We're heading into Week 15, the Browns have already lost nine times, and head coach Romeo Crennel has pretty much guaranteed that he won't be back after the season. But with three games left on the schedule, he's still -- to borrow a phrase -- playing to win the games. You see, it only took three-and-a-half months to figure out that maybe Cleveland's sputtering offense could use more Joshua Cribbs and less everybody else.
Browns coach Romeo Crennel said the Browns will use Josh Cribbs more to try to jump-start the offense.Spoken with all the conviction of a temporary worker nearing the end of his contract. Why Crennel didn't hatch this plan back in October, when the Browns were beginning their descent to awfulness, is a mystery, and one he'll probably have plenty of time to contemplate in the coming weeks.
"It looked like Cribbs was a spark, and so I think that we'll have to give him a chance to be more of a spark and try to manage his other duties as well," said Crennel. "That's what I think we can do there."
I suppose you could make the case that Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn are NFL-caliber quarterbacks and there wasn't the need for Cribbs' talent when they were under center. And now that's not the case with Ken Dorsey and his noodle arm running the show. In theory, maybe, but in practice, well, it was evident early on that the Browns needed all the offensive help they could muster.
But again, it's a case of too little, too late. On the upside, Cribbs can use the opportunity to showcase his talents for the Browns' next coach, who hopefully will do a better job of defining a role for him. I mean, if the Bears can turn Devin Hester into a pretty good wide receiver, there's no reason to think the Browns can't do the same with Cribbs. And then maybe he can work with Braylon Edwards.
