May 23, 2013

Josh Cribbs: “I’ve talked to the head coach but there’s no point.”

November 16, 2012 by 31 Comments

Browns KR/WR Josh Cribbs is quoted by Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer today, and his words aren’t anything we haven’t really heard from Cribbs before, but have to be considered an issue-

On talking to Pat Shurmur: “I’ve talked to the head coach but there’s no point. Obviously they feel like everybody that’s in front of me is a better athlete. I disagree. I feel a different way than the coach feels about me. They must feel I can’t produce. We have a difference of opinion.”

On his value: “I feel like I’m better than the next man, that man, whoever’s in front of me, but I don’t have that opportunity.”

On it being his contract year: “I can’t even showcase myself. I’m more than a special teams player. I’ve proven that. I belong on the field more than this, more than what they’re allowing me to do. I’ve tried not to say much, but it’s upsetting. We’re nine games into the season and I haven’t gotten a chance.”

Plenty more of the interview to read at Cleveland.com.

[Related: Cribbs wants to be a bigger part of the offense]

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  • Tyler

    Last year, Cribbs whined about not being used enough on special teams. Now he’s whining about not being used enough on Offense. Can’t wait to get rid of this guy.

  • C_CLE

    Does Cribbs forget we tried to play him at WR and it was a pretty big failure? This offense isn’t set up for wild cat BS, and he can’t run routes, and we have a stud RB…where does Cribbs think we should play him? Secondary?

  • TJ

    Yeah because all of our other receivers are having tremendous years. I don’t see why getting the ball in cribbs hands is such a bad idea. The guy can still run and is still stronger than a lot of receivers. We aren’t having much luck running anything else. Whats the harm in getting cribbs involved?

  • C_CLE

    All of our receivers are younger than Cribbs. This team isn’t going anywhere this season, and the coaches would rather give reps to a young, unpolished WR than an older, unpolished WR who may not be with the team much longer. I agree with that decision. Get the young guys the experience. Cribbs had a chance to play on the offense, and he didn’t get it done, IMHO.

  • Greg

    I just don’t care about Josh Cribbs anymore. He’s not the future, he’s the past, and a fledgling past at that. He’s not the dynamic offensive player he wants to be, and he’s not worth all the accolades he receives from the fans and media. Good guy, solid citizen, but not as gamechanging as he used to be, and not worth hampering the development of the team.

  • MrCleaveland

    I’m with Josh. It’s not like there are a lot of all-pros playing in front of him. The man has more desire and heart than the rest of our receiving corpse combined. He makes plays.

    But of course, Shurmur is such a clueless robot that he doesn’t get it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Nino-Tasca/536586409 Nino Tasca

    I’m not even sure if Cribbs is an above-average returner at this point in his career. The few games I have watched this year, he’s been noticeably slower.

    Remember, his prime was in 2007. 5 years is 2 generations in terms of a kick returners life.

  • MrCleaveland

    If we’d been playing him on 3rd and 1, I’ll bet our production wouldn’t be so pathetic.

  • C_CLE

    Oh, you mean passing the ball even more on 3rd and 1 when we should be handing off to our first round draft pick?

  • MrCleaveland

    Who would you rather have on the field on 3rd and 1, Cribbs or Owen Marecic?

  • C_CLE

    Lawrence Vickers

  • BenRM

    Pretty big failure???

    Cribbs 2011:
    41-67; 518 yards; 12.6 avg. yards; 4 TDs

    Noteable Wide outs who had similar numbers to Cribbs last year.

    Robert Meachem (40-61; 620; 15.5; 6)
    Miles Austin (43-73; 579; 13.5; 7)
    Eric Decker (44-95; 612; 13.9; 8)
    Brian Hartline (35-67; 549; 15.7; 1)

    The biggest difference with most of these guys is the catches for TDs…but given that the Browns offense was so pathetic last year, I think that is to be expected.

    I’m not trying to say that OMG CRIBBS IS TEH BEST RECEIVER, but his numbers last year were among those of relatively well-respected players. So saying “a pretty big failure” is pretty big hyperbole.

  • razorzips

    So next year we won’t have Cribbs or Shumur.

  • C_CLE

    Meachem on a team with more capable WRs than practically any team in the league?

    Austin, who missed 6 games, almost half the season?

    Decker, who had Tim f’n Tebow throwing him the ball?

