Josh Cribbs Wants to Be Traded

On Tuesday, I mentioned that Josh Cribbs, the Browns Pro Bowl return man and sometimes wideout, would be skipping voluntary workouts because he wants a new contract. In 2007, months before he emerged as a Devin Hester-type special teams threat, Cleveland signed Cribbs to a six-year, $6 million extension.

Now, four punt- and kick-return touchdowns later, Cribbs is bucking for a promotion. And if the Browns aren't willing to give it to him, he'd like to be traded, thank you very much. Via ESPN.com's John Clayton:

"I humbly and respectfully come to Browns fans and the Browns letting all know that I have given my all to this team, on and off the field for 4 complete years selflessly without regard to myself and my own family." Cribbs' statement read.

"Contracts are one-sided in favor of the team, yet we as players are told to honor our contracts without the team honoring them. We are not doctors and lawyers, we don't get paid for 25 years of work. If we are lucky, we get 10 years at best to make all the money we can to last the rest of our life."

Cribbs added, "This is not personal, but I have to be a man and take care of my family for not just a year or two, but for as long as I am walking this earth." Couldn't agree more. Save signing bonuses, NFL contracts aren't guaranteed, and I'm all for players squeezing owners for as much as they can, even if that means asking for a new contract every offseason.

Word on the street is that Cribbs wants "Devin Hester money," which works out to roughly four years, $30 million and $15 guaranteed, based on incentives. Is Cribbs worth that? No idea. But I know he's worth more than a million a pop.

Plus, in addition to his return prowess, he's also Wildcat-ready -- Cribbs is a former college quarterback who can also play running back and wide receiver. Not only that, but new head coach Eric Mangini plans to use Cribbs at cornerback 18 or so snaps a game. Which says as much about Brandon McDonald as it does about Cribbs.

Either way, the guy's due a raise. Unfortunately, I don't know if there's much of a market for him, at least enough of one for the Browns to actually trade him.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-21-2009 @ 3:48PM

Pete Metcalf said...

Ryan Wilson writes "NFL contracts aren't guaranteed, and I'm all for players squeezing owners for as much as they can, even if that means asking for a new contract every offseason."

In the next paragraph, Wilson writes "Word on the street is that Cribbs wants 'Devin Hester money,' which works out to roughly four years, $30 million and $15 guaranteed.

So Wilson uses the word "guaranteed" in each paragraph, yet the meaning is different from paragraph to paragraph.

Pretty neat trick... explaining that the NFL doesn't give guaranteed contracts but that Cribbs wants guaranteed money. Semantics.
Contracts do not mean money according to this writer.

Gee Wilson, you just nailed this one. I never had a job that paid me up front for work I've yet to do. I never signed a contract that said I would get half of my salary now and the rest over the course of the contract, so that if I were fired after two years, I would have already been paid for three.
cribbs says ""Contracts are one-sided in favor of the team" and Ryan concurs. What the NFL players sign are not REAL WORLD contracts. They are NFL contracts, which means considerable money in advance of performance. That alone removes them from being what most people sign as employment contracts. (even though few people outside sports sign an employment contract at all).
So Wilson, your entire argument is bogus and boring. Of course, that won't stop you from continuing. Neither will logic and common sense.

5-21-2009 @ 4:49PM

ryan said...

Pete Metcalf,

Yeah, I should have qualified -- except signing bonuses, contracts aren't guaranteed. I fixed it above. Thanks!

5-22-2009 @ 8:46AM

Mike said...

Sorry Josh, but maybe what you actually need is a new agent? Blame it on him and yourself, you sighned on the dotted line my friend, now you play the game, get paid to what YOU agreed to and do what you have to do when your contract is up. It actually sounds as if you didn't think you'd make it in the NFL and just saw the money and sighned. Sorry, now you have to live with it. And by the way, you have a ways to go before your Devon Hester.

5-22-2009 @ 10:04AM

David said...

More problems for the Mangidiot and the Cleveland Jets, I mean Browns

5-29-2009 @ 4:24PM

rickbunt49 said...

i feel effort should be rewarded and there is no other player on the browns who gives you more effort and results than josh. pay the man for what he has done for this franchise. he makes special teams from opposing teams ly awake at night tryin to figure out how to stop him when your that good you should be rewarded with a better contract.