Aeros’ Weglarz Nabs Player of the Week Honor
May 18, 2009While We’re Waiting… A Josh Cribbs Update, Tinkering Tribe, and Dwight Howard’s Thoughts
May 19, 2009The breaking news from The OBR this morning was in regards to Joshua Cribbs and his disappointment with contract talks. Due to Barry McBride and company’s excellent reporting, we also heard that Cribbs and his camp feel he was made a promise by not only Phil Savage, but by Browns’ owner Randy Lerner that he would be “taken care of” following the 2008 NFL season. Apparently we can all chalk this up to the many miscommunications that seem to abound in Berea. The Browns released the following statement this afternoon on their official website.
“Contrary to published reports this morning, no one from the current Browns organization, including Owner Randy Lerner, has ever made any promises to Josh Cribbs with regard to his contract status.”
Are you all seated? The road from here on out is about to get really bumpy. Shaun Rogers’ situation will look like a pleasure cruise compared to what is about to happen.
29 Comments
Sigh….. When will it ever end for the Browns. They have to be one of the most frustrating teams in the entire world. Team is miserable, nobody wants to play for them, its just one thing after another. Never any good news.
They didn’t have to make the statement… and yet… there it is…
They must be ticked off that J Cribbs went through the media to complain.
Yeah… what do they gain by making this statement? Besides unhappy players?
moratorium
I love he-said she-said situations…
You both hit it right on the head. This was the teams way to cover their end, and the only result will be further damaging the situation.
The Cleveland Browns – a.k.a. the Carlos Boozers of the NFL.
“The Randolph” thought Josh Cribbs was an exciting midfielder on Ashton Villa and approved the “taken care of” comment.
However, he doesn’t approve of taking care of hard-working Browns. Only slouches.
If the Dawg Pound all wore Aston Villa jerseys next season would Randy get confused and the Browns would start winning?
@JK – The Indians are battling for the top spot in the “one of the most frustrating teams in the entire world” title with the Browns methinks.
It’s like this organization gets a thrill out of alienating its players and fans.
Sigh.
Now back to thinking about the Cavs game on Wednesday…
Thump, Thump, Thump!!!!!!!! (Sound of me banging my head on my desk out of confusion and frustration)
I don’t get the Browns. Cribbs is one of only a few Browns players that came to play ever week. He should be the epitome of the type of players Mangini looks for because he’s a hard-nosed, hustle player. I mean it’s a bit ridiculous for him to be asking for a new contract when he still has 4 years left, but the Browns statement didn’t need to be released. Cribbs probably should have kept his statement in-house as well, but what’s done is done. I pray that they can get this straightened out because w/o Cribbs playmaking ability, I fear this team will be even worse than I once thought, which is scary.
Thank God for the Cavs, I need something to keep me in a positive mindset for a while.
Making that statement was the worst possible option, hopelessly amateurish.
“Shun.”
I, however, promised Joshua Cribbs that he’s about the only player on this team that I actually care for. Him and Joe Thomas.
At least the Browns released that statement in the most passive aggressive manner possible – their website.
The interesting thing to me was the inclusion of the term “current” — to me that means they know there was a verbal agreement but it was made by Savage
Bu tin the long run — what was the point of releasing that statement at all? Why not just be quiet and see if he reports, or bring him in, in private to discuss.
This reminds me of the Butch years — all the communication is through the media.
dysfunction prevails. Has anyone figured out where RandyOSU went?
I gave Josh Cribbs my eternal gratitude/respect a few years ago.
If he doesn’t get paid, there is something wrong with this world.
Who cares? go cavs!
Ryan – I agree that he deserves more money, but he did sign the contract. He’s saying he played above expectations, so pay him more. That’s fine, except you can’t take away pay when a player performs terribly. If that were the case, Braylon would’ve made less than u & I last year.
Don’t sign the contract if you don’t plan on honoring it.
@ Ryan M – technically he’s still being paid, and is being paid a lot of money – approximately 3 that of the President. So, it’s not like he’s broke.
But yea, based on league salaries, he ought to get more.
@ Lyon – he did sign the contract, but don’t forget: these football players can be cut at any time and get NOTHING!! That is why i rarely have a problem with football players renegotiating their contracts. Their money is basically not promised to them so they need guaranteed bucks.
Regardless, pay the freaking guy. he is the best player on our team. what’s it gonna take for this team to get it right? I’m living in Brooklyn and I have no idea why I don’t just start following the Giants.
I actually think it is fair to say that Cribbs ought to establish his role on the team this year, whether it be on the offensive or defensive side of the ball, before he renegotiates his deal. That being said, my real qualms with this are the fact that it appears so snippy in the public. This is NOT the way to handle your business. Apparently the Browns weren’t happy with Cribbs’ putting this in the paper. They responded in an awful way though. Two wrongs make a nasty offseason for the Browns fans. Nobody suffers this whole thing more than we do.
Cribbs will get his contract re-worked if he comes out and proves to the new Regime, in the first 1/3 of the season, that he deserves an increase.
So like Edwards, Cribbs needs to pretend he is in a contract year.
Everyone on here wants to bump his pay- I say- make him prove it by coming out and having a huge impact this year. So far, I say Cribbs has started off on the wrong foot with going to the Media. That has forced Mangini’s hand to prove to Lerner, that this isnt Camp Romeo, and HE is in charge. This will be interesting to see how it plays out. Hopefully Cribbs has surrounded himself with the right people who will teach him just a little more patience.
Agree with you Dawgs…. Come out strong, and then maybe the deal gets reworked during the season. Or, if he becomes more involved either as a RB, WR, DB, or part time QB, then he inevitably deserves more.
Saggy – I know what you’re saying. It’s not right that they can get cut at anytime. But still, why not just sign 1 year contracts if you’re going to want to renogiate after every good year.
Josh was banged up a bit last year and missed some games as well. He really only benefits the Browns RIGHT NOW if he returns each and every punt and kickoff. Now if he is involved more this year on offense or defense, then we have some wiggle room.
Agreed, though, that the Browns should have not renegotiated, but they should have also been quiet about it.
The fans can be so negative, it’s more about them then the team going through normal negotiations. Cribbs has a legit gripe but only a slight one. No one is going to offer him big bucks he’s got huge potential so negotiate. Browns fans save the negative comments for you own miserable life!
It is not the Browns’ fault that Cribbs signed a long term contract that severely undervalues his play. I thoughht the contract was a 100% ripoff of Cribbs on the day it was signed. When Devin Hester got $0 bizillion out of the Bears, you knew Cribbs would figure out he was taken.
So ultimately, this is completely the fault of Cribbs.
That being said, the Browns could throw one of their better players a bone and give him another million or two.
[…] while we wait out the Josh Cribbs saga, Browns fans should at least take the latest Shaun Rogers news as a small mental victory. In […]
My problem with all this, is you never hear the owners demanding that the player give back money for underachieving! So why should they pony up when the guy has a good year or two. He signed the contact and acccepted the guaranteed money, now live with it!
C’mon Josh. You JUST renegotiated your contract (which wasn’t even up for negotiation at the time). What do people not understand when they are signing a contract?
Seriously, Josh…you’re letting me down. I was going to buy my nephew a #16 jersey this year, because I want him to be a hard-worker like you on the field. At the same time I definitely don’t want him to be a cry-baby who is always talking about what he deserves all the time. Hmm….Maybe I’ll get him a #73. He works just as hard (and doesn’t complain). Give us a break.