National Football League

Agent: Browns' Cribbs set to holdout unless he gets new deal

Published Jan. 5, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

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Alex Marvez

There is new team leadership in Cleveland but the same old contract problems remain with star kick returner Joshua Cribbs.

Cribbs agent J.R. Rickert told FOXSports.com on Wednesday that a holdout and trade demands are coming if the Browns don’t change their negotiating tune. Rickert said new Browns president Mike Holmgren has offered Cribbs a take-it-or-leave-it multiyear contract extension that averaged $1.4 million a season with the potential of reaching $2 million through incentives.

That was unacceptable to a player who set the NFL’s all-time career scoring record on kickoff returns during the 2009 season. The deal would average less than what the NFL’s nine other highest-paid kickoff returners are earning even with incentives, Rickert said.

“It’s time for the organization to step up and do the right thing for this kid,” Rickert said. “If the situation isn’t properly addressed, Joshua Cribbs will not set foot in that facility come March (for offseason workouts) and will demand a trade on the first day of the league year.”

Signed by the Browns as a college free agent in 2005, Cribbs had inked a six-year, $6.77 million deal after a standout rookie season. Rickert, who wasn’t representing Cribbs when that pact was signed, has unsuccessfully negotiated with two previous management regimes for a new contract. The Cribbs camp also contends Cleveland’s front office had previously agreed to reward him for outplaying his current contract.

The Browns declined to respond to Rickert’s comments, but Holmgren did address the issue during a Tuesday news conference announcing his official hiring.

“I believe players should be rewarded for what they do,” Holmgren said. “What happens, though, on occasion is our view and the agent’s view of how much that should be differs. We will continue to make an effort to handle Josh’s situation.

“I want Josh here. Now, he has three years left on his existing contract so it’s a little unprecedented to start doing things this early in a contract like that. Having said that, a player should get what he deserves and (Cribbs) has been a fine player. It’s just that business part of it that we’re going through now. We’re trying. I hope how we do that is good enough.”

Cribbs was named the AFC’s Special Teams Player of the Month for a December in which he became the second player in NFL history to log two 100-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns in the same game (against Kansas City). Cribbs now has a league-record eight touchdowns on kickoff returns for his career.

Cribbs, 26, led the NFL in kickoff return average this season at 27.5 yards and finished fourth on punt returns at 11.9 yards with another score. Cribbs also contributed to Cleveland’s offense as a wide receiver and wildcat quarterback.

On his official Twitter page, Cribbs said: "Thanks everyone, I love playing for the browns & put my all in to it, but it doesn't look good 4me at this point on returning. I don't believe I made the to do list for the team in 2010."

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