Calming Cribbs

Joshua Cribbs, known to many NFL fans as "the only reason someone might ever watch a Cleveland Browns game," is upset and wants to leave the organization.

Here's the short version of the story: Cribbs is a great player, and he's still playing on his six-year, $6.77 million rookie contract, which makes him grossly underpaid by NFL standards. The Browns have offered a meager raise to $1.4 million per year, and say they won't budge. Not now, and not ever.

Thus, Cribbs is upset -- hurt, even -- and his agent says he's going to formally ask for a trade. Here's Jason La Canfora at the NFL Network, quoting Cribbs' agent, J.R. Rickert:

“We’re going to formally put in a request for a trade,” Rickert said. “He will not set foot in that facility again. If they had offered even something like $2.5 million per season we could have worked with them, but to me this offer is indefensible.” Author MJD Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Cribbs-wants-to-be-traded-Holmgren-is-about-to-?urn=nfl,212278

Personally, I think Cribbs needs to chill just for a bit. No one can argue that he isn't worth the money. The man should definitely be paid but now is not the time for all the drama. Cleveland is smack dab in the middle of restructuring the entire organization. Mike Holmgren doesn't even have a place to live yet. The Browns don't even have a GM yet! Calm down Cribbs! Give it a couple more weeks... maybe even a month or so. You will get paid. I would be surprised to see Holmgren let Cribbs leave.

I-M