The Browns have no intention of trading return man/receiver Josh Cribbs, and his agent isn't happy about it.
"It is unfair for the Browns to hold Joshua back," agent, J.R. Rickert told Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "They should either
give him an extension or allow another team to acquire him. Their
current position of doing nothing is no longer fair or appropriate. We
are asking them to give him the extension he's earned."
It's more accurate to say that the six-year contract Cribbs signed in 2006 is holding Cribbs back. Because of that deal, the Browns hold all the leverage in this situation.
Eric Mangini knows that bad teams don't get better by trading away good players, especially when said player is under contract at a reasonable rate.
One of the sticking points in the negotiations could be Cribbs' value as a wide receiver. He's started two games this year, but only has nine catches for 39 yards. He's also rushed six times for 36 yards.
If Cribbs wants a contract like Devin Hester or the one the Jets offered to Leon Washington, he has to show that he's truly valuable on offense, not just special teams.
Cribbs' agent says Browns are being "unfair"
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 16, 2009 11:47 AM ET
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And he will prove his worth. BUT, can he do it with The Br(OW!)ns ?
BTW, was this agent the person who negotiated his 6yr deal ? It would seem that a holdout next yr would go a long way towards getting Josh what he wants in this case.
The problem for the Browns is right now he is about their only chance to score a TD. Kickoff or punt return. That's it. He is not a good enough receiver to play every down on a good football team. The Browns yes. A good football team no. The Browns need to get him more involved on "gimmick" plays like the wildcat formation or whatever.
Thing is, Rosenthal... Cribbs reportedly isn't seeking a Hesteresque $10 mil per year deal, just fair market value.
Cribbs is one of the 3 impact players on the Browns right now. (Thomas, Rogers) Why not give him compensation that is commensurate to his production?
Cribbs with a QB might turn out to be a decent WR after all. We'll never find out with him playing with Fredo in Cleveland.
Cribbs is indeed valuable, but needs to honor his contract. That is what would be "fair and appropriate" at this stage of the game. Cribbs should be pissed at his agent for suggesting/negotiating what he thinks is now a bad deal at the halfway point of the contract term.
Cribbs deserves a new contract even if he is mainly a special teamer. He's proved his worth.
He doesn't fumble away two potential wins on kick returns to ensure his team a 1-4 start. Like some team I know.
The only person to blame for Cribbs' current situation is his AGENT!
Rickert, you are an idiot. You had your client sign a long term deal when you thought he was lucky to make the team as a special teamer. Now he's valuable and you claim the team is unfair?
Cribbs signed. The Browns signed. You endorsed. You got paid. Now you think we are stupid enough to think the team is unfair?
First Cribbs should fire Rickert and hire anyone else. That's his only shot at an extension.
The Browns should not extend any contract that they own for 3 more years at a bargain rate. They need to spend the money elsewhere...like on a QB.
Can't blame Cribbs for wanting out of that cesspool that is Cleveland. That city and organization is a joke.
"Eric Mangini knows that bad teams don't get better by trading away good players"
He does?
Did someone really comment "Why not give him compensation that is commensurate to his production?" ???
And when the production goes down the agent and player will negotiate a lower contract?
Everybody in the Browns and Raiders locker room wants traded. If they aren't traded or get an extension., then the teams are being unfair. Whats unfair is fans having to shell out money to watch this slop. He signed a six year contract and I hope the Browns stick it right up his ass with a steel pipe.
The Browns need to pay Cribbs. He is the most exciting player this team has had since coming back in '99. With that said, his agent talking to the media isn't going to help his cause. He should just keep producing and the money will follow
"It is unfair for the Browns to hold Joshua back," agent, J.R. Rickert.
Translation: "I did a terrible job with Cribb's last contract and need to get him a new one to save face."
Cribbs may deserve a new contract. Cribbs agent, however, should STFU about it, because he's the D-bag that got the guy into this shitty contract.
Cribbs is great as a kick returner, but hasn't proven to be anything other than a kick returner. I'd be fine with paying him more than his $1M/year his contract entitles him to, but he doesn't get wide receiver money.
Nobody forced Cribbs to take the 6 year deal and that's on a whole why I think it's silly for players to take such long contracts. And since he has no impact on offense or defense he doesn't have much leverage which belong entirely to the Browns. Unless for some idiotic reason they trade him right now he's stuck with them this season. Maybe they consider it in the offseason but if he does a holdout I really don't think the Browns will bat an eye beyond taking some money from him.
"He's goin change how the front office even think."
