During Cribbs' time at Dunbar the Crimson Tide won three consecutive DCIAA football titles.[2] In his senior season, Cribbs completed 130 of 277 passes for 2,022 yards, 9 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. In the 2000 Turkey Bowl (DCIAA Championship game played the morning of Thanksgiving), Cribbs led Dunbar to a 35-12 victory over the Ballou Knights. Two second half touchdowns thrown by Cribbs were key to the Crimson Tide's victory over Ballou—one of which was caught by then Dunbar sophomore tight end Vernon Davis.[3]
[edit] College career
Cribbs played quarterback at Kent State University, where he is the all-time total offense leader with 10,839 yards. Other school records include rushing touchdowns (38), pass completions (616), pass attempts (1,123), passing yardage (7,169), touchdowns scored (41), and points scored (246).He is one of only two true freshman in NCAA history to both rush and pass for 1,000 yards (the other being Armanti Edwards of Appalachian State). He is also one of only five players in NCAA history to both rush and pass for 1,000 yards in at least two different seasons, the others being Beau Morgan of Air Force, Vince Young of Texas, Pat White of West Virginia, and Armanti Edwards of Appalachian State. Cribbs accomplished the feat three times. He is one of only four quarterbacks in NCAA history to rush for 3,500 yards and throw for 7,000 yards in his career (the other three being Antwaan Randle-El of Indiana, Armanti Edwards of Appalachian State, and Brad Smith of Missouri.[4]
Cribbs is also the only player in NCAA history to lead his team in both rushing and passing in four different seasons, although his 2003 single-season school record of 3,125 combined yards was eclipsed in 2008 by quarterback Julian Edelman.[5]
Cribbs played quarterback opposite former Cleveland Browns teammate Charlie Frye who attended the University of Akron, Kent's chief rival and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of Miami University (another in-state rival).
Cribbs was a communication studies major with a concentration in public communication. He received his diploma on May 15, 2010.[6]
College Statistics:
- 2001: 131/238 (55.0%) for 1516 yards and 10 TD vs. 5 INT. 164 carries for 1192 yards and 5 TD.
- 2002: 91/186 (48.9%) for 1014 yards and 4 TD vs. 14 INT. 137 carries for 1057 yards and 10 TD.
- 2003: 178/364 (48.9%) for 2424 yards and 14 TD vs. 9 INT. 161 carries for 701 yards and 14 TD.
- 2004: 216/335 (64.5%) for 2215 yards and 17 TD vs. 6 INT. 170 carries for 893 yards and 9 TD.
[edit] Professional career
[edit] 2005
Cribbs was not chosen in the 2005 NFL Draft; however, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Browns on April 29, 2005. He made the Browns roster for the 2005 season, and made an impact as a kick returner. He averaged 24.5 yards per return, and his total of 1,094 return yards set a franchise record. In a game against the Detroit Lions, he returned a kick 90 yards for his first NFL touchdown. He made his NFL debut versus the Cincinnati Bengals on September 11.[edit] 2006
Cribbs, in 2006, signed a 6-year contract extension with the Cleveland Browns, and returned another kickoff 92 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also set a new franchise record for most kickoff yardage in a season, breaking the record he set himself the previous year.[edit] 2007
After returning yet another kickoff for a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders in Week 3 of the 2007 season, Cribbs had one kick-return touchdown in each of his first three years in the NFL. Cribbs recorded his fourth kickoff-return touchdown with a 100-yarder against the Steelers in Week 10 of the 2007 season, as well as a 90 yard return earlier in the game. Cribbs continued his season with 245 return yards and 61 punt return yards in the Browns overtime victory over the Ravens in week 11. Cribbs was voted to the 2008 Pro Bowl as a kick returner for the AFC. Cribbs also had a 76 yard punt return for a touchdown against the 49ers. Cribbs had another returned for 94 yards for another score but was called back on a holding penalty by Lennie Friedman.[edit] 2008
For the fourth straight season, Cribbs again had a touchdown on a kickoff return, scoring on a 92-yard return versus the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9. It was the fifth kickoff return touchdown of Cribbs's career. Cribbs also had a 4-yard rushing touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in a Monday night game. On November 26, 2008, after placing Brady Quinn on injured reserve, the Browns named Cribbs their emergency quarterback.[7][edit] 2009
On September 13, in the Browns' home opener versus the Minnesota Vikings, Cribbs returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown, tying the team record for returns for a touchdown (7) with Eric Metcalf. Also, in that same game, Cribbs was named the starting No. 2 wide receiver for the first time in his NFL career.On October 18, Cribbs returned a Pittsburgh kickoff for a touchdown, breaking the team record for returns for a touchdown. In this game he became the first NFL player to throw an interception and record a kick-off return touchdown in the same game since 1950.
On December 10, Cribbs led the Browns to victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, their first win over their rival in 13 games. Cribbs led all offensive players with 200 all-purpose yards, including 87 yards rushing out of the Wildcat formation.[8]
Cribbs was endorsed by fellow teammate and Browns starting left tackle Joe Thomas as having the chance of becoming a great NFL running back.[9]
On December 20, Cribbs returned two kickoffs for touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs to set and extend the all-time NFL record for most kickoff returns for TD's in a career.
On December 29, Cribbs was named to the 2010 Pro Bowl for the second time in his career as the Browns' and AFC's representative as the kick returner.
Cribbs was also named the Browns' team MVP for the 2009 season.
[edit] 2010
Relations between Cribbs and the Browns soured at the end of the 2009 season, as negotiations on a new contract extension ended with a reported $1.4 million per year offer that Cribbs felt was insultingly low. On January 7, 2010, Cribbs cleaned out his locker at the Browns' training complex and announced his intention to walk out on the final three years of his contract, telling reporters, "... it absolutely felt like the last time I'd be setting foot inside the building. I feel like it's over for me in Cleveland", adding that the Browns' offer felt "like I've been betrayed and stabbed in the back."In February 2010, Cribbs's agent said that contract negotiations were going well. J.R. Rickert (Cribbs's agent) has said multiple times that things were going well in making a new contract.
On March 5, 2010, Cribbs re-signed with the Cleveland Browns with a three-year, $20 million dollar contract.
In January 2010, Cribbs was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2000s.[10] By Wikapedia
