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Home > Blogs > Dawging the Browns > Archives > 2009 > May > 18 > Entry
Cribbs making holdout noises
Receiver/special teams ace/strong safety Josh Cribbs plans to boycott the voluntary minicamp this week unless there is progress on talks for a new contract by the start of camp today, his agent J.R. Rickert told The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer on Monday.
For about a year now, Cribbs has been looking to renegotiate the six-year, $6 million contract extension he signed before the 2007 season, after which he made the Pro Bowl.
He reportedly wants a deal similar to Bears returner/receiver Devin Hester, who last year received $40 million over four years with $15 million guaranteed.
“Josh is starting to get a sense there’s no appreciation for him,” Rickert told The Plain Dealer. “He feels a little personally hurt by it because he puts his heart and soul into this team.”
There’s a report floating around that owner Randy Lerner called Cribbs and said the new contract would get done, as promised by fired GM Phil Savage. The Browns were quick to deny this Monday with this statement: “Contrary to published reports this morning, no one from the current Browns organization, including owner Randy Lerner, has ever made any promises to Josh Cribbs with regard to his contract status.”
Here’s the reality of the situation: Sure, Cribbs has outperformed his contract. Sure, he probably deserves to have the old one ripped up, even with four more years remaining on it. No, he’d better not be holding his breath.
Cribbs has been participating in the team’s off-season program, but will skip all team functions until substantial talks take place, The Plain Dealer reported. The Browns have voluntary camps this week and next week, organized team activities the first week of June and a mandatory minicamp June 11-13.
On a happier note, the PD reported that formerly disgruntled Shaun Rogers has resolved his differences with head coach Eric Mangini.
Rogers had asked the Browns to release him and not pay his $6 million option bonus in March after Mangini, who has about as much public relations savvy as Bill Belichick apparently, snubbed him at a banquet.
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Comments
By Jack
May 19, 2009 10:22 AM | Link to this
Josh is in a Catch-22. With the new regime, his talents will be utilized on offense, defense, and special teams upping his value to the organization. However, by not attending the mini-camps, these new ideas cant be implemented. My advice would be go to camp now, learn everything and if there is still no new deal, then holdout closer to the season.By RETIRED SGT
May 19, 2009 10:39 AM | Link to this
When u sign a contract, u should adhere to the contract. Play and shut up JoshBy Tim
May 19, 2009 11:45 AM | Link to this
If he wasn’t willing to work for 6 years at a million dollars a year, he never should have signed the contract extension in the first place.By get real
May 19, 2009 11:56 AM | Link to this
Hey Josh, Hester is a stud, you are not.By matt
May 19, 2009 12:23 PM | Link to this
Public flogging would prevent a lot of these holdouts. Crybaby athletes.By nyc
May 19, 2009 4:20 PM | Link to this
when the players underperform…do they tell management that they want a pay cut???……it should work both ways..By dudey
May 19, 2009 8:27 PM | Link to this
yea lets give him a new contract………with the sanitation dept cleaning the streets the damn pampered over glorified piece of $hit!! be satisfied you get to PLAY A GAME AND GET PAID FOR IT ALREADY GEEEZ!!!!By Nuke Laloosh
May 19, 2009 8:49 PM | Link to this
Somebody needs to school Mr. Cribbs on the power of public relations for professional athletes. At a time when people are losing jobs, to complain about making “only” $6 million and feeling under-appreciated is a real slap at the Browns fans, who have had very little to celebrate in recent years. Cribbs is jealous that he isn’t as rich, as talented, or as highly regarded in Cleveland as a certain NBA MVP. Grow up Josh. Your career is too short to burn bridges in this fashion.By Helena
May 20, 2009 4:26 AM | Link to this
The Browns suck anyway. He’s lucky he’s allowed on a professional field.By nyc
May 20, 2009 4:53 AM | Link to this
did they put a gun to his head when he signed the contract???……i sure didnt read about itBy bob
May 20, 2009 7:27 AM | Link to this
“…Mangini, who has about as much public relations savvy as Bill Belichick apparently…” Is it a require that DDN sports writers have to be insulting and juvenile? It adds nothing to your reporting when you take petty swipes at your subjects.By karhy
May 20, 2009 10:07 AM | Link to this
multi-talented means on and off the field josh you are not acting as such..you could be bengal they apparently don’t care about off field behavior.By sallot
May 20, 2009 11:27 AM | Link to this
I understand both sides. However, Josh has a point here. In six years his speed and ability will diminish and a big contract will no longer be an option. But if he is asking for Hester type money, he is going to get his feelings hurt!!!By Truth hurts
May 20, 2009 12:28 PM | Link to this
Last time I checked, the teams don’t pay you for your heart and soul. They pay you on your performance.