9:45 a.m. – Mike & Mike in the Morning (9:40 a.m. ET, ESPN Radio/ESPN2),

11:20 a.m. – First Take (ESPN2)

1:15 p.m. – ESPN.com chat

2:40 p.m. – ESPNEWS

3:40 p.m. - The Scott Van Pelt Show (3:40 p.m. ET, ESPN Radio/ESPNU)

4 p.m. – The Doug Gottlieb Show (ESPN Radio – taped),

4 p.m. – NFL Live (ESPN)

6 p.m. – SportsCenter (ESPN)

Gee … I wonder what he'll discuss there.

I was going to wonder if Cribbs really has that much to say, but then I asked myself: Does any athlete have that much to say? I don't even think Charles Barkley could fill all that time.

I don't suppose his contract demands last week had anything to do with the fact that he had this ESPN day scheduled.

Nah.

That had to be just a coincidence.

How much he should be paid, I don't know. He's a very valuable and talented player. If anyone deserves a re-worked deal it's him. There's no problem with him asking.

And … if the Browns really said their latest offer is their final offer (as claimed by the Cribbs camp) … well I don't agree with that approach. No offer is ever final until it's agreed upon. That's why it's called a negotiation.

But … expecting Mike Holmgren to drop the GM search and coaching decision to re-do this deal when the opening game is nine months off is just silly.

So is making a threat about not playing a game when the game is in September and it's now … umm … January. In fact, it's ridiculous.

Again, Cribbs deserves to be paid, but what's he gonna miss the next few months?

Talk about empty threats.

There is plenty of time to work this out. For anyone to do conniptions now over this latest public posturing by Cribbs and his agent is ludicrous. How many hundred times are we going to hear and read about a guy being insulted and taking his stuff and going home and holding his breath and turning blue only to see it work out in the end before we realize it's all the nonsense that goes with contract talks?

If Cribbs has a contract issue come minicamp, well then there's a small problem.

If Cribbs has the same issue come training camp, it's a bigger problem.

If Cribbs is not on the field for opening day, then it's a real problem that you'd think could and should have been solved.

But last I looked, opening game is nine months from now.

I think there's time to work it out.

Cribbs wants a new contract. He deserves a new contract. He's mad he hasn't gotten a new contract. So now he's gone public, one day after Mike Holmgren spent his first day in the building as the team's new president.

Two thoughts:

–Isn't it kind of likely that Holmgren might have a little more on his plate at the moment, like building an organization and hiring a General Manager and deciding on the coach.

–Has a player who is under contract ever threatened to sit out a game that was nine months away? I mean … isn't there a lot of time left in the offseason to work this out?

The Browns proved that the final month in beating Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Oakland and Jacksonville.

In winning the final four games, the Browns outrushed their final four opponents 900-464.

That means the Browns averaged 225 yards rushing per game.

Which is pretty amazing, all things considered.

Much of the credit for this goes to the offensive line.

Much goes to Jerome Harrison.

Much goes to the incomparable Josh Cribbs.

Much goes to Eric Mangini and the coaching staff for recognizing what needed to be done and for changing the blocking scheme to a zone blocking approach.

But I also can't ignore the fact that the opponents and weather conditions dictated the approach to a certain degree. Running the ball in the miserable weather against Pittsburgh and Jacksonville made sense. Running against Kansas City's miserable defense made sense. Oakland was ranked 29th against the run going into Sunday.

So let's not ignore the reality that conditions and opponents contributed to the 900 yards.

That being said, the Browns did gain 900 yards in four games and they topped 160 yards rushing in a game in each of the last four wins, something that hasn't happened since 1968. Which is impressive if I were coaching (and thank goodness I'm not).

Any team that plays four of five home games in Cleveland in December needs to run the ball to win. The Browns won because they ran successfully.

It's probably the top highlight of the last month.

Random thoughts …

–I don't know what to make of Jerome Harrison, except that he looked awful good the final month. Where he was the previous 12 games and three years is up for debate.

–The Browns are only the second team since the league went to a 16-game schedule in 1978 to start 1-11 and finish with four wins in a row. New England did it in 1993 under Bill Parcells, in Drew Bledsoe's rookie season.

–Mangini said Parcells pointed that fact out to him in a phone conversation earlier this season.

–Please spare me the talk that all these wins mean so much. They mean something, yes, but I ache for the day when the Browns win games in September and October instead of in December when their fate is long decided.

–And for all those who say I won't point out Alex Mack's play, I will point out that Alex Mack has played well as the season has progressed. I invite anyone to go back and read what I wrote the day after the draft and around the draft. I always said the choice was not because Mack might not be a good player, he might be a great player. My criticism was that when you have the fifth pick you take a standout instead of trading down three times for a center.

–Mangini never sounded better this season than he did in his postgame news conference. He was compelling in stating his case to stay, classy about the fact he might not stay and proud of how his team finished. As he talked I kept thinking that was the Mangini who sat down for the Clark Judge interview in the bye week, and I wish that Mangini had appeared from the get-go this season.

–LeCharles Bentley — whose work on radio is better than almost anyone in the area — made a good point on WKNR before the game. He said that Mangini's approach had alienated the fans and media early this season to such a degree that owner Randy Lerner had to step out of the background and make a dramatic move, which he did by hiring Mike Holmgren. Now, as Bentley pointed out, Mangini's fate is in question. Bentley should be on the networks. He's that well-spoken and insightful.

–Asked Corey Williams if all the negative stories this season were blown out of proportion or if there was justification. He hesitated, said: "You're putting me in a tough spot." Then he said: "No comment."

–Josh Cribbs weighed in in favor of Mangini, saying: "The discipline and details he brought to this team showed in the four straight wins." Every time I quote Cribbs I flash back to him saying this after the Browns lost at home to Pittsburgh last season: "We're going to take this loss and run with it."

–Derek Anderson was asked if the four wins to end the season made a statement about the coach and Mangini's ability to get the team to play. "I think it says more about the guys in there (the locker room)," he said. "Not giving up and playing for each other the whole second half of the season."

–As for all these quotes … whatever. The only opinion that matters right now is Mike Holmgren's. And we'll see how he decides.

As for Holmgren …

2)      Sea legs. That's the image I keep coming up with when I think of his addition as president. He gives the Browns their sea legs. This team has had leaders, but none came from the football end. None brought the depth of experience on the football end that Holmgren has. He's coached, been involved in building teams, he's smart and he's worked with and presumably learned from smart people. He can address issues, ask "why" and help the team ride out the little crises every team experiences without them becoming traumatic or overly dramatic. He gives the Browns their sea legs to get through the waves and — hopefully — to calmer water.

3)      The General Manager will be a very, very important hire. I throw out some these names: Tom Heckert Jr. of the Philadelphia Eagles and Eric DeCosta of the Baltimore Ravens. Heckert would be outstanding, but it will be very tough to get him out of Philadelphia. DeCosta knows the division, but I would imagine if the Browns call Ozzie Newsome one more time to ask for permission to interview one of his guys he might go hide in Edgar Allen Poe's grave. This will be fascinating to see how Holmgren proceeds on the GM.

4)      It will also be interesting to see if he keeps Eric Mangini. Mangini was not his hire. He does not run the West Coast offense that Holmgren loves. Mangini's style with the media, though very cordial, is not the same as Holmgren's. Their cultures are much different. That being said, Holmgren was a coach, and he knows that it's not entirely fair to give a guy one year. But he also has to know that George Kokinis has filed an arbitration case against the Browns, claiming Mangini did not let him do his job. This seems like a very tenuous situation for the coach.

5)      It seems to me we might be looking at this the wrong way. Mangini came to Cleveland with what he perceived as a lot of power. He re-arranged the building, spent a ton of money, had a mural of Hall of Famers removed (it never returned) and acted like the king of the mountain. Like most kids, though, he has learned he can be pushed off the mountain. I wonder this: Does Mangini want to be part of a team where he has to surrender power and work for a guy who didn't hire him? Because if he stays, the perception will be that he's on a one-year tryout.

6)      If there is going to be a change, it almost seems like the best thing for Mangini and the Browns is to do it quickly and with dignity the day after the season. Make the move, thank Mangini for his work and simply state that the new president would like to hire his coach. That's the fairest approach to a difficult situation for Mangini. It's also fair to the team, the organization, and fair to the fans. Whether Mangini stays or goes, this team is starting over — from the bottom of the pack.

7)      As for that win over Kansas City … exciting … interesting … bizarre in some ways … entertaining. Any win is a good win, and two in a row is better.

8)      It's predictable, though. In fact it was predictable back in October when the Browns were losing. The December portion of the schedule had some games against teams struggling as badly as the Browns. Kansas City, Oakland, those kind of teams. If the Browns didn't compete against them, we'd have known the bottom truly had dropped out. They beat Pittsburgh impressively, and followed with a good win against Kansas City. It's good, but it doesn't suddenly mean that everything that happened earlier doesn't matter. Let's keep in mind that in every win this season the Browns quarterback threw for less than 100 yards. It all matters, the losses as well as the wins. But let's not do back flips. It's not justified to put extra meaning on a meaningless December game against a team with three wins. It is, as Bill Clinton might say, what it is.

