Holdout Beginning? Joshua Cribbs to Skip First Minicamp

by Chris Pokorny on May 18, 2009 10:13 AM EDT in General News

According to an exclusive report over at the OBR, Browns returner and all-around specialty man Joshua Cribbs is set to skip the Browns' first "voluntary" minicamp this Tuesday.

Reportedly, Cribbs is upset at the lack of progress that has been made over a new contract. One of the OBR's sources seems to sum up the predicament pretty clearly:

One Browns source stated that "the team is having a hard time figuring out a value to place on what Josh brings to the team. He's obviously a tremendous football player, a tremendous asset to the team and to the city, but we all just have to find some type of way to gauge financially what is acceptable in relation to what he does and to the [salary] cap."

After the 2007 season, the Browns signed Cribbs to a six-year deal with a contract that was considered a steal. In football, there is no such thing as a six-year steal; a holdout can quickly tempt management to up the ante. Cribbs is set to have a base salary of $620,000 in 2009.

The OBR also states that Cribbs is not necessarily looking for a new contract before he returns to practice. If he is satisfied with the progress being made in negotiations, we could see him with the rest of the gang before we know it.

Poll

Should Joshua Cribbs be given a new contract?

Yes, pay the man!

828 votes

No; he's electrifying, but is being too greedy.

248 votes

1076 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I consider this a non-issue. Maybe I’m wrong, but I just totally assume they’re gonna work something out.

Thus, the most important thing is the blurb in the Plain Dealer that he is excited to play safety. After watching in dumfounded horror how Chud/Romeo under-utilized Cribbs, I think Mangini is actually gonna put the man all over the place.

www.lowbrowsophisticate.com

by kwoog on May 18, 2009 12:01 PM EDT reply actions

It’s hard for me to vote in this poll without knowing what type of value Cribbs expects.

by Roger Dorn on May 18, 2009 12:03 PM EDT reply actions

If he’s looking for a modest raise, I’m all for that. His contract is long on years and short on money, and he’s been to a ProBowl since signing that contract.

If he’s looking to get a big money contract, he needs to prove himself on offense or (preferably) defense first. If he holds out for a big money contract, the Browns should trade him for picks.

by e.c. matter on May 18, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

yea thats what im thinking. If I were Kotnkus (sp), i would tell him that we would work out a contract during the season when we find out your value on offense.

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 18, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions

i dont agree with trading him though

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 18, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Tell him that we aren’t sure where he will play yet and that we will pay him more than he is getting now based on what his position(s) end up being.

I wouldn’t be opposed to putting a smallish contract offer on the table now, say 4 years 5 million with a 1.5 million signing bonus. That appears to be more than he is making now, yet nowhere close to outrageous.

I kinda expect better from Cribbs than to hold out.

by rufio on May 18, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

well, it is voluntary. based on the OBR article, it seems like he is just sending a message, but he will attend the mandatory stuff later

by Roger Dorn on May 18, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Right, I don’t consider this holding out. After all, he’s been in Berea working and talking with Mangini, right? Doesn’t sound like he’s too upset.

by Buckeye Brad on May 18, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Although don’t think this won’t allow the PD and the national media to hop onto the Mangini discontent meme

by Roger Dorn on May 18, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Definitely.

by rufio on May 18, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

You know better than to think that these are purely voluntary. They are “voluntary”.

by rufio on May 18, 2009 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions

They are voluntary in the fact that the team cannot fine him for missing

by Roger Dorn on May 18, 2009 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions

True.

by rufio on May 19, 2009 1:43 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree with all posts. I think this whole matter will be put to ease and Cribbs will be out on the field. Rufio is right, I just can’t picture Cribbs doing that.

by tjk_doc on May 18, 2009 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

So he shows up to rookie minicamp and but not team minicamp?

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 18, 2009 4:34 PM EDT reply actions

Could you imagine Cribbs being a rover of defense in open space? He could be a huge nickel blitz specialist. This guy has some amazing skills. Could they translate to safety? Maybe… In open field, what player on our team would you rely on most to make a tackle? Regardless, this guy can set the tone and energy of new regime. Pay the a man. Double his salary. Not sure about much more.

Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic. - Robert S. Wieder

by jerseywahoo on May 18, 2009 7:15 PM EDT reply actions

wide receiver

Josh cribbs is the most under utilized man in pro football.Take a look at Randall el,he is the same kind of player cribbs was in college.They turned him into a wide receiver.The Browns have no deep threat other then edwards and his hands aren’t a sure thing.With Cribbs speed and elusiveness,wide receiver seems like a natural postion for him

by liberal1 on May 18, 2009 8:23 PM EDT reply actions

Even though.......

I agree with what has been said, he DID, after all, sign said contract. No one was holding a gun to his head. He is an awesome player who is being underpaid. But, bottom line, it is his name that he signed and he should have to honor that contract..

by todbran on May 18, 2009 9:02 PM EDT reply actions

your point is taken, and in general i like to subscribe to the same theory, but you just can’t apply that logic to the nfl. the teams aren’t required to honor the contracts (aside from the guaranteed money, they can cut a player at any time and don’t have to pay him another cent), which means the players have to do their best to maximize their earnings when they have leverage. i can’t fault cribbs (or any other player in a similar situation, really).

by DontCallMeJoey on May 18, 2009 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Right, this isn’t baseball. Teams don’t have to honor contracts so why should players?

by Buckeye Brad on May 18, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Also, when your boss promises you a promotion I would think it would be fair to expect one. Lerner told Cribbs they would take care of him. Savage is one thing (with the whole “he’s been fired” thing) but Lerner is the boss’ boss.

There should at least be some discussion, which is all it sounds like Cribbs wants at this point.

by rufio on May 19, 2009 1:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Lerner has denied telling Cribbs that the contract would be re-done. Right now it’s a battle of he said-he said.

by Roger Dorn on May 19, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions

i see cribbs is looking at devin hester’s 4-year, $40mm deal as a starting point. good luck on your next team, josh…

by DontCallMeJoey on May 19, 2009 12:48 PM EDT reply actions

I have to agree. I love watching him play for us, but I dont think this new staff is gonna put up with that.

by tjk_doc on May 19, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions

he won’t get that from any team in the NFL. hopefully he wises up.

by Roger Dorn on May 19, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess what pisses me off the most about this is that he is the last guy I would ever expect to do this.

by tjk_doc on May 19, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

As a starting point?

by BradyQuinnisBeast on May 19, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought that was just Mary Kay’s take on the situation – an inference turned into a statement of absolute fact, as I’ve noticed she has a tendency to do.

by JustBob on May 19, 2009 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions