Written by Thomas Moore

---

Judging by our timeline on Twitter this afternoon we are probably in the minority on this subject, but here goes:

Is Josh Cribbs’ desire to have a bigger role in the Cleveland Browns offense really a bad thing?

We admit to having a soft spot for Cribbs because he went to Kent State, but it’s more than that. He has been, more often than not, one of the few bright spots on the Browns since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2005.

And even though Cribbs’ has lost a step at age 29, he is having a very solid year as a returner, currently sitting third in the NFL in kick return average (29.7 yards) and fourth in punt returns (12.6).

After catching a career-high 41 passes last season, Cribbs has only six receptions (on nine targets) this season, so it’s easy to understand his frustration.

“Me going from being able to run the Wildcat, to playing receiver last season and catching 41 passes and four touchdowns to nothing. I can’t believe it,” Cribbs told The Plain Dealer. “It’s like by me not playing, I feel like they think I’m not good, that I’ve lost it. But I haven’t. I feel when I’m out there I can contribute, but I’m not able to.

“I’ve talked to the head coach but there’s no point. Obviously they feel like everybody that’s in front of me is a better athlete. I disagree. I feel a different way than the coach feels about me. They must feel I can't produce. We have a difference of opinion.”

The Browns have a player who wants to be involved in the offense, who thinks he can help out on the field and ... that’s supposed to be a bad thing? We’ve seen so many players come through town and dog it in the past 13 years – Gerard Warren, Quincy Morgan, Baryon Edwards and William Green quickly come to mind – that to hear a player speak up and want to take on more responsibility is refreshing.

Cribbs is also being criticized because, in the last year of his current contract, some see his comments as him angling for a new contract. Well, guess what? Every player is looking out for their next contract. And Cribbs knows it is very likely that his next contract will be his last (or at least his last good one), so obviously he wants to maximize his value.

“I can’t even showcase myself,” he said. “I’m more than a special teams player. I’ve proven that. I belong on the field more than this, more than what they’re allowing me to do. I’ve tried not to say much, but it’s upsetting. We’re nine games into the season and I haven’t gotten a chance.”

So does that mean we agree with Cribbs that he should have a greater role in the offense? Absolutely not – especially if an increased role for Cribbs comes at the expense of Greg Little, Josh Gordon and Travis Benjamin receiving more playing time.

After eight years Cribbs is what he is as a receiver. He may not be getting worse, but at this stage he is not going to get better. He may have been a viable option as a receiver when players like Brian Robiskie and Chansi Stuckey were on the roster, but that is no longer the case. The Browns need to give their younger receivers as much playing time as possible.

While Cribbs has a point when he says, “I’m tired of people that don’t know how to use me,” there’s a flip side to that. While Mo Carthon, Brian Daboll and Shurmur are no one’s definition of offensive masterminds, Cribbs has been around through multiple coaching regimes and if there was something there, we would think that someone would have seen it.

Say what you will about Shurmur, but he has to know he is fighting for his coaching life and he is going to put the players on the field that give the Browns the best chance to win (Owen Marecic the exception that proves the rule). And he does see the value that Cribbs brings to the team.

“Every once in a while we get a play out of Josh Cribbs ...,” Shurmur said. “We know what kind of an impact he has on special teams, which can’t go unnoticed. What he does on special teams, he does more than just the average punt returner and kick returner because he’s involved in all the coverage units and he’s an outstanding competitor in that phase. I really appreciate it.”

We’ve seen too many players come through Cleveland who talked a big game during the week and then didn’t show up on Sunday. That’s never been Cribbs’ game; he’s always given everything he has for the Browns.

But when it comes to having a bigger role in the offense, well ... things have changed, hopefully for the better.

“I’ve got so much fight in me,” Cribbs said. “I’ve been through it all here and I know how important it is for these fans to win, and I want to be doing everything I can to help, and I can’t. They won’t give me the chance.

“I feel like I’m better than the next man, that man, whoever’s in front of me, but I don’t have that opportunity."

We hear you Josh and you will always be one of our favorite players. But on this one, it’s clear that opportunity has passed you by.

(Photo by ClevelandBrowns.com)