9)      Jerome Harrison gains 286 yards rushing, prompting football types everywhere to say: Where did THAT come from? Harrison goes from ineffective to the Hall of Fame in about three weeks. He has games where you think he'll never make it to a game where you think he should be the featured back. No doubt Harrison was helped by the fact that the Chiefs were without two starting linemen, but 286 yards goes beyond any injury or injuries. It's special. (By the by … fullback Lawrence Vickers? A football player.) Now it's up to Harrison to prove he's the real deal and not the second coming of Lee Suggs.

10)   Josh Cribbs has overtaken Joe Thomas for my personal Player of the Year choice. Talk about an amazing player. Two kickoff returns in one game? Simply defies any and all odds. This proves a few things to me. Cribbs is one special player when used properly, and for him being used properly means as a returner and out of the backfield running the ball. A receiver he's not. Second, it's not surprising in one way. The Browns have a lot of good special teams players on the roster and they were facing a team that does not have a great roster, which means their special teams are not strong. If a standout can have a big game, it would be against a special teams group like Kansas City's. Finally, Cribbs is one special, special player — worth every penny he's going to be paid. Cribbs is a guy who might benefit from Holmgren's presence. A number of years back, the Packers had a tight end named Mark Chmura, who was pretty good. They traded for Keith Jackson from Miami, and he was pretty good. Once Jackson joined the team, Holmgren used both tight ends with two wide receivers. He lined them up alongside each other. Teams didn't know who to cover, and it was very effective. Holmgren is the kind of guy who might come up with some new ways to use Cribbs in the offense.

And … because it's the Browns … a bonus 11 …

11)   One other fallout from the hiring of Holmgren will be the positive reaction among players around the league. The impression of the team a week ago was not positive, and it would have made it more difficult to sign a free agent. Holmgren's credibility might open some possibilities that did previously did not exist. Which is a good thing. I know he has to prove himself in the new job, but he sure brings a lot of positives.

Three and Out

Dear Pat,

If I'm Mike Holmgren, I would tell Eric Mangini I want him to come to my home in Seattle the day after the season ends to discuss his future … then hand him a Cleveland-to-Seattle Greyhound bus ticket.

Don't you think we should withhold judgment on Holmgren for a month or two to see if he holds the door for Ahtyba Rubin at the local Panera, or gives Jim Brown's executive parking space at Berea to Jerome Harrison?

Brian D.

Twinsburg

Dear Brian,

I was all set for a "let me guess … you're here all week" response.

But you brought up holding the door at Panera. Have I told anyone that Brady Quinn once held the door for me at Panera? He didn't have to, but he did. He was walking in as I was walking out, and he stopped and held the door so I could go first.

These are the moments we need to recall during the holidays.

Dear Pat,

I just spent the better part of the morning reading the Seattle Times sports blogs and my conclusion is the majority of their fans are not happy Holmgren is leaving Seattle. Some astute fans even put out facts showing how good a GM he was by pointing out the players he signed, the fact that the offensive rankings of the team are all very high, and the fun fact that he is loved in the area.

Wow. I hope this works out.

It's also interesting is how many posts said how the Browns have real fans who will appreciate a great football mind and wished him well.

Maybe a red carpet World B Free coming-to-town party is required here.

Jeffrey B. Lucas

Dear Jeffrey B.,

Perspective is everything. To be honest, I'd have to say that Holmgren's tenure as GM was not great, but the team he coached did reach the Super Bowl so something was going right. I know this has yet to prove itself to be a wise move in Cleveland. I know he's never been a team president. But I also know that there are many reasons to believe it can work — as the fans in Seattle pointed out.

Dear Pat,

Landing Holmgren (is) awesome. But as a Browns fan you have to approach everything with some skepticism or even cynicism. Otherwise your heart turns to mush too quickly.  I know you can relate.

I see that many post blogs about your articles being too cynical blah blah blah. Hey, this is the Browns. No other team has put its fans through such heartbreak. So some cynicism is called for.

So that is why I am writing about Holmgren. So many positives are being reported about the meetings he has had with the Browns.

You know what this reminds me of?  A girl about to get dumped. "Sweetheart, it´s not you, it´s me." … "You´re a beautiful girl … Everything I could ask for … But I just feel … Ehh … Like I have to move on and focus on myself for a while … I love you … But I´m just not IN love with you …"

We shall see. But those are my impressions from the seats located in section "C"ynical.

