The Hit on Browns' Josh Cribbs an Inappropriate Act of Retaliation

Written by Daniel Wolf

After reading a Bleacher Report article on how Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn should be suspended for a low blow on Baltimore Ravens defender Terrell Suggs, I had to make a stand for my Browns and write this article on how the hit on Josh Cribbs was uncalled for and Ravens defensive end Dwan Edwards should be suspended and fined for this hit.

It was the last play of the game, and Quinn threw a pass to Cribbs, who then began to run and also look for another Browns player to lateral to.

He found tight end Robert Royal, who caught the ball, but then unbeknownst to Cribbs, he was targeted by Edwards. After I watched the replay, Edwards went for Cribbs' throat and smashed his arm right into Cribbs' head, causing him to lie motionless on the field once the game was over.

Was this a retaliation play by the Ravens' Edwards because Quinn was just trying to make a play earlier in the game and went a little too low and hit Suggs' knees because he was going for the defender who picked off his pass?

I would say it is very possible knowing that the Ravens like to play very aggressively and perhaps too aggressively at times.

In Quinn's defense, he is a quarterback who normally doesn't block big defensive players on a regular basis, so even after watching the reply of his block on Suggs, I would say that he was trying to make a play to the best of his ability without trying to hurt himself or another.

On the other hand, Edwards' hit on Cribbs looked to be a direct result of him going after Cribbs and attacking his head rather than his body.

Cribbs was eventually carted off the field and he was taken to a local Cleveland hospital immediately.

No word yet on the status of Cribbs' injury, but Browns coach Eric Mangini did tell the media that Cribbs did have feeling and movement in all of his extremities.

The Ravens were successful in beating the Browns 16-0 on Monday Night Football and they were also successful in possibly ending the season of one of the Browns' best and most talented players on their roster.

As a Browns fan, my prayers go out to Cribbs for good news and to have a speedy recovery and I strongly suggest to NFL officials to throw the hammer down on Edwards and suspend him for multiple games and give him a tremendous fine for his hit.

(Thank you Sam Ingro for the following photo!)

(Article also posted on Dawg Scooper  and Bleacher Report)