Cribbs strikes paydirt with Browns

By Tom Williams

Associated Press

BEREA

Pro Bowl return specialist Josh Cribbs has a new three-year contract with the Cleveland Browns.

Finally, after two seasons of threats, broken promises and back-and-forth negotiations, the Browns have restructured the final three years of the six-year deal Cribbs signed in 2006.

On Friday, Cribbs and new Browns president Mike Holmgren announced the deal, which includes $7.5 million in guaranteed money, minutes before Cleveland’s most popular player was scheduled to make an appearance at an auto show in front of hundreds of Browns fans.

The total value of the contract has been reported at more than $18 million.

“I’m excited,” Cribbs said at the team’s headquarters. “It’s been a long road. It worked out. We reached a good compromise. I’m happy to wear this uniform proudly as I’ve been saying the whole time.”

Cribbs is the NFL’s career leader with eight kickoff returns for touchdowns.

Holmgren inherited a sticky situation with Cribbs. An undrafted free agent, Cribbs and his agents maintained that Cleveland’s previous management team had assured them they would redo his contract. Cribbs had threatened to hold out in training camp and then again for the regular season, but buckled and continued to play.

Cribbs was seeking a deal comparable to the four-year, $40 million pact Devin Hester signed with the Bears.

As the season dragged on, Browns fans sided with Cribbs with some of them starting a “Pay the Man” campaign. After the season ended and Cribbs didn’t have his new contract, he expressed his disgust by saying he may have played his last game for the Browns.

Holmgren, who was hired in January, stepped in and was able to patch up any difference Cribbs and his representatives had with the club. Holmgren said he believed Cribbs had outperformed his previous contract and should have been rewarded.

Browns coach Eric Mangini wants to expand Cribbs’ role in Cleveland’s offense next season.