CLEVELAND -- Joshua Cribbs was tired of hearing the Cleveland Browns being the punchline of jokes after posting a 1-31 record over the last two seasons, and he decided to do something about it.
Nearly six years after Cribbs last returned a punt for the Browns, he rejoined the organization in a coaching capacity during the offseason program as a way to help turn around the fortunes of a franchise with one postseason appearance since their return to the National Football League in 1999.
“I get offended being out there and people are talking bad about us,” Cribbs said. “It is dear to my heart.”
Cribbs served as a special-teams coaching intern during Organized Team Activities, mentoring the Browns’ punt and kickoff returners in practices and film sessions, and the multi-time Pro Bowl player was happy to be back with the organization that gave him his NFL start out of Kent State University.
“I love it,” Cribbs said of being back with the Browns in a coaching capacity. “I absolutely love it. One thing for sure, a lot of coaches and people were worried about ex-players coming in and worrying about the hours, all of the hours that you put in. I absolutely love it.
“My coach has to send me home. My wife sends me back here. I love it. That was my biggest fear. Maybe that part will wear off, but it has not yet. I am just excited to be back here on the field. It is filling that void of not playing. I feel like I am playing out there with the guys. It has been an exciting experience. I am learning so much. I have been able to pass a lot of knowledge down.”
Cribbs returned 195 punts for the Browns from 2005-2012, and turned those into a franchise record 2,154 yards and three touchdowns. His 11.00 yards-per-return average is the third-highest in franchise history.
Additionally, Cribbs accounted for 10,015 yards and eight touchdowns on 387 kickoff returns. He had 269 returns of at least 20 yards and another 34 that went for 40 or more yards. Over his first six years in the NFL, Cribbs had at least one return that went for a 90-yard touchdown, including a career-best 103-yard jaunt during the 2009 season.
“He is a legend,” special-teams coordinator Amos Jones said. “The biggest thing for me…is his enthusiasm. He invented a drill for us this spring, and I do not know if I was more excited about it or he was because we call it the, ‘Cribbs Drill.’
“It was a tackling drill. It was not even a return drill. He has done a great job. He has come to work every day with enthusiasm, just like he did when he played. Just really excited about his growth and progress to this point. I think he has got a great future in him, I really do. He wants to do it.”
And Jones is not the only coach who feels that way, as others believe Cribbs can positively impact the special-teams units.
“It has been awesome,” assistant special-teams coach Sam Shade said. “He is a sharp guy, brings a lot to the table, played here for a long time and was a Pro Bowler. I have learned a lot of things from him just about returners because he spent so much time doing it.
“At the same time, Josh is a guy -- I will be honest -- he is passionate about the Browns. He loves the Browns and wants the Browns to do well, but he also brings a lot of knowledge to the room.”