First quarter: Cribbs' role expands
It's Alumni Day at Heinz Field, with many former Steelers on the sidelines. The locals say this usually revs up the home team because they don't want ot let the past greats down. … Hines Ward drops big throw on third-and-10. … Brodney Pool fortunate he was not flagged for late hit on the play. … We've had a Mohammed Massaquoi drop, which helps waste great field position provided by Josh Cribbs. … Browns get the ball back thanks to fumble and Cribbs plays a lot of quarterback. He finally throws a pass and it Chansi Stuckey drops it. … The next play Cribbs is blitzed and he throws it right to Troy Polamalu. … Polamalu may have hurt his knee on the play. … Browns are competing, but they have had great field position twice in the first quarter without scoring. Pittsburgh 0, Cleveland 0.
Second quarter: Pittsburgh takes command
Steelers drive for score as Ben Roethlisberger destroys secondary. Heath Miller makes three catches on drive. … On the touchdown, Roethlisberger had time to finish his Christmas shopping before making the throw. … A Browns receiver just caught a pass. … Browns respond with a drive, including two runs for first downs on third down. … But Brian Robiskie lands out of bounds on a third down throw. … Hines Ward is a better football player than anyone on the Browns. … Roethlisberger goes for a TD to Ward for 52 yards. … Roethlisberger has developed into one of the top four quarterbacks in the league. … Cribbs keeps the Browns in it by returning the kickoff for a touchdown. … He, like Hines Ward, is a true football player. … Weird measurement situation where Browns thought they stopped Roethlisberger sneak and officials gave the ball to the Steelers even though the TV angle seemed to show the gain was short. … Replay overturns what looked like a Ward touchdown catch. … Field goal gives Pittsburgh 10-point lead. … Derek Anderson went 2-for-9 the first half, making him 4-for-26 the last three halves. … Pittsburgh 17, Cleveland 7.
Third quarter: A fumble-fest
Browns start third quarter the right way, with a touchdown drive that featured two catches by Massaquoi, one for 43 yards. … Roethlisberger threw for 239 yards in the first half. … Pittsburgh comes right back with another touchdown. … After using Cribbs very cleverly in the first quarter, the Browns lined up in the "wildcat" only once since Cribbs threw an interception. … Pittsburgh has two turnovers this quarter. The Steelers turning the ball over is keeping the Browns in the game. … Cribbs returns in wildcat late in quarter — and hands off to Jamal Lewis. … A Steelers blitz, though, leads to a sack and fumble, which Pittsburgh recovers. … But Pittsburgh fumbles it right back to the Browns. … Turnovers marred that quarter. Neither team took advantage of the other's mistakes. … Pittsburgh 24, Cleveland 14.
Fourth quarter: Pittsburgh wins … again
The Browns defense is providing the Steelers a bad combination: Poor pass rush and the inability to cover anyone. Pittsburgh's receivers have been running wide open all game long. … Another completion to a wide open Pittsburgh receiver. … Steelers kick a field goal, then kick away from Cribbs. Because they do, the Browns get the ball at the 45-yard-line. …. Derek Anderson tries to make something happen on third-and-15 and throws into coverage and is intercepted. … That should just about do it. … Roethlisberger finds another receiver running wide open for a first down. … Pittsburgh keeps the ball the rest of the game. … The gulf between the two teams remains wide. … Pittsburgh 27, Cleveland 14.
Its so difficult to watch a Browns game.
Rich G.,
You left out about six "o"s after the "s" in your otherwise spot on statement above.
(As in "Its sooooooo difficult ….)
To me, the whole handling of Cribbs shows what's wrong with the Mangini way of doing things. Pay the man his money, now.
But no, he'd much prefer to be a jerk about it, vs. taking care of someone who deserves a raise.
Its been a few hours since I've watched the game. It doesn't sting as much anymore. I can actually pin-point where the weakness is on the team exist. These three positions are what I think is holding this team back from being successful.
OLB
FS
RT
Give me a break. Cribbs deserves to have his existing contract ripped up? Why, because he's the sole playmaker on an otherwise now playmaker-less bad team?
