No Crying for Cribbs

Josh Cribbs did not show up to yesterday's voluntary minicamp in Berea — because he feels he deserves more money — Wahh!

I thought Cribbs was supposed to be a leader on this team. I thought Cribbs was supposed to be a team-player. I thought Cribbs was someone who was above all the pettiness and greed you see from many professional athletes.

I guess I was wrong.

Here's a little history: After his rookie season, Phil Savage offered Cribbs a six-year, $12 million contract with $2 million guaranteed. So elated was he to be making more money than he'd ever had in his life, Cribbs signed the deal and spoke in gushing terms about paying the Browns back for the loyalty they showed.

Now, three years later, he's gotten greedy. He saw fellow special teams star Devon Hester of the Bears ink a five-year $40 million contract with $15 million guaranteed and he became jealous.

According to Cribbs' agent, if the Browns don't show they're willing to tear up Cribbs' current contract, which runs through 2012, the Browns' special teams star might take the bold step of demanding to be traded.

Umm, excuse me, Josh Cribbs. Where do you get off?

The Browns were terrible last season. The Browns are projected to be terrible again this season (Peter King ranks them No. 32). With so many areas that need to be addressed on this team, why should the Browns give more money to a special teams player who is STILL UNDER CONTRACT?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all undervaluing the importance of special teams in the NFL.

In real life, you get paid to do a job, and you're expected to do it well. if you don't, you get fired. If you keep doing a good job, you may get a promotion.

Maybe if Cribbs could read defenses he could have stepped up to play wide receiver more often instead of just as a utility receiver, thus earning a chance to play a bigger role on the team and warrant more money — call it a promotion.

What I'm saying is, Cribbs played well last year and that's what he's paid to do. I'm willing to bet if Cribbs played horribly last season he wouldn't feel guilty about collecting his paycheck and offer to give some of it back.

You signed a contract. Now, get to the minicamp and be a team player. Be a leader. Practice with your team. Try thinking of your team instead of your wallet. Rise above the pettiness and greed and make an effort to help this team be better than No. 32.

Stop Whining, Start Winning

You know what grinds my gears? When athletes who already make a ton of money complain that they don't make enough and they want more. Wah!

Apparently, the $620,000 base salary this season — and the $2.7 million over the next four years — isn't enough for Josh Cribbs. The wide receiver is threatening to sit out of the voluntary three-day minicamp (which starts today) because he wants more money.

Now, I like Cribbs, don't get me wrong. But, really? He thinks he deserves more money? Do you know how many people would love to get paid a base salary of $620,000 to do anything? Let alone, play football.

Apparently, Cribbs and his agent are saying that he was promised a new contract last year. Well, guess what — there's new people in charge. Did he get this promise in writing? No? Well, too bad.

Cribbs may have been a shining star last year, but it's not like the Browns won the Super Bowl and he was MVP. Far from it. The Browns were one of the worst teams in the league last season, and are projected to be pretty bad this year as well.

The Browns need all the practice they can get and that means every single player needs to be at every single minicamp — even the voluntary ones.

People are getting laid off left and right in this economy — including Cleveland Browns' staff — and Cribbs wants more money. The bottom line is this: Cribbs is still under contract. If his contract was up and he was sitting out until a new one was reached, that's a different story. Voluntary or not, Cribbs should be at the minicamp.

How about checking your greed and ego at the door, Cribbs, and go practice with your team?

Happy with Day 1

The suspense was certainly there yesterday, more so than you'd expect from the team with the No. 5 pick. Why? Because the Browns didn't actually end up selecting a players until much later in the round, instead opting to trade down three times and accumulate extra, later-round picks.

So, why am I happy with Day 1 of the NFL Draft? Let's be honest, there wasn't really anyone in the draft that was a "super stud" worthy of a top 5 pick. But, there is plenty of solid talent to be taken later in the draft. So, by not settling for someone at No. 5 (and paying them a lot), accumulating extra picks was a smart plan -- especially given all the needs this team has.

With the first pick, the Browns finally selected Alex Mack, the center from Cal. I like this pick. I really do. I know some Browns fans are upset about this, but I'm not one of them. Think about it, an offensive lineman is just about the safest first round pick you can have. And, the Browns really needed help on the line. With Mack and Thomas, the Browns now have two solid, young offensive linemen to build around.

Yes, I am happy with this pick. And, I'm happy with the second round picks as well: wide receivers Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi, and linebacker David Veikune.

I know we have a lot of needs on defense to address and many Browns fans are upset we passed up USC linebacker Rey Maualuga. But, let's be honest here ... the Browns also needed wide receivers and linemen.

The fact of the matter is, the Browns were 4-12 last year ... the had needs everywhere. So, the debate will rage over what was the biggest need: offense or defense?

In my opinion, the Browns did a pretty good job of addressing some needs yesterday and I think that'll continue today. I gotta say, for the first time since Mangini-Kokinis took over, I'm feeling pretty good about the Browns.

Go Browns!

It's A Whole New Season ...

It's finally Draft Day. All right ... let's get this party started.

Finally, we'll find out what Mangini and Kokinis have in store for the 2009 Cleveland Browns. Finally, we'll find out if anyone will be traded for draft picks. Finally, we'll find out who the Browns will select with the No. 5 pick, or if they'll trade it away for additional picks.

Finally, the NFL Draft is here.

This is a time to celebrate. This is a time for optimism. After all, 2009 is a whole new season ... and it starts today with the draft.

Go Browns!