A league source tells us that Browns receiver/kick returner Josh Cribbs will indeed report for training camp, despite reports suggesting that he might not be there.
The only question is whether he’ll be happy or unhappy.
We’re told that, if the team makes good on past promises to improve his contract, Cribbs will be happy. If the team doesn’t, he’ll be upset — and he’ll do everything he can to make sure that everyone knows it, short of doing something that gets him suspended for conduct detrimental to the team.
Though the situation wasn’t created by things said and done on the watch of coach Eric Mangini, it’s similar to the challenge he previously faced in New York, courtesy of former Jets offensive lineman Pete Kendall.
In 2007, Kendall ultimately was traded to the Redskins after the dispute turned nasty, with the Jets assigning Kendall to the rookie dorm, apparently in retaliation for his ongoing complaints about alleged promises to adjust his deal.
Here, Cribbs claims that the prior regime in Cleveland promised to fix a substandard six-year contract that he signed several seasons ago. Mangini and new G.M. George Kokinis have taken the position that they aren’t bound to promises made by their predecessors.
Cribbs claims that the promise also was made by owner Randy Lerner, but the team has denied that Lerner ever told Cribbs his contract would be adjusted. This upset the Cribbs camp, since it made the player “look like a liar and a fabricator.”
So, in our view, either the Browns will pay Cribbs, or this one will get even uglier.
Cribbs will chill !!!!
Cribbs was stupid for signing the long term contract in the first place. What the heck was he thinking?
If Cribbs would just keep this out of the media I am sure he could get a new deal done.