by By Allen Wilson - NEWS SPORTS REPORTER , Buffalo News

But Cribbs' greatest value to the Browns is in the return game. His 18.2-yard average on punt returns is the best in the NFL for players with at least 10 returns. He's also in the top 10 with a 25.7-yard kickoff return average. He also leads the league with 699 combined return yards.

The 2007 All-Pro is coming off a game last week against Cincinnati where he had 223 return yards, including a 58-yard kickoff return.

The Buffalo Bills held Cribbs to a 21-yard average on three kickoff returns last year. They'll need a similar effort against him Sunday.

"It's a big challenge for us, and I'm looking forward to it," safety George Wilson said. "We have to do a good job of staying in our coverage lanes and not try to do more than our job requires us to do on any given play. We have to make sure we play proper leverage, have all 11 hats rally to the ball and wrap him up and get him to the ground."

Cribbs, nephew of former Bills running back Joe Cribbs, is a threat to score every time he touches the Football. He took a punt 67 yards for a touchdown in the season opener against Minnesota.

It was his seventh career return TD (five on kickoffs), tying the Browns record set by Eric Metcalf. Even when Cribbs doesn't score, he can change field position with his returns.

"Josh, he's impressive the way that he runs," Browns head coach Eric Mangini said. "And some of those returns he just wills them to happen, which is a great characteristic. He's got excellent strength. He's got excellent toughness."

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Cribbs also has outstanding speed and elusiveness. But what sets him appear from most return men is his physical running style. He's not afraid to take on defenders and he is strong enough to break tackles and gain yards after contact.

"With most returners, one guy can wrap them up and they go right down because they don't want to take extra shots," Wilson said. "But with Cribbs, the first guy makes contact and he's still running. He's aggressive and he fights for each and every yard. As a result of him fighting for extra yards, another defender has a chance to come in and strip the ball from him. We have to try and use his aggression against him and force some turnovers in the coverage game."

Cribbs is more than just an elite return specialist. He has led the Browns in special teams tackles each of the past three years, and was the only player in the NFL to finish first on his team in return yards and special teams tackles.

But returning kicks is what he does best. With rankings of 13th on kickoffs and 27th on punts, the Bills' coverage teams have not been up to their normal standards. Facing Cribbs will give the Bills a chance to show they are better than their rankings.

"He's one of the league's top returners," Wilson said, "so this is an opportunity for us to showcase how good we really are in our coverage teams."

***

Safeties Donte Whitner (thumb) and Bryan Scott (ankle) and middle linebacker Paul Posluszny (forearm) did not practice Thursday.

Defensive end Chris Ellis also was absent due to the death of his mother.

Defensive tackle John McCargo (calf), left tackle Demetrius Bell (groin) and rookie free safety Jairus Byrd (hip) practiced on a limited basis. But given how much they did during the padded practice, head coach Dick Jauron sounded optimistic about their chances of playing Sunday.

"They were limited because they probably didn't do as much as they normally do," Jauron said, "but they did a good deal."

The Browns have a banged-up linebacker corps. Starting inside linebacker and leading tackler D'Qwell Jackson (hamstring) didn't practice for the second straight day, while starting outside linebackers Kamerion Wimbley (shoulder) and David Bowens (knee) were limited again on Thursday.

-mail:awilson@buffnews.com

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