Reed Dustin

Fresno, CA

Dear Reed,

Excuse my cynicism, but I'm not quite following the girlfriend thinking. Did you heist that Bailey's I was looking for last night?

(Want to be recognized in “Three and Out”? It’s a rare treat. Comment here or send an e-mail to pmcmanamon@thebeaconjournal.com, and put “First and 10” in the subject line.)

This other appeal, though, should be heard.

I really see no reason why Baltimore's Dwan Edwards should be fined for hitting Josh Cribbs while he was running downfield to try to make a tackle.

Cribbs agreed, saying: "It's football. Just as he hit me, I could've hit him blocking for my guy. It happened during the play between the whistles. They have rules in place to protect players, but I don't think it was intentional at all."

How's that again?

Cribbs is a football player, and he plays when there are plays called for him.

Besides, if Cribbs is not on the field someone else has to take his place (the Browns only put 10 on the field when the other team is about to score a touchdown).

Is it OK for the other guy to be at risk but not Cribbs?

I still question the play call, but implying that Cribbs is sacred at that point and someone else can be sacrificed is simply inappropriate.

Always good to know that the players on the field are thinking as clearly as the braintrust, eh?

Except it doesn't add up.

Cribbs caught the pass and looked for the lateral. Jerome Harrison started to run right behind Cribbs with his hand, calling for the ball. Robert Royal caught the lateral and looked for another.

It looked every bit like a called play.

Too, if it wasn't, why were the Browns throwing deep passes the previous two plays?

They treated that final series as if they were down five, not 16. Two deep throws and a hook-and-lateral. Seems like a team trying to score as if the game is still on the line.

One insider even told me that Brady Quinn threw the two deep balls out of bounds intentionally. That he knew the calls were ridiculous, so he heaved them OB.

It's always something, isn't it?

Meanwhile, this is what Steve Young had to say on ESPN about the Browns:

“I was part of a team like this in 1986 when I was with Tampa Bay. I remember thinking to myself when I got really depressed, 'Maybe I should go to law school. Maybe I should do something else.' It reminds me of what’s going on with the Browns. You can not say enough about the disaster that is happening in Cleveland right now.”

Ray Lewis on whether Quinn's hit on Terrell Suggs was a cheap shot: "Heck yeah, it was a cheap shot When you're running down and you're looking at the quarterback going at somebody's knees who doesn't even have the ball … I want to see if he gets the same fine I got or even higher. Now this man is out four or five weeks because of some baloney like that."

Check.

Ravens veteran defensive lineman Trevor Pryce on the play call that led to Cribbs' injury: ""With five seconds left in the game, and you're down 16-0, to throw a hook-and-lateral, what's the point of that? I'm not trying to question their coaching, it's none of my business. But you see what the result was. You do a hook-and-lateral play with a whole bunch of guys that are big and run fast, people are running around crazy and someone is going to get hurt."

 Check.

Finally, from Dwan Edwards, who hit Cribbs: "I was just hustling to the ball. He had just pitched it and I reacted. … I consider myself a hustle player and I tried to hustle and make a play — not let them get a score."

Guess we got those issues straightened out.

But … the game ended bizarrely, with Josh Cribbs on the ground after having been run into by Dwan Edwards on one of those goofy lateral plays.

This hit did not appear intentional. Edwards was running to get into the play and ran headlong into Cribbs and appeared to catch Cribbs in the throat. He lay on the ground for several moments before being taken off on a cart and board. Coach Eric Mangini said Cribbs had feeling in his body and that he was taken off on a cart for precautionary reasons.

You almost wonder why the Browns ran that play, and if the injury was as much their own fault for running it in that situation. It started with three seconds left, and the Browns were down 16. Even had they scored the Browns would have gotten nothing for it but a loss. Running it did nothing but put players at risk, and Cribbs took the shot. It was an unnecessary call, and the result was an unnecessary injury.

The Ravens, though, will be plenty steamed about Brady Quinn throwing himself at the knees of standout defensive end Terrell Suggs during an interception return in the third quarter. Chris Carr was returning a pass Quinn intercepted when Quinn threw himself at Suggs' knees when Suggs was not looking. The Pro Bowler wound up leaving the game with a sprained knee and could miss several more weeks.

To his credit, Quinn apologized to Suggs and the Ravens. But the damage was done. This will not go over well in Baltimore, nor should it go over well in New York when fines are assessed this week. Quinn acted like he was blocking Suggs — and Baltimore had the ball.

LATE ADDITION: Said Robert Royal of Cribbs: "He was cracking jokes down there, so that was a good sign. He was waving his limbs. We don't know the extent of the injury, but at the same time we think he will be all right."