Cribbs: I’m sick & tired of losing

Associated Press

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The losses have been piling up, one on top of the other, for seven seasons. Josh Cribbs doesn’t know how many more he can handle.

The Browns aren’t winning, and Cribbs’ frustration has reached a boiling point.

“I am fed up,” he said. “I’m tired of losing. Everybody in this locker room, they’ll say they’re tired and they want to win every game. I want to win this year. Everybody says we’re building, we look good. I don’t really care about the building process because I want to win now. I’ll worry about next year next year.

“I want to win now.”

In recent days, Cribbs has expressed disappointment that the Browns (4-7) seem to be stuck in the same cycle of losing. Cribbs, who has been with the club since 2005, vented like never before following Sunday’s 23-20 loss in Cincinnati. On the verge of saying something he might regret, Cribbs stopped himself before a member of the team’s media relations staff stopped questioning.

“I really need to stop talking now because I don’t want to say anything that I shouldn’t,” he said at the time.

The same thing happened Wednesday when he wouldn’t directly answer if he’s happy with the way he’s being used.

“Uh,” he said with a long pause. “I just won’t answer that.”

Cribbs seemed to be alluding to bigger problems — either with his role in Cleveland’s offense or with the team’s coaches.

On Thursday, Cribbs reiterated his disgust with losing — the Browns are 38-69 since he joined them — and said his comments or refusal to answer certain questions should not be interpreted that he’s unhappy with the opportunities he’s getting or that he wants out of Cleveland.

“That doesn’t mean I want to leave,” he said. “I am sick and tired of losing, like everybody is. And I think I have to start saying that. Me being sick and tired doesn’t mean I want to leave. It doesn’t mean anything. It means I want to win. So we want to focus on trying to win because I’m tired of losing. It’s not like I wasn’t tired of losing before, but I’m really tired.”

Browns coach Pat Shurmur isn’t concerned with Cribbs, or any of his players, voicing their weariness over the club’s current state.

“I don’t have a problem with guys feeling that way,” Shurmur said. “He wants to win and that’s OK.”