Cribbs is a special teams guy. To date, that's it. Returns punts and kicks well, tackles guys on special teams defense well. Other than that, he's been nothing. He's shown next to nothing as a receiver, he's shown next to nothing as a runner, he's shown next to nothing as a passer. Don't give me the Devin Hester argument. He doesn't even compare to a guy like Leon Washington, who legitimately plays multiple positions, and makes half of what Cribbs makes.
Cribbs is nothing but a special teams guy that occasionally plays in the NFL Flavor of the Month, that being the silly college "wildcat" offense. Evidently the wishbone is too turkeyish at this time of year.
Cribbs should just shut up. Stop tossing ridiculous interceptions. Stop dropping passes. Live and let live on your million or so bucks a year. Which, by the way, is twice what Leon Washington is making, another guy whining about feeding his family. And yes, Washington actually used that phrase, and I quote a quote which sounds suspiciously like it could be Cribbs: “If you think about it, I can’t walk. I’m only making $535,000 this year. I’ve got to pay bills. I’ve got to feed my family.”
Hey, Cribbs. Shut up. Your new agent won't shut up, because he wants his fees for negotiating a new contract. If you want to get a message to Lerner, then deliver your message via Lerner's new locker room spy, the bankrupt boozehound that's repaying penny by penny the $1.5 million he owes the Browns by being a sneaky mole, thus further pissing off Mangini. Not that Mangini doesn't need an Al Davis-like mole in Berea to fink on Mangini, but come on. As if it's not a toxic atmosphere already.
Whining professional athletes making pretty good dollars for seven months of work. Start passing, rushing and catching something, and Cribbs will deserve more. That would be fair. Otherwise, he's just another girlyman with ridiculous hair.
I get the feeling if he went to Michigan instead of Kent State, the fans' reaction to his whining would be a little different.
Whoops … actually this year, Cribbs is "only" making $110,000 more than Washington this season. Although, I'm guessing Cribbs has some incentive clauses somewhere in there, so maybe it's more. Who knows. Who cares.
@Alan T. – "he's shown next to nothing as a runner"
Yeah, other than 8.4 yards/rush.
Wow, on a whole six carries in one game! Impressive! Of course, Leon Washington had more carries in today's game alone than Cribbs has had all year combined, let alone almost as many yards rushing as Cribbs has had all year combined, but hey, why let facts get in the way.
I just had an idea: Perhaps the Browns should see what Cornelius Greene is doing these days and stick him on the Browns roster and have him do a little scrambling. Anything for the Cleveland suburban townfolk that will buy whatever nonsense they're selling, no matter how it's spun. OK? I have no idea where he is, but maybe Archie Griffin, Pete Johnson or Brian Baschnagel will. Hey, Brian D., I'll give them all a call and get back to you on that.
Oh, and not to get to anal or anything, but technically that fabulous rushing performance reaped a reward of 7.5 yards per carry, not 8.4. Take away that one long carry, and you have an average of 5.4 yards per carry. But let's stick with that 7.5. So I guess this means if he rushes 30 times a game, as you apparently believe he's doing, he'll be rushing for about 3,600 yards a season. I have to admit, that's not bad.
Actually, Brian D., I think it's going to take too much time to find Greene, so I'm just going to track down Bobby Douglass for you to worship. He's got the pro experience more to your liking. OK?
Hey Alan, Cribbs 8.4 yards/rush is for the SEASON, not this week's game.
And it's not his fault how little he is used on offense.
And how's your boy Braylon doing? Let's see….targeted 9 times this week for 3 receptions, intercepted on 4 of those, and another huge drop. I'm sure Braylon ran either a lazy, sloppy or incorrect pattern for most of those int's, but Sanchez probably already has learned not to blame Edwards because you don't want to upset the diva receiver. So, Braylon's personal losing streak is now up to 12 games.
