Browns’ Cribbs laments his average season

Associated Press

BEREA

Joshua Cribbs used his right hand to show what’s wrong with his right foot.

Bending his fingers back, Cleveland’s Pro Bowl return specialist explained that his toes were jammed back into the soft tissue of his foot earlier this season, an injury that has forced him to wear linemen’s cleats for protection.

“It’s excruciating pain,” Cribbs said. “I can’t even describe it.”

Summarizing his season is just as hard.

The NFL’s career leader in kickoff returns for touchdown hasn’t broken one yet for the Browns (5-9), who have been ravaged by injuries. But even before he got hurt on Nov. 14 while being tackled on a 37-yard reception, Cribbs was not the usual Cribbs.

With opposing team’s scheming to keep the ball out of his hands on kickoffs and punts, Cribbs hasn’t been able to do what he does best — give Cleveland’s offense quick points or a short field. He’s averaging a career-low 20.4 yards on 33 kickoff returns this season.

“It has been humbling,” said Cribbs, who had his contract reworked last winter by the Browns after some contentious negotiations. “But mostly it’s been disappointing for me not to give some great fans what they deserve in my play, from an individual and team standpoint.

“I want to do so many great things to help my team and produce and wasn’t able to. So I take that as a personal loss. But at this point, it’s football and I want to play.”

There’s no denying Cribbs’ heart. An undrafted free agent, he has fought for and earned everything he’s gotten. But without him at his best, the Browns’ special teams have suffered.

Cribbs missed only one game after dislocating four toes, sitting Nov. 21 at Jacksonville. He’s been on the field every other Sunday, but it’s been obvious that he hasn’t been himself.

Not even close.

Cribbs can’t push off as usual or accelerate. He’s not hitting any holes or creases quickly enough to pop a big return. He’s not breaking tackles. And the injury has inhibited the Browns from using him at quarterback in the wildcat formation or at wide receiver.

Cribbs has two catches for 11 yards and one rush for minus-11 since getting hurt.

“There are things I can’t do,” said Cribbs, his hooded sweat shirt covering his head. “The coaches are working with me, trying to allow me to do what I can. But it’s football. I could easily sit down and be like, ’Coach, I’m going to try to take care of myself for next year.’ I love football too much. Even my teammates ask me, ’If you ain’t good, why don’t you sit down?’

“This is what it’s all about — pushing through injuries, going to work when you don’t have to and battling. This is Cleveland. How do I look with a foot injury and I can’t go to work and make the money I’m supposed to make, and people got to work with worse circumstances than me? So I just gotta push through the injuries and do as much as I can for my team.”