New Deal Inching Closer for Joshua Cribbs

by Chris Pokorny on Feb 18, 2010 12:32 PM EST in General News

According to Jason La Canfora of NFL.com, the Cleveland Browns are getting closer to settling the contract situation with Joshua Cribbs.

The sides have the framework of a three-year deal in place that would replace the existing three years left on Cribbs' contract, but are continuing negotiations on the amount of guaranteed money, according to league sources. Cribbs is seeking in the range of $10 million guaranteed, while the Browns have been offering half of that at this time.

Still, there is a sense that gap could be bridged in a few negotiating sessions, and much of the complicated issues with the deal -- a multi-layered bonus and incentive structure based on playing time and performance at various positions (special teams returns, tackles, receptions, rushing yards as the option quarterback, etc.) -- are essentially completed.

Link (NFL.com)

Canfora also reports that the two sites might be interested in including an option for more years to the deal beyond 2012. Cribbs is asking for a lot more guaranteed money that the Browns' current offer, but based on the progress it's hard to imagine there being another falling out.

Here's the question now -- in the long run, did Cribbs' and his agents' strategy to go public help their cause in getting a new contract, or would the new staff have negotiated this type of deal regardless? Either way, it doesn't appear as though there is a scenario in which Cribbs is on the losing end of the situation.

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Positive.

by Roger Dorn on Feb 18, 2010 12:34 PM EST reply actions

Great to see our front office hard at work. Lets get this done and start the new season in a positive note.
As for his agents strategy.. I think in his situation which was very different then most players for one being in a bad contact, then, being a fan favorite and also his job description (kick returner, punt returner, gunner, wide receiver, partial qb and running back) . It worked. going public to the fans was really all the chance Josh had to help him. But i like to think the Browns would have taken care of him either way.
GOOD TO BE A BROWN !!

by Locnar on Feb 18, 2010 3:24 PM EST reply actions

would have got done anyway as Holmgren said he wanted the guy from the beginning

considering his agents went public before Holmgren even had an office yet, i think they were a little premature…..it would have got done anyway, as Holmgren said he wanted the guy from the beginning

by pittsburghbrownie on Feb 18, 2010 5:21 PM EST reply actions

oops….didn’t mean to put anything in the stupid subject line with the bold letters, oh well i think i still made my point

by pittsburghbrownie on Feb 18, 2010 5:22 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah!!! I hope so. I bought a jersey of his near the end of last season. Would have been a bad jinx that I might not have gotten over. I’m sure there are people more insanely a fan of this guy. I was just a season ticket holder looking to get another jersey other than Spielman. Too much of Massillon homer. This could just be the start of something good.

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

by jerseywahoo on Feb 19, 2010 1:07 AM EST reply actions

I don´t like how he is self designating towards so many uses, linked to bonuses.
I also don´t like how he is simultaneously claiming responsibility towards saving Eric Mangini´s job as a special teamer, and omitting him from the negotiation process. Eric Mangini had managerial duties when it came to negotiating with players. I think Josh Cribb´s roster spot as well as usage is still to be determined by Eric Mangini.
He may be versatile, but he is not talented enough at the individual opportunities, to justify qualifications beyond his prime talent as a punt and kick returner.

by mooncamping on Feb 19, 2010 6:51 AM EST reply actions

He’s not claiming that he saved Manginis job, that assertion was made by the author of the nfl.com article. Also, where did you get that Mangini is being held out of the negotiation process and that it is Cribbs’ doing? If Mangini has no input into the situation, then it certainly is not because Josh Cribbs wants it that way.

"There is a small, but important difference between peeing in the pool and peeing into the pool." - Demitri Martin

by Browns town on Feb 19, 2010 8:38 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Josh Cribbs pairs passion with intelligence. It is not surprising that he´s employing a novel approach towards contract re-negotiation.
He´s employing two agents. He willingly took on extra duty as an All-purpose player, and now he wants this greater propensity included in the new contract. Now I don´t mind having a Swiss Army Knife, but I bought a can opener. In other words, what I´m paying for is his freakish talent as a punt and kick returner, and it´s not surprising that such an athlete can do “OK” filling in for lack of talent at positions deserving NFL performance and NFL payment. I get a feeling the front office feels suckered in, because he has subbed at all these positions.

by mooncamping on Feb 20, 2010 8:20 AM EST up reply actions

I read this, and it reminded me of this.

Brady Quinn will never be a good quarterback for the Browns.

by danvail on Feb 19, 2010 9:33 AM EST up reply actions

Nice

The Browns seem to be proactive so hopefully their zeal rubs off on the owners and players so a lockout can be averted. You Clevelanders should love Mike Holmgren, he knows what he’s doing. Cribbs is a keeper. I honestly believe he’ll continue to play at a high level even after his contract is done.

Brad James

by the new Bradfather on Feb 19, 2010 5:11 PM EST reply actions