Are you for real, Brian? Cribbs has 12 rushes ALL season! 52 rushes IN HIS ENTIRE CAREER! A mere 52 rushes more than my dead father! Stop being so mesmerized with totally meaningless statistics. It's folks like you that allow the Lerners, Dolans and Gilberts of the world to get away with what they get away with.
alan t. – who peed in your wheaties. You hate Cribbs so bad and he is the only one on the team that deserves anything in their check. We got contract holdout Quinn and D.A. taking up about half of the team salary and Cribbs is easily as good as either one of these two clowns at QB. Why not get rid of one of these two duds give Cribbs just one of their paychecks. I guarantee he has more heart to get the job done and motivate this team to step it up and win than GQ and Bozo. You are obviously too busy sniffing Leon Washington's jock strap to see the games or you would know that. Congrats on Braylon – hope you play alot of Monday night games. That's the only time he's sober enough to catch the ball.
Nobody peed in my Wheaties. I don't like Wheaties.
So, let me get this straight … a guy returns punts and kicks, and is the sole guy on the team who can create something, but really, only in the context of that small niche. So, he deserves to be paid a fortune for special teams work simply because the rest of the team sucks.
And wow, the guy has "heart." But apparently, not enough "heart" to keep his mouth shut about his contract during the season. Playing footsie through the media instead of acting like a professional and doing it quietly behind closed doors.
Who are you, Danny Ferry's financial adviser?
And then we get the usual dumb comments badmouthing Edwards, when the plain painful fact of the matter is he obviously is so more talented than what's left, it's not even worthy of discussion.
I've got an idea. Why not just see what that 145-pound dwarf is doing these days, and he can replace Cribbs. What's his name, for some reason I'm drawing a blank. He had a couple of decent return years with the Browns, and just like you, folks were simply titillated by a guy with limited value on a bad team.
Ok, so much to respond to… so little time.
1) I could not care less where Cribbs played his college ball. My issue with paying him is solely based on his production at the position he plays.
2) It always takes me a little aback at how little respect special teams players — especially good ones, get. Starting drives constantly at the 40 yard line or better would be a huge advantage for any NFL team with a decent offense. Oh yeah; he (along with those blocking on the play) occasionally go the distance without having to trouble the offense at all. In addition, he's the best defensive special teams player they have as well.
3) It's not his fault Mangini's minions can't use him correctly on offense.
4) What's with the constant calls for people to "shut up?" Cribbs has expressed himself rather well, I think — not being disrespectful to his teammates, coaches, or the fans.
Cribbs has expressed himself rather well? How is screaming through the media that he's looking out for #1 *DURING THE FREAKIN' SEASON* expressing himself rather well? Better he should scream that he can't pass worth a damn and that he's going to put in extra practice to learn.
In fact, he and his agent are stinking opportunists. They are attempting to benefit from him being on a really bad team. He wouldn't be screaming through the media about his contract if he was on a good team, because he and his agent know the media and the fans would respond that he is being selfish. Thinking about only himself instead of the team. But since he's on a bad team, it somehow makes it OK to be selfish, and fans who are suckers for anything buy into the farce.
The calls for him to shut up are totally apropos.
Cribbs' productive lifespan in the NFL erodes weekly; Mangini & management have no such limitations — just look at how Mangini got where he is today. He was run out of NY and landed on his feet in total control of another football team.
Cribbs' career can be over in an instant. Pay the man his money.
And that's the risk a guy takes playing in the NFL. If he doesn't like it, then he should have gotten a job playing in the NBA. If he doesn't like it, then he shouldn't have signed a contract extension. Did anybody hold a gun to his head?
The man is being paid his money. To the best of my knowledge, he is not having any of his checks withheld. He gets paid on the 1st and on the 15th like clockwork. Until he proves he can do something on a consistent basis other than playing on special teams, then he is being paid his worth. The guy should go to Thistledown and steal himself a muzzle.
Come to think of it, I'm surprised none of the boobs who quote stupid passer ratings like it's the Ten Commandments haven't typed Cribbs' passer rating. I'm sure it's fabulous.
Better yet, if his "career can be over in an instant," then do what any guy with a business brain would do to protect himself. Buy contract insurance from Lloyd's of London. Problem solved.
"And then we get the usual dumb comments badmouthing Edwards, when the plain painful fact of the matter is he obviously is so more talented than what's left, it's not even worthy of discussion."
The fact that you could even seriously say this makes me think I might be arguing with an uneducated person. Why? Because no matter how much supportive data is thrown your way, once you've made your mind up, their is nothing anyone can say to crack the eggshell you are living in.
