We Are All Witnesses: Josh Cribbs Is The Next Cleveland Browns Legend

When you think of the past greats who have donned the Cleveland Browns uniform, names such as Marion Motley, Otto Graham, Dante Lavelli, and Jim Brown come to mind.

Or perhaps you have fond memories of men like Ozzie Newsome, Paul Warfield, Brian Sipe, or Cleveland's own sidearm super hero Bernie Kosar.

Through the Browns' storied history, there have always been players who just seemed to make us stand up and cheer. These men not only embodied the Cleveland Browns, but were men who defined, and sometimes revolutionized the game of professional football.

Fans of the current incarnation of the Cleveland Browns should feel lucky, because no matter how bad the team may be at times, (and it has been very, very bad at times) we have the privilege of watching one of the greatest pure football players of a generation transform himself into a legend before our very eyes.

Joshua Cribbs' NFL story is one of determination, hard work, and a will to overcome the odds. All are attributes of the blue collar city of Cleveland and of its beloved Browns. 

Cribbs had a productive college career as quarterback for Kent State University, where he became the only player in NCAA history to lead his team in both passing and rushing for four different seasons. However, Cribbs was not selected in the 2005 NFL draft and found himself looking for work as an undrafted free agent.

Josh was invited to rookie mini camp by the Browns following the draft. After the team got a close look at his athleticism, football intelligence, and strong work ethic, there was no way that Cleveland would let Cribbs leave without a contract.

Cribbs made the final 2005 roster as a kick returner and didn't wait to make an impact for the team that gave him a chance to live professional football glory. In his rookie season, he set a franchise record for kick return yardage and scored his first touchdown as a pro.

Since then, Josh Cribbs has pushed, pulled, and fought to lift himself from a simple kick returner and special team's ace, to the face of the Cleveland Browns, and one of the most exciting players in the entire league.

Cribbs has managed to score on a kick or punt return in each of his five seasons, and most recently, in a 2009 game at Kansas City, set and then raised an all time record with the seventh and then eighth kick return touchdowns of his career.

While Cribbs has cemented himself as the top return specialist in the game today, he has become much more. He has developed into an all around dangerous offensive weapon as a wide receiver and running the football in the Browns' version of the Wildcat formation, known as the Flash package. Oh, and he still finds the time to cut through blockers and make tackles as a gunner on Cleveland's special team coverage unit.

In January, Cribbs was named to the NFL's All Decade Team.

It seems that the former MAC quarterback finds a way to succeed at everything asked of him at the pro level, and it is a testament to Josh's drive and team-first mentality to be willing to do anything and everything asked of him. He knows that he is lucky to be in his position and he plays the game with a passion and a determination not often found in modern era players.

What other player today would be willing to single-handedly put a 1-11 team on his back and will it to victory? Who else in the league would risk injury on a meaningless final play, trying to make something happen in an attempt to avoid a shutout loss on Monday Night Football?

All while undergