Cribbs Rumors

The rumor that Josh Cribbs could be available for a trade might be true. Being ruled by my brain and not being inclined to hero worship, as GM I would have most of the team available for a trade. I love the guy, and furthermore don't think he's too old or too expensive. People keep talking about his big salary, but as I recall his contract was laden with incentives, most of which he didn't meet last season.

But there are other things I read about this that ass ume a lot of don't compute.

For one thing, I sort of doubt that his comments about retaining Mangini were an issue. At least two or three other players made similar comments.

Next, who said the flash offense (or whatever) was dead? Why?

Next, what was said of him as a wide reciever is true. He might have become as good as he will be, he doesn't run patterns as well as the other guys, etc. Ok.

But refer to my last blog. He's not a good fit as a West Coast wide reciever, bit he IS a great fit as a West Coast running back. I'll BET you right now that if he isn't traded, he will be worked in there (where he probably should have been all along.)

The "labor" (hahahahaha) situation could preclude any trades, but if it doesn't, I wonder how much interest there would be in him. While he does have the incentives, his base salary still isn't insignificant. While I feel that his decline last season was a bump caused by injury and fatigue, other teams would be wary.

They probably wouldn't get a very good offer for him.

Now, some would question him as a running back due to the fact that he doesn't have a fast start. He's not as quick to the hole as he should be.

But this will be a West Coast-like offense. This offense uses more recievers and sending them wide (ps Moore would be one of these, often). This pulls defenders away from the middle, and also forces a couple of them to play farther back than they want to. This makes it difficult to stack the line.

An explosive first step is the least important attribute for a West Coast running back. If the target hole closes too quickly, the West Coast back improvises. With so much of the defense backed up and pulled toward the sidelines, it's impossible for them to cover every gap.

Cribbs has the vision, recieving skills, and broken-field niftiniess to be damn near a prototype running back in the West Coast. It's made for him.

Rogers is another story. I was frustrated by him last season. I know he was injured early, and might not have fully recovered. But he also got real real FAT, and at his age I think he might be in trouble with the new staff.

It's no mystery when one of these monsters gets leg problems. Their joints were never intended to support that much weight. it's worse for Rogers, because the best way to block him is to cut his legs.

With his salary, and at his age, I don't think the Browns could get anything for him. He could be released.

If he is, some of you will need to get over it.