A Guide to the Josh Cribbs Contract Saga

Time to take on the Josh Cribbs contract situation through some Q&A:

Another selfish athlete who just can't seem to live on a million bucks a year. Don't we deserve to be outraged?!

Well, you can be outraged if you'd like but don't be mad at Cribbs. Think about this: He may make $1 million a year but he's an NFL kick and punt returner who also serves as a special-teams gunner on the kick coverage teams. Basically, aside from kamikaze pilot, he's got about the most dangerous and physically destructive job you can think of. He'll turn 26 next month which means he has maybe three or four more good years left in him. Basically, the money he makes over the next few years is going to have to last him for about the next 50. Yes, I understand he has a Kent State degree but without sounding too . . . I don't know, condescending, I have my doubts about Cribbs' ability to add substantially to his fortune in any post-football business endeavors (unless of course one of the major networks decides to syndicate "Josh's Cribbs," which is highly likely). So, while you may bitch about your 40k a year, remember that you can probably continue to earn that for the rest of your life. Cribbs, on the other hand, has to make bank now or deal with the very real possibility that the money is going to run out some day. $1 million a year is a lot of money but when you can only make it for a few years and then you have to live on it and support your family on it for decades, it isn't quite as much as it seems.

But Cribbs willfully signed his contract! Nobody forced him to sign for six years!

A fair point, and in any other sport, that would be the end of the argument. In football, however, it isn't quite that simple. For the most part, football deals are what the law calls "illusory" contracts. They contain virtually no mutuality of obligation. Most NFL players, aside from the select few that get gobs in signing bonuses and guaranteed money, are at-will employees. The franchises, on the other hand, can control players' rights for years without really promising anything other than a set salary contingent upon the individual team's desire to have the particular player on the roster for that year. It's a very one-sided way of negotiating which is why you don't see it in the other major sports.

So then we should feel bad for Cribbs for being forced to sign this contract of adhesion?

Nope. NFL players have nobody to blame but themselves for being stuck in situations like this. If they don't like the way the current system works, then they need to get a better union. Everything that happens to a player like Cribbs is a product of the collective bargaining efforts of the NFL Players Union. Unfortunately for Cribbs and many others like him, the NFLPA is by far the worst union of any of the three major professional sports. That's why even though football players subject themselves to the most occupational danger, they're the only ones without guaranteed contracts. It's also why rookies make 100x more than valuable veterans and aging players don't have adequate health coverage or decent pensions. For years, the Union was run by guys like Gene Upshaw, who cared more about backroom handshake agreements with player-agents than about protecting the interests of the players who really make the game special. If NFL players don't like their current predicament . . . if they're tired of a system that pays Matthew Stafford about $41 million more in guaranteed money than a pro-bowl player like Josh Cribbs, then they need to get off of their asses and elect better Union leadership.

Ok, I get it: The NFLPA is horrible. But with that aside, didn't Randy Lerner promise Cribbs more money?

Who knows, but it certainly sounds like a very convenient thing to say when you're trying to get gain the public's support to put pressure on the owner. Randy Lerner throws around millions of dollar on free agents every year without even batting an eye. He knows he's already on thin ice with the fans and media in Cleveland so do you really think that now of all times, he would decide to renege on a promise to one of his best and most liked players for the sake of saving a little cash? It's not out of the question but I highly doubt it. And I also doubt that Mangini and Kokinis showed up and told Lerner not to pay the man. Again, it's not out of the question but it certainly sounds farfetched.

So what should the Browns do to resolve the situation?

Well, there are two competing forces that deserve consideration here. Force 1 - Leverage: Simply put, the Browns have all of it. As stated, the clock is ticking on Cribbs as a valuable NFL player. Once his speed goes or his body starts to break down, it's over. He can't afford to sit on the sideline all year and miss 16 game checks. What's more, unlike a player on the cusp of free agency, he can't just hold out for 10 games and then play the last six to get credit for the year. Basically, he's stuck. The Browns hold all of the cards. Now, I know some of you are probably thinking, "Well sure, the Browns can turn this into a standoff but then they'll risk being without one of their best and most popular players." I understand this argument, but unfortunately, it doesn't really matter. The Browns are going to be bad with Cribbs or worse without him. What exactly are they risking by having him hold out? Going 5-11 as opposed to 6-10? It's not exactly like we're gearing up for a Super Bowl run this year. As for Cribbs' popularity with the fan base, if you haven't figured it out by now, Randy Lerner could go around taking dumps on the front stoops of the homes of every single Browns fan and it wouldn't deter them from spending money to support the team. Demand for the Browns, as insane as it seems, is completely inelastic. They'll sell tickets and merchandise with or without Cribbs.