Stuff like this drives me crazy. Players sign a long term contract, then if they have a big season they want to re-negotiate immediately for more money. I've never seen a player who signed a big contract play poorly then ask for his contract to be re-negotiated for less money. Cribbs does deserve more money, everyone knows it, but I dont know what he's demanding...I know in the offseason there was a rumor he wanted $6-7 million per season....that isn't going to happen for someone who only plays special teams...he needs to start showing up as a reciever if he wants a bigger check.
billsfan27, that was only one game. what the hell has happened in the other losses? if i were you, i would be more pissed at your offensive line(i am, because i drafted trent edwards)and your pathetic coach isnt helping either.
Screw renegotiating a contract. You sign, you play. If you don't like the terms, you shouldn't have signed it in the first place.
Having a good year is a piss poor excuse to renegotiate a contract. Its called incentives. If you play at a certain level, you get XX dollars. If you play a step higher, you get XX dollars. Things like that should automatically be built into ANY contract, no matter who the player is.
Make XX catches, make XX more dollars. Score XX touchdowns, make XX more dollars.
Players are paid far too much anyway IMO! Pay the players less, lower ticket prices, get more butts in the seats. But now that a certain lvl of payment has been established, it would create chaos to back away.
Rickert is dreaming, his player is worthless as a reciever!
If Mangini hopes to sign ANY free agents, he needs to show that he'll take care of players who prove themselves.
PAY THE MAN!!! (He actually wants to play in Cleveland - that's rare in the NFL)
Bob Sacamano says:
October 16, 2009 12:39 PM
"Eric Mangini knows that bad teams don't get better by trading away good players"
He does?
Yeah I agree. Florio what the hell do you mean. He has traded away noth of the browns top receiving targets.
sim448
what the hell are u talking about...the offensive line is one of the browns bright spots...no wonder u drafted Trent Edwards instead of Braylon Edwards. You didn't actually mean Trent Edwards, did u?
nobody is underpaid in the nfl.if he was so sure he was going to be this good then he should not have signed the contract.how much did he get as a signing bonus?that unlike his contract is guaranteed so stop whining and live with it.think he would give any of that back if he had not performed this well?
"nohio says:
October 16, 2009 12:09 PM
The Browns need to get him more involved on "gimmick" plays like the wildcat formation or whatever."
Gimmick?? Isn't that "gimmick" offense the Miami Dolphins run pretty effective??
Anyways, Cribbs is a weapon yes... is he worth Hester money.. NOPE... He is under contract yep... not anyones fault but his and his agents. Was it unfair for the browns to give him the deal in the first place? Whats unfair is that these players don't play thier deals out. Contracts should all have incentives built it. (Not be incentive based) but they shoudl all have escalators that force teams to pay players for better than expected play. Then every player that does well will get the money he deserves in the NFL!!!
I kept thinking Cribbs was going to get an extension within weeks, if not days. Then his agent opens his yap. Now talks will be closed until the season is over. Great job again agent. I don't even want to know his name.
the browns should pay cribbs based on the fact alone that lerner promised cribbs that they'd do something in the offseason last year.
if the owner tells you they will renegotiate, they should.
end of story. the fact that cribbs hasn't been the baby that other players have been should tell you that the dude is trying and honoring. cribbs hasn't avoided practices, complained in post-game interviews. the dude is shutting up and coloring.
that doesn't change the fact he's unhappy, and he's allowed to be unhappy.
i find it odd that so many are running to the defense of the browns organization.... a team that, above all else, has proven time and time again they don't care about their players. (see: renegging on promises, staph infections, etc)
sonvar says:
October 16, 2009 12:49 PM
Nobody forced Cribbs to take the 6 year deal and that's on a whole why I think it's silly for players to take such long contracts.
****
So, how many years contract should he have signed? 5? the system is friggin flawed. Seriously flawed.
I posted this in the Crabtree post from yesterday but it applies here as well:
"Here is an interesting question. How is the agent paid? I think I remember hearing that a typical agent in the NFL gets like 3%. So does he get his money up front(1.2M). If so, I guess that would explain why the agents want these blockbuster deals with huge numbers nearly unreachable at the end. They would essentially be stealing a big chunk of cash by calculating the percetage based on money the player will never get."
To expand on the thought if (and that may be a bif IF) the agent is paid up front does it not stand that they would want to redo the deal as early as possible to get paid again.
Why are we wasting space on Josh Cribbs and the worst team in the NFL? Who cares what Cribbs gets paid, and who cares if he holds out. What does that really mean at this point?
Headline: CRIBBS HOLDS OUT - BROWNS WILL SCORE 3 POINTS INSTEAD OF 6.
i agree that cribbs needs to get paid cuz he's our number 1 playmaker.
BUT he did get a contract extension already. its a shitty situation where he is worth more then he's getting but what can you do? his best bet is show that he is a team player, keep focused, and earn that big time check. learn to be an offensive weapon.