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Cleveland Kick Returner Likely Not Returning: Agent Says Offer Is “Insulting”
Published: January 8, 2010
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Josh Cribbs, the Cleveland Browns’ most dynamic weapon, told coaches and medical staff today that he felt like it was the last time he would be in the Browns’ facility.
Cribbs is unhappy with a contract offer from the Browns that his agent considers “insulting.”
The Cleveland wide receiver is a fan favorite and considers himself to be more than just a punt returner.
Cribbs currently has 3 years left on his contract that are set to pay him just shy of $1 million per season. The Browns have offered to increase the deal to $1.4 million per season, but Cribbs wants no part of that deal.
Cribbs is just the latest player to demand a new contract after having a breakout year, showing that professional football is a business like no other.
Players repeatedly hold out of training camp until they get a “long term” deal, only to demand a new deal as soon as they feel their market value has increased.
This is an insane occurrence that is beginning to be the norm in the NFL. Owners need to start putting their foot down and forcing players to abide by the deal that they signed.
Players feel that when they are worth more than their current contract, the owner must bite the bullet and renegotiate.
But what about when the shoe is on the other foot?
If a player has a bad season, can the owner then demand to lower the player’s salary? Of course not!
So what gives the player the idea that he has the right to demand an increase? The plain and simple truth is….agents.
We now live in a world of super-agents like Drew Rosenhaus, who represents top talent in the NFL.
While they are ultimately looking out for the best interest of the player, and in turn themselves, these agents are influencing young men and encouraging them to act in a manner that would be unacceptable in any other profession.
And yes, I understand the argument that professional football players need to get paid as much as possible, as soon as possible because of the short average career. But at some point, common sense and ethics need to come into play.
What happened to the days when a man’s word was his badge of honor? When he lived up to any deal that he agreed to.
NFL owners need to band together and start forcing these players to do what is ethically and professionally right.
The simple solution is incentive-driven contracts. Players and owners need to layout contracts that provide for the player if he does have a breakout season and exceeds expectations. Both sides win and no one has to hold out or demand a trade.
NFL owners need to hold these guys accountable for the contracts that they agree upon. If you insist upon a five or six year deal, then you have to understand that you are stuck with it.
The San Francisco 49ers set a huge precedent with the way they handled the Michael Crabtree situation this past offseason. Owners need to have a backbone and stand up to these players and agents.
You cannot let the inmates run the prison.
If the NFL truly wants to develop players and prepare them for their life after football, they need to start holding them accountable like people in the real world.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Romomentum: Can the Dallas Cowboys Contend This Postseason?
Published: January 4, 2010
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We have all heard the headlines about the Dallas Cowboys’ struggles in December and going into the postseason, and we all remember Tony Romo’s botched snap that ousted the team from the playoffs.
Tony Romo is a guy that is easy to love and easy to hate.
On one hand, he is the pretty boy that dates hot celebrity women, so it’s easy for guys to hate him for his glamorous life off the field.
But as a sports fan, it’s hard not to like this guy. He is a leader, does and says all the right things, and, with the exception of Terrell Owens, most people would agree that he is a great teammate.
For these reasons, Cowboys fans want this guy to succeed and remain the face of their franchise.
They also want him to bring another championship home to adorn their new billion-dollar facility. No one wants this worse than the guy that paid for that stadium, Jerry Jones.
Could this be the year?
I believe it is.
This season, Tony Romo has been the picture of consistency.
Since Week 12 against Oakland, Romo has led the Cowboys to a 4-2 record and has had an average passer rating of 106.9.
He has also averaged 309 yards per game in this stretch and quieted doubters that said he could not win in December.
Sunday’s absolute destruction of the Philadelphia Eagles 24-0 showed that Romo and his Cowboys are ready for the playoffs.
Unfortunately for Dallas, they have to play that same Eagle team this week, and beating the same team twice is a tough thing to do in the National Football League.
The Eagles will undoubtedly come back to Jerry World with a chip on their shoulders, but unless they can get more pressure on Romo, the results may be the same.
Philadelphia’s lack of pressure on Romo allowed the Dallas quarterback to throw for 311 yards, two touchdowns, and a passer rating of 106.4.
Look for Romo and the Cowboys to come out slinging again this weekend, and look for them to ride this momentum deep into the playoffs, maybe even to Miami.
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