According to NFL Network's Jason La Canfora, the Cleveland Browns "don't expect to have" Joshua Cribbs available to play this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
I'm having a hard time fully accepting that Cribbs will miss this week's game against Jacksonville, but maybe that's just me trying to be optimistic. Cribbs did not practice Wednesday morning, but Eric Mangini again stated that he hoped to have Cribbs practicing by the end of the week. If Cribbs can't play this Sunday, the team would likely turn to the newly signed Clifton Smith.
Smith played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008 and 2009, serving as the team's primary kick and punt returner. He actually did a great job, making the Pro Bowl one year for the NFC. He averages 27.8 yards per kick return, and 11.8 yards per punt return. Not being without Cribbs isn't necessarily a detriment. When Joe Haden returned kicks last week, teams kicked to him conventionally (as opposed to kicking away from Cribbs) and Haden seemed to have a lot of room to run. Since Smith doubles as punt returner, Chansi Stuckey shouldn't have to worry about that burden.
The Browns also signed CB Eric King in case veteran Sheldon Brown can't play, but right now Brown seems optimistic that he won't miss the game. OG Billy Yates was placed on the IR, and QB Brett Ratliff was waived, to make room for the two roster additions.
0 recs | 27 comments
So Smith will be WR depth and the primary return man?
troy145 - November 17, 2010
Well, he’s technically listed as a running back. We’d probably put Carlton Mitchell or Demtrius Williams in his WR spot.
Chris Pokorny - November 17, 2010
I’d be interested in seeing some Demitrius Williams… It would be nice if he turned out to be somewhat of an Evan Moore, if you know what I mean.
And this Smith character… You say he’s a RB. What do you suppose the chances we could see him take snaps at the RB position? If he could gain more than 2 yards in 6 carries or whatever Bell and Thomas have been able to come up with, I’d be down with that.
shep615 - November 18, 2010
Speaking of Even Moore, We need to see more of this ,Even Moore, WAY MORE.
dawginhouston - November 18, 2010
I want to see Carlton Mitchell catch a ball, his size and speed, I just don’t see how he CAN BE WORSE THAN WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE! as far as production.
great week to see what he can do out there, he was inactive last week, but played special teams for a few weeks before that.
allsides - November 18, 2010
I would also like to see Mitchell, but he could certainly be worse. Maybe he doesn’t run crisp routes, maybe he doesn’t block downfield very well, and he has some history of dropping balls. For as much as we all like to blast our current WR corps, it could always be worse.
Dawg Nuts - November 18, 2010
based purely on the pre-season, he drops a lot of balls.
notthatnoise - November 18, 2010
yes it could always be worse, as browns fans know all too well…
allsides - November 18, 2010
A fellow dawg in tejas. Hola!!!!
J. W. - November 18, 2010
I’m not sure I’m really concerned about Josh Cribbs not being able to play. Haden looked much better last week at returns than Cribbs has looked all year.
inogenius - November 17, 2010
No doubt it helps that they kicked to Haden, as Chris mentioned above. Glad Stuckey won’t be pressed into action, though.
RelapsingDawgCatcher - November 18, 2010
4 dislocated toes??? ouch.
the least we could’ve done is punch it in for him. the 3 shotguns from the five; not using hillis/vickers 3x at 2nd/3… this is my ONLY bitch with the coaching from last week.
on cribbs, i’m bummed he’s injured because… i would really like to see him in the ‘give hillis a breather’ role. cribbs would be about a 1000x better at RB than bell/clayton. hate to keep moving him around, but dammit daboll hasn’t figured him out at WR. he’s a flanker, a wes welker. but seems like he still gets split wide.
get well soon JC.
jimkanicki - November 18, 2010
AND THE NEXT TIME WE GOT DOWN THERE WE WERE IN A SHOTGUN, TOO.
I actually love our playcalling, but it seems around the redzone we have been suspect at best….but, it does get tough for most teams down there, too. There has to be something better than what we are doing, though….12 TDs and 12 field goals in the red zone, that IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH….that’s whey we are 3-6.
allsides - November 18, 2010
If you’ve ever dislocated a toe, you would know he’s not playing this week. It is very unpleasant and very painful just to walk for a good week let alone play football. I’d say that next week is much more realistic.
jerehall - November 18, 2010
I’ve never dislocated a toe, but I imagined it’d be difficult to play right away. My only hope for optimism was when Mangini suddenly said that he hoped Cribbs could practice later in the week.
Chris Pokorny - November 18, 2010
Its Josh Cribbs. He is Superman. I think he will be back, but limited.
SBP - November 18, 2010
we could have gained a game in the division
That is what hurts the most, pull off one of those plays and win the game, and we are only 2 games back from balt. and pitt…….with beating NO, NE, and NY, I would be giving ourselves a real good chance, too, at playoffs….am I being too optimistic?
allsides - November 18, 2010
No not too optomistic, just being a fan. I would love to see our Browns in the playoffs and go farther, just don’t see it this year. Big Daddy Mike and gang will hopefully find the rest of the puzzle pieces that we need for this team to dominate. Building upon this year, 2011 should be an exciting season.
J. W. - November 18, 2010
If they don´t have a way of gluing those toes back on Star Wars Medical style, we won´t be seeing much more of Josh Cribbs this year. Right, Massaquoi to the slot consistently, and give Carlton Mitchell a run for a few games at wide out. Evan Moore as the most gifted pass catching tight end on our roster, also sounds like a good idea.
Regarding the kick off return duties, sounds like you found a specialist in Clifton Smith. I would still tend towards battling it out in practice amongst our fastest guys. Maybe this wasn´t considered while we had Cribbs.
mooncamping - November 18, 2010
As always, a unique opinion….
RelapsingDawgCatcher - November 18, 2010
These are not the droids you are looking for. Luke, fetch me my toe glue.
woodsmeister - November 18, 2010
Is this it next to the toe jam, Obi Wan?
JustBob - November 18, 2010
Ha, ha. The universal language, humor!
mooncamping - November 19, 2010
What’s the deal with this return specialist? How do you go from the Pro-Bowl to waiver wire in such a hurry? Is he purely one dimensional? Off the field issues (doubtful with our F.O.)? Anybody know anything about this guy?
DaveDawg09 - November 18, 2010
He porked McDaniels’ wife?
golanbatrac - November 18, 2010
porked. heh-heh.
Dawg Nuts - November 19, 2010
You know, I was wondering this myself, but have no info to offer.
RelapsingDawgCatcher - November 18, 2010
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Dawgs By Nature to post a comment.