you can feel that a player that means so much to your team doesn’t deserve any type of contract bonus. Especially considering no one else has shown any other signs of stepping up in his place.
In the end, I’m fully convinced that the decision to go without resigning Josh Cribbs would not only be a devastating blow to the Cleveland Browns team in 2010, but more so it would show the fans of Cleveland that the organization is not committed to winning. To put a menial price tag on winning is unacceptable for any team in professional sports. Especially with a franchise as deep rooted and with a historical fan base such as the Cleveland Browns. This offseason will show exactly where the Browns want to be in terms of turning this franchise around and putting themselves back on the road to success.
Posts
2 comments:
Cribbs is one of the last all-stars the Browns have left. After losing Wilson and Edwards who else is going to keep the fans in the stands, Quinn? After a year with a coach like Mangini I think the Browns need to take care of the few things that did go right.
Cribbs deserves to be paid more than half of the people on the Browns. Quinn, whose performance isn't nearly as up to par as Cribbs gets paid a couple million more, why is that? The Browns have a lot of decisions to make. Lets hope they make the right ones this upcoming year because the fans are fading. Pretty soon the team will too like they have done in the past. Is history repeating itself?
Post a Comment