"How is screaming through the media that he's looking out for #1 *DURING THE FREAKIN' SEASON* expressing himself rather well? Better he should scream that he can't pass worth a damn and that he's going to put in extra practice to learn."
Cribbs doesn't hold press conferences to express his dissatisfaction about his contract. It is an issue that reporters are aware of and they ask questions. 95% of the time he does say he wants to put in extra practice to learn. Bubble boys like yourself only hear the 5% of the conversation that got put on ESPN about the contract situation. It's not as if he goes out and bats down balls during drills. He goes out and does what he gets paid (dismally IN MY OPINION) to do. So he didn't holdout for more money, he didn't under perform to be traded, hell, he doesn't even want traded, yet he's "crying" in the media.
"Come to think of it, I'm surprised none of the boobs who quote stupid passer ratings like it's the Ten Commandments haven't typed Cribbs' passer rating. I'm sure it's fabulous."
If you were going off of passer ratings, Cribbs might as well be the starting QB. His numbers couldn't be much more dismal than what we've had to date. Which is why I said cut Quinn and DA and start Cribbs with one of those guys checks. But if you don't base your QB love off of passer ratings or "heart" then you have to base them off of W's and if that's the case logic dictates that you might as well jump on the Joshua Cribbs bandwagon. He would save our team money and he would get his and I don't think we could lose any more games with him back their than with anyone else.
By the way, if hearing about a players contract negotiations bothers you so adversely, I suggest that you bow out of watching these programs so as to lower your blood pressure. These things happen all the time. No NFL, NBA, or MLB player is worth what they are paid, but these players put butts in the seat and pad the wealth of their team owners. It is not such a big deal that a player asks for more money as long as they are still delivering a quality product without interrupted service. That's the American way and you should not upset yourself so greatly with it.
Uhh … Cribbs AGENT was called by the reporters? No. The other way around. There is a simple expression Cribbs can use. "No comment." Like I said, an opportunist. The sole guy with any semblance of talent, albeit nothing but a really, really poor man's Antwaan Randle El, on a really, really bad team.
And what are you talking about? He threatened to hold out. He was griping publicly in the off-season. He's griping publicly now. That's not how professionals are supposed to act.
Stop being such a homer. That's a textbook homer post. I have $10,000 that says you feel the exact same way about Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
Smithers(aka alan t.)
True his agent is the one charged with making the contract dispute public matter. From that point forward the media can ask any questions they wish of the player wishing to renegotiate their contract. No comment is great to say but really doesn't help sell your point.
Being that he unwisely signed a lengthy contract his only option at this point is to threaten holdout to get attention. He did not holdout. He played and better than most – Smithers.
Do you own a team Smithers? Are you the one that makes multi-million $$ off the backs of these athletes? Lerner makes a great deal of money and it wouldn't kill him or his crony Man-genius to throw a little charity to those that still take playing for the Browns seriously.
By the way Smithers, if you want to start slinging insults around, understand that you only prove further my point of your lack of education. You think you've taken some hard ass stance when truly I believe you are simply defending the view point of someone far cooler than you could ever hope to be. Perhaps it's a mancrush. And you would lose your bet because I don't give one good damn about Zydrunas Ilgauskas, the Cavaliers, or the whole stinking sport of basketball. I even had to google that ridiculous name…Smithers.
Smithers? I prefer Apu.
He's a special teams guy. That's it. He's being paid what he's worth. He signed a contract. It's not a charity, it's a business. Cribbs got a guaranteed $2 million just for writing his name on a piece of paper. If he turned out to be lousy, would he have given it back? He didn't make the Pro Bowl last season, a fact homers ignore. He might not make the Pro Bowl this season. Just because he's better than a lot of the other players on the Browns roster is irrelevant. Just because he *might* be able to play other positions is irrelevant.
If he starts playing quarterback, safety, running back and wide receiver on every down and on every possession, and does it without looking like he's just another guy on an expansion team, then get back to me. Otherwise, it's dumb to even discuss.
A young universe is challenged by the distant starlight problem, which presents the dilemma of how light from objects millions or billions of light years away could be observed in a young universe. ,