Force 2 - Goodwill: NFL teams don't usually get very far by alienating their own players. As an organization, you have to strike a delicate balance between holding players to the letters of their contracts and taking care of your own. Cribbs' market value is certainly more than what he's getting paid and god knows the Browns waste tens of millions of dollars every year on carpetbagging manslaughterers like Donte' Stallworth. Would it really kill them to take care of Cribbs? No, it wouldn't. It would make Cribbs happy, it would make the fans happy, it would improve the team's image, and it would preserve the peace within the organization.

I'll ask again: What should the Browns do to resolve the situation?

Well when you weigh the two aforementioned forces against each other, I think the answer becomes that the Browns should seek a middle ground with Cribbs. He's going to show up and ask for Devin Hester money at the very least: 4 years, $40 million, $15 million guaranteed. The Browns, rightfully, should laugh at the demand given that they have ALL of the bargaining power. At the same time, an olive branch in the neighborhood of a couple million dollars a year in extra base compensation would probably be appropriate. Cribbs and his agent may put on a tough face and continue to hold out, but in the end, he has no choice but to accept the offer. He can either have a year in the prime of his career where he makes $0 or he can show up for work and make 2 or 3 times what he initially thought he would be earning. He wouldn't be completely satisfied, but at the very least, he could return to the team without completely losing face. In the end, I think this is probably the best solution for all parties involved.

So now that we know what the Browns should do, what do you think they will do?

Based on the front office's response today, it seems like they're going to go the route of publicly calling Cribbs a liar, refusing to negotiate with him, and making the organization look completely foolish yet again. They wouldn't be the Browns if they didn't turn ever morsal of discontent into a full blown public relations debacle. Hopefully, they'll come to their senses and reach a compromise with Cribbs, but for some reason, and by some reason I mean everything I've come to know about the Browns, I just don't see them resolving this one peacefully.
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Winslow Trade Thoughts

From my recent trip across the internet message boards it looks like Browns fans are split on the Kellen Winslow trade. Now that the previously undisclosed draft picks have been disclosed to be a 2009 second rounder and a 2010 5th rounder, I'll give my take on the first big move of the new era. And that take is overwhelming support of the move.

Honestly, I think anyone who is against this trade is letting there emotions get in the way of reason. There are two main concerns about this trade. One is that people feel Winslow is our best player and trading him is a sure sign of rebuilding. Two is that Brady Quinn is a young "dink and dunk" passer who needs a great tight end like Winslow to be effective. Let me explain why both of these opinions are incorrect.

First, trading Winslow does NOT mean we are rebuilding. Sure he is the best receiving tight end on the planet. Yet he still managed to drop Quinn's 4th down, game ending pass versus Denver just as if he was any other Browns receiver. Come to think of it, he also dropped a touchdown pass from Quinn against San Francisco in 2007. Winslow's one great ability, to catch passes, is therefore not perfect. And for every drive that Winslow does extend with a great grab, he repeatedly stalls another one with mental errors. I can't count the number of times I lost my voice screaming at the television following a personal foul or false start on Winslow. Not to mention his little problems blocking and staying healthy.

Then there is the depth at tight end on this roster. Steve Heiden could be starting almost anywhere in the league. He seemed more than adequate against the New York Football Giants last season when Winslow was in the hospital. Also, last season we drafted arguably the top receiving tight end in college, Martin Rucker. The drop in talent at tight end will not be noticed in the win-loss column next year.

And for those who think Quinn can only dink and dunk, I say to you that you only think that because you watch DA play, and the only thing he could do was heave it long. If the deep ball is there, Quinn will throw it up and give our guy a chance to make the play. But a qb has to be able to move the chains with long drives to give a defense the chance to rest. Just because Quinn can do something DA couldn't, throw with touch and accuracy to a receiver, doesn't mean it's a bad thing. But I digress. The point of this paragraph was supposed to be that Quinn doesn't need Winslow. As stated above, Heiden is a very gifted tight end and I am fully confident that he will be more than able to fill Winslow's shoes.

This team has too many holes. To trade from a position of strength to acquire assets to fill the weaknesses is exactly what a good GM should do. Winslow's trade value is higher than it will ever be. Obviously ManKok learned from the mistake of the Savage regime when it failed to get value for DA when it had the chance.  On the Tampa Bay message boards, many posts indicated there would be hell to pay if the Bucs gave up more than a 3rd or a 4th rounder.  To get a second and a fifth rounder for this injury prone, penalty prone, malcontent is a steal. The move does not represent a complete rebuild. It is a way to fill the holes on this roster by getting rid of a guy who is injured half his career and is replaceable on the roster.

Now the daunting task of convincing Mr. Rogers to shut up and play ball lies ahead...



PS: I am stunned by the results of the current CMCR poll. The results should have been 100% for trading LeBron for Kobe, Gasol, and Bynum. These are two legit all-star centers and the man LeBron refers to as the best player on the planet. Please, loyal readers, explain to me how you could vote for anything else.

Until next time this is Barry Lakin sayin all the world is schlach.

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Dead Weight Cut

The Browns today cut seven players off the roster (probably about 20 players too few), releasing the dynamic quarterbacking duo of Ken Dorsey or Bruce Gradkowski, along with linebacker Antwan Peek, cornerback Terry Cousin, and three players any diehard fan would be hard pressed to remember, punter Mike Dragosavich (who is reportedly going back to Russia to prepare for his upcoming boxing match with Rocky), kicker Jason Reda, and offensive lineman Eric Young.

None of these moves are anything to get worked up about one way or the other, as it's doubtful that any of these players will make an impact around the league next year. At the end of each season, teams make these transactions as a way of clearing room to sign free agents and draft picks. As the title of this article suggests, now is the time for the trimming of the fat.

As for Dorsey, at least Eric Mangini and George Kokinis have shown that being best friends with Brady Quinn is no longer enough to qualify for a roster spot and a paycheck with the Brownies. I just wonder who's going to braid Quinn's hair during team slumber parties now. For those of you who enjoy self-inflicted pain, Dorsey threw for a big fat ZERO touchdown passes on the season, and had a 26.5 passer rating on 43 of 91 passing for 374 yards with seven interceptions. Oh, I'm sorry, did I say Dorsey threw no touchdown passes on the year? I must have forgotten the one he threw to Asante Samuel for a 50-yard pick-six. Oh yeah, and the other 50-yard interception returned for a touchdown which he threw to Leon Hall. That's right, Dorsey threw two touchdowns this season, to opposing teams. As a quarterback in the NFL, how the hell do you throw for NO TOUCHDOWNS TO YOUR OWN TEAM AND TWO TO YOUR OPPONENTS? I really hope Dorsey enjoys his future career at Fed Ex (though he'll probably spend his days delivering UPS packages).

Additionally, with Terry Cousin no longer on the roster, perhaps the Browns can consider bringing back former Brown, Ralph Brown (who I wish still had his website up - as it played the most hypnotic elevator music I have ever heard. Instead, it looks like he's turned his attention to sprucing up his Wikipedia page). However, I'm sure the Browns will have their pick of a number of players who can admirably watch as the receiver they're covering catches the ball ten-yards downfield.

I am a little disappointed to see Peek cut off the squad, seeing how weak the Browns are at linebacker already. Peek was signed in 2007 to a three-year, $8 million dollar deal, to provide the Browns with a much needed pass rush. Peek did show potential during his first year, with four sacks despite several injuries. Unfortunately, Peek suffered a torn patellar tendon in September and didn't step foot on the field this season. Obviously there has to been concerns over his ability to recover from this injury and to be as effective as he was previously. The new braintrust must have decided that the gamble wasn't going to be worth the money owed to him next season.

I know that Mangini and Kokinis have to start clearing house somewhere and the basement makes as much sense as anywhere with this team based on the horrendous completion of last year. I just hope that these cuts are a few of several waves to come, bringing in a new attitude for 2009.

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I Think Someone Owes Randy Lerner an Apology

As a (faux) journalist of the highest moral fiber, one of the things in which I take a great deal of pride is my ability to be humble and admit when I'm wrong. Well CMCR nation, this is one of those times.

Only a week ago, on this very forum, I was openly chastizing Randy Lerner for hastily signing a head coach before first naming a GM. At the time, it seemed apparent that the only viable GM candidate left on the market that would fit with the Mangini regime was George Kokinis, a man of whom I had never heard and whom Randy Lerner had never interviewed. I know it sounds ridiculous in hindsight, but at the time, I actually thought it was a risky move. Boy do I feel sheepish.

You see, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer (an unimpeachable source if there ever was one), Mr. Lerner completed his interview of Kokinis this past weekend...and you'll never guess what happened. IT WENT AWESOME!!!! Lerner, that legendary evaluator of front office talent, was very impressed!

Being the notorious skeptic that I am, I was totally bracing myself for some bad news. I was genuinely expecting Lerner to return to Cleveland only to report that he'd made a huge mistake and that the GM search was back to square one because Kokinis was terrible. But this.....I mean given our luck....wow. That's all I can say is wow. Bravo Mr. Lerner. Bravo.

Shame on me for ever doubting Randy Lerner. And if there are any others out there like me who questioned this entire process, let this be a lesson to all of us: When Randy Lerner rolls the dice, you'd better believe he knows what he's doing.

Let me say it one more time, just to let it sink in: GEORGE KOKINIS WAS AWESOME! The only prospective GM that is still a viable option for the Browns given that they just handed out a four-year contract to a head coach that nobody wants to manage just nailed his interview! Other NFL organizations, you are officially on notice.

