Cribbs skips Browns minicamp

[Falco]

Joshua Cribbs has provided a wealth of positive returns for the Cleveland Browns. He wishes they would do the same. Until they do, the former Pro Bowl return specialist plans to avoid voluntary workouts, beginning with a non-mandatory three-day minicamp that starts Tuesday.

Cribbs, according to his agent J.R. Rickert, feels that the Browns have reneged on a pledge to address the terms of a six-year contract extension that Cribbs signed in 2006, a year after he made the team as an undrafted free agent. That pledge, Rickert acknowledged, was made by then-head coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Phil Savage, who was fired along with Crennel after last season.

Rickert said that Browns owner Randy Lerner called Cribbs after the 2008 season and told him that even though there were coaching and management changes, Cribbs’ contract would eventually be addressed.

The Browns released a statement on Monday in which new GM George Kokinis said, “No one from this current Browns’ organization, including owner Randy Lerner, has every made any promises to Josh Cribbs with regard to his contract status.”

Rickert said he has approached Kokinis twice this offseason about discussing Cribbs’ contract and was told that those talks might be held later in the offseason. Rickert said there has been no “meaningful dialogue,” and that Cribbs is now to the point where trust has become an issue. If Cleveland were to open good-faith discussions, Cribbs likely would participate in all team workouts and activities, voluntary or not, Rickert said.

Cribbs is due to earn $620,000 in base salary next season. Including next season, Cribbs is due $2.7 million in base salary over the next four years.

–Steve Wyche
_________________
We're in business we've got ourselves a quarterback