Cleveland Browns Awards for the 2009 Season

Another year, another season of Cleveland Browns fans saying "There's always next year."

A saying all too familiar for Browns fans worldwide.

Now that the season has come to an end, there is a big and bright shiny light at the end of the tunnel with a silhouette of a figure standing in the light and that person is new President Mike Holmgren.

More change is going to occur in the offseason, but Holmgren has promised that he will be quick with his decision making, but Browns fans hope he is not too quick and can make all decisions wisely.

Only time will tell if Holmgren is the cure for the aches and pains the Browns have experienced since 1999, but he definitely brings a ton of hope with his arrival.

Now, not to delay the end of the year awards for the Browns.

Offensive Player of the Year - Josh Cribbs WR/RB

Cribbs began the 2009 preseason as a project at wide receiver, but as the season wore on, he might actually be a better fit as a running back more than a receiver.

The spark plug of the Browns' offense in the second half of the season, after a historically inept first half of the season, Cribbs has helped the offense greatly. He has played at receiver, running back, and quarterback while running the Wildcat offense, or even just as a decoy.

A threat to score every time he touches the football, Cribbs has even been quoted as saying, "The defense knows I'm going to run the ball, but try and stop me."

Many defenses failed.

2009 stats: Receiving: 20 receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown

Rushing: 55 attempts for 381 yards and one touchdown

Honorable Mentions: RB Jerome Harrison, LT Joe Thomas

Defensive Player of the Year - Eric Wright, Cornerback

Wright has been the brightest spot in the Browns' defensive secondary all season long.

He is becoming one of the better shut-down cornerbacks in the NFL, but he still needs help on the other side of the defense.

With a hopeful addition of another starting cornerback via free agency or the draft, Wright's solid play has been key in shutting down opposing teams' No. 1 wide receiver.

2009 stats: 65 total tackles, 11 passes defended, four interceptions

Honorable Mentions: LB David Bowens, LB Matt Roth

Special Teams Player of the Year - Josh Cribbs, Kick/Punt Returner

Cribbs is the most dangerous return man in the NFL and perhaps in NFL history.

In this journalists' opinion, there is no comparison between him and the Chicago Bears' Devin Hester so stop the comparisons because Hester doesn't return anything anymore.

Cribbs is in all-time NFL record holder for kicks, 'nuf said.

2009 stats: Kick Returns: 56 returns for 1,542 yards and three touchdowns

Punt Returns: 38 returns for 442 yards and one touchdown

Honorable Mention: LB Blake Costanzo

Comeback Player of the Year - Jerome Harrison, Running Back

Talk about a crazy season for Harrison from start to finish.

First, going into the preseason, there was a ton of hype surrounding Harrison and the possibility of him being the Browns' starting running back because there was rumors that former running back Jamal Lewis might be cut.

Second, Harrison fills in for Lewis early in the season due to an injury and he runs all over a good Bengals defense for 121 yards.

Then, Lewis comes back from injury then Harrison falls into the shadows of the depth chart and is inactive for a couple of games in the middle of the season.

Next, Lewis goes on Inured Reserve and Harrison begins running like a crazy person breaking Jim Brown's single game rushing record one week and Lee Sugg's rushing attempts record the next week.

Finally, Harrison has such a huge buzz about him going into the offseason and hopefully the Brown will resign him since 2009 is the final year of his contract.

Talk about a comeback within a single season!

2009 stats: Rushing: 194 attempts for 862 yards and five touchdowns

Receiving: 34 receptions for 220 yards and two touchdowns

Honorable Mention: LB Matt Roth

Team-First Player of the Year - Mike Furrey, Safety/Wide Receiver

Furrey started of the 2009 season as a wide receiver, but now he is the starting safety on defense due to an injury to Brodney Poll.

The primary No. 3 and slot receiver for the first half of of the year, Furrey was the most dependable pass catcher in a group of struggling receivers, but once the other receivers began to play better, Furrey was moved to defense.

Even before Pool went down for the season, Furrey began helping the secondary in nickel and dime formations, since other cornerbacks Brandon McDonald and Hank Poteat were struggling and safety Mike Adams was moved to the starting cornerback.

Furrey, having experience playing in the secondary in the Arena Football League and with the St. Louis Rams, in now the starting safety opposite Abram Elam.

His versatility may be the key in keeping his job for 2010 once Holmgren evaluates the roster, but fans will have to wait until the 2010 training camp to see if he stays on offense or defense.

Furrey is one of the most team-first players on the Browns.

2009 stats: Receiving: 23 receptions for 170 yards

Defense: 16 total tackles, two passes defended

Honorable Mention: WR/KR Josh Cribbs

Rookie of the Year - Alex Mack, Center

Head coach Eric Mangini took a lot of heat when he traded down in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft three times to pick Mack.

Many football experts thought it was a reach to pick Mack when the Browns did.

After a questionable training camp and preseason where Mack struggled and had to run more penalty laps for making mistakes during practices, Mack has turned his season around and is one of the reasons the Browns offense was able to run for over 100 yards in their last five games of the season.

Going up against defensive lineman Shaun Rogers during practices before Rogers got hurt did nothing but make Mack one of the best rookie lineman and centers in the NFL.

Even SI.com's Peter King said that Mack was on his list for players he was considering for the AFC Rookie of the Year award.

Honorable Mention: WR Mohamed Massaquoi

Overall Player of the Year - Josh Cribbs

Cribbs has been the heart and soul of the Browns in 2009 and his unselfish play combined with his team first attitude makes him the easy choice for Player of the Year for the Cleveland Browns.

(See other slides for his 2009 stats.)

Thank you Mike Holmgren for saying that you will be paying the man!

Also, thank you Browns for giving fans an exciting second half of the 2009 season and please continue the trend in 2010 and beyond!

GO BROWNS!