This is just the kind of break this organization needed. No more stories about this Lebron fellow and his Cavs juggernaut. I'm ready to start fixating on the Browns' draft possibilities!

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Browns Fans Celebrate: Everything is fixed now!

If you want to hear a glowing report about how the Browns have turned the corner and finally appear to be on the right track, please stop reading now.

I have no problem with Eric Mangini being hired as the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Absolutely none. He's young, he's had two out of three winning seasons, and I thought he got a raw deal in New York. To be truthful, I think on paper he makes more sense than just about any other head coaching candidate, including Mike Shanahan.

The substance of this hire is not the problem. The process culminating in the hire, however, is indicative of everything that is wrong with and dysfunctional about the Browns. The problems with the process have been well documented elsewhere so I'll just boil then down to a few lingering questions. 1) Why did Lerner hire a coach before a GM? 2) Why haven't we heard any explanation as to why no other franchise wanted this seemingly desirable coach? 3) Did Lerner have any assistance from football people when making this decision? 4) Why didn't Lerner interview Shanahan? 5) Why wasn't the owner of the organization up on the podium next to the new head coach when he was introduced?

To this point, Lerner has not offered anything in the way of competent answers to any of these questions. Consider a few blurbs from a recent profootballtalk.com article:

“When you are going out to hire a head coach and a General Manager, it
seemed to me that the head coach hire is the more urgent one,” Lerner
said. “The longer you wait, the less people are available.”

The problem with that logic? Of the four other head-coaching
vacancies with teams other than Mangini’s former employer (Rams, Lions, Broncos, Raiders), Mangini had generated no interest.

Nothing. No interviews, no rumors, no speculation. Nothing.

. . .

So, as it now stands, whoever gets the G.M. job in Cleveland will be stuck with a head coach for the first four years of his tenure. And this means that, if George Kokinis doesn’t take the job, Lerner will be in the unveniable position of having to persuade a G.M. to work with a man who might not have been the G.M.’s first choice in a head coach.

Or his second choice.

Or his tenth choice.

I'm not trying to say that Florio and profootballtalk.com are the gospel when it comes to the NFL. That being said, at the very least, this adds credence to my belief that for one reason or another, the other owners and GMs around the league are all secretly laughing and pointing at the Browns...again.

I have defended Randy Lerner since the day he inherited the Browns. I thought he made a defensible decision when he hired Savage and retained him over Collins and that it was simply unforseeable bad luck that Savage turned out to be such a disaster. While it concerned me that Lerner continued to allow the organization to butcher its media relations, I still blamed Savage first and foremost.

With regard to this hiring process, however, whether you wish to view it as puzzling, a bit of a head scratcher, or just completely embarassing, I place the blame squarely on Lerner's shoulders. It is my sincere hope that Lerner lands Kokinis as planned and the Browns begin to get things turned around for good. With that said, however, as one CMCR commenter recently suggested, if this thing gets turned around, it will be because of dumb luck rather than shrewd, calculated, and thoughtful action on the part of the owner.

Sadly, thus far, it appears that the winds of change have only blown more of the same old incompetence into Berea.

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Mangina!

Per Jay Glazer of Foxsports.com, Eric Mangini is the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns. We'll have a full story on this in the next day or so but allow me to give you my initial reactions:

1. Hiring a head coach in the NFL seems like a complete crapshoot. There does not appear to be any rhyme or reason as to why some hires work out well and others don't. Actually, wait; I do remember seeing one study hypothesizing that roster talent or a lack thereof is actually the the most important factor underlying coaching success and/or failure. I think we need more research on this possible correlation before we jump to any hasty conclusions.

2. Glad to see the Browns went the logical route and let their new GM pick the head coach. Or not.

3. Apparently our new GM is going to be George Kokinis. I'd use an exclamation point here but I don't want to mislead you. I have no idea who the hell this guy is. The fact that I'd never heard of him before a week ago is not a good sign in my book.

4. I can't wait to hear Randy Lerner tell us how great he is for managing to wrangle a coach that nobody else seemed to want to touch with a 10 foot pole. And way to do your due dilligence and interview everyone before making a rash decision Randy. God forbid we don't have a coach in place for the Super Bowl.

5. I'm thrilled that we've hired another coach with no media skills to keep the tradition of Belichick, Davis, and Crennel alive. Get ready for a few more years of being talked down to at awesome press conferences Cleveland fans and media.

6. Sadly, my dream of Kirk Ferentz becomming our new coach has been shattered. How does a struggling NFL franchise just ignore a perfectly medoicore big-ten coach!? Your guess is as good as mine. I thought the move had Browns written all over it.

If you couldn't tell, I'm bitter today. You better not lose tonight Cavs. Read the rest of this article