    Hartline with J.P. Losman and Matt Moore?

    Little, a rookie with Colt McCoy and Senecca Wallace?

    Those are the comparisons you want to draw to? Cribbs is around the same production as those guys? Oh yes, please make him our #1 WR!!

    It’s no secret that Miles Austin is good, but saying Cribbs had a year close to him when he missed 6 games in a joke. Saying he had a year close to Meachem, who has to fight for touches with Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, and Lance Moore. Decker => Tebow, no explanation necessary. Come on.

  • BenRM

    right, you can make excuses for them just as easily as you can say “Cribbs played with Colt McCoy on an offense completely devoid of talent.”

    Also interesting, you point out as an excuse the quarterbacks throwing to Decker, Hartline, and Little (who is on the same team no less), but not to Cribbs.

    Is he great? Nope. Is he probably a fine #3, maybe. Is he a MEGA ULTRA GALACTIC MONDO FAILURE, nah.

  • C_CLE

    I never said he was a “mega ultra galactic failure”…but we paid him to crossover to the offense and contribute and he didn’t. So yes, I think it was a pretty big failure. Obviously, if he was a good route runner, the coaches would put him on the field. You think they just stick him on the sidelines cause they are morons? How many times can you run a bubble screen or a reverse before the defense knows that’s all you’re gonna do?

    He’s amounted to nothing more than a special teams guy who isn’t as special anymore. I get tired of announcers calling him “ever dangerous”. Teams don’t kick away from him anymore. He hasn’t scored in how long? When does he just become ordinary again and fans take him down from the pedestal?

  • Steve

    No he doesn’t, which is why he used the term “athlete” and not receiver. Cribbs may be a better athlete but that doesn’t mean he can catch the ball and run routes.

  • mgbode

    for a WR, his best skill was actually his ability to get deep balls. he is good at adjusting to those. but, he definitely underwhelmed there.

    as a ST-ace, you couldn’t be more wrong.

    #3KR in the NFL: http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/returning/sort/yardsPerKickReturn

    #4PR in the NFL: http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/returning/sort/yardsPerPuntReturn

    how many other players do we have that are #3 or #4 in the NFL at what they do?

  • C_CLE

    Then what’s his beef? Football isn’t just about athletes. He’s currently playing the only position where athleticism is almost 100% of the job. For the rest, he absolutely needs to catch and run routes.

  • C_CLE

    He may get semi-decent yards on a return, but he’s not scary like he was. And that point does nothing to add to Cribbs complaining about playing time. No one has taken his reps at returner because that’s the only thing he does above average. He gets every rep at KR and PR.

  • The_Real_Shamrock

    Bye Josh.

  • Steve

    He wants more playing time as that means a bigger contract. He also knows that for years, the whining of the fans has played a big part in the direction the team takes, so he’s going to take his appeal to the group that had his back for so many years, possibly not realizing how fickle they actually are.

  • 0degreesK

    I was on Cribb’s side when he had his first contract re-done, but this is just kind of old now. After all these years, I have to believe the coaches see something they don’t like.

  • slbeef

    It seems as though Shurmur has his “in” and his “out” categories, and once that call is made, it’s final, no reevaluations, no second chances. It’s just another reason he is a poor manager.

  • Stevie Knicks

    Cribbs and Dawson need to pack up and leave after this season. Go to New England and play for a real team that will use you correctly. Also you can win a Super Bowl.

  • http://twitter.com/oribiasi oribiasi

    HEY! Craig said give him time, what’s wrong with you?

  • mgbode

    I am not arguing about Cribbs as a WR. But, do not knock his ST play (as you did in your previous post). He consistently gets our team good field position as well as any other returner in the NFL while also covering kicks well too.

  • http://twitter.com/blhart216 Brandon Hart

    Whoa ! “Doesn’t mean he can catch”…Flag on the play,,, Cribbs probably has the best Catches to targeted ratio on the team.

  • http://twitter.com/blhart216 Brandon Hart

    Cribbs is still very dangerous, explosive and fast. Don’t think teams don’t make it a key priority to shut him down when they game plan the Browns.

  • Gren

    I certainly won’t miss his mouth. But, I will miss his heart.

  • http://www.facebook.com/jim.gilbert.589 Jim Gilbert

    Well said. We all love Josh but he’s not a receiver.