The latest word out of Berea is that if Josh Cribbs isn't given a new contract he'll ask for a trade.
No surprise. That's how contract negotiations in professional sports work. However, when you start thinking more about the latest Browns nightmare, it's apparent how much the franchise has sunken.
Cribbs is an incredible special teams player. He has the ability to give the offense a new wrinkle. He's supposed to play on defense this year at strong safety or nickel cornerback. Heck, on the surface, he seems like a good guy who works hard.
But when you get right down to the facts, Cribbs is just a guy who excels on special teams. He flashes the ability to do more, but right now he's completely unproven as anything else.
So should Cribbs be in a position to ask for big-time money? Everyone would probably agree that the $620,000 Cribbs is scheduled to make in 2009 is a deal (relatively speaking). But what is the right number? Certainly it's not four years and $40 million like Devin Hester received from Chicago.
More importantly, should a special teams stalwart set contract renegotiation precedent for new regime?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Amazing. None of this stuff is brain surgery.
A player should get paid the going rate based on comparable players at his position. This price haggling, promises based on old talks etc misses the point. If the guy is worth it pay him, if not don't but stop this unprofessional posturing, blame placing and deviousness.
I have started and run and sold several successful businesses and the path to success is straight forward dealing with people along with the skill to do it, leaving all fairly treated with ongoing credibility and respect for the other guys position, if warranted of course. If not warranted then diplomacy is needed to smooth out the wrinkles.
I can't believe that people making the salaries on these teams(including ALL management) are so naive about personal and business relations!
GROW UP GUYS and at least read Andrew Carnegie to get a clue!!
Paying laborers and paying professional athletes under a salary cap are two different things. Randy Lerner is not trying to be stingy; he wants money to put together a team. You can deal fairly with people without compromising your cap.
Cribbs signed a bad contract. He should have realized that from Day One. He underperforms and he's cut. He overperforms and he's trapped for six years. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Now he wants a do-over. If he can maintain his level of play, someone will compensate him for it once he's a free agent.
Cribbs is saying, "You went back on your promise." Well, Josh. You said you would play football for the Cleveland Browns for six years. The Cleveland Browns, in turn, promised to pay you $620K per year. Who is breaking that promise — you know, the one that gave you a chance in the NFL?
i hope josh cribbs gets traded.
so he can stick it to this sorry franchise somewhere down the line.
the lerner's helped art modell steal the team and people are defending randy??? give me a break. this expansion franchise has been defrauding the fans for ten years. screw the cleveland browns.
Here's and interesting article about this situation.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/05/should-the-browns-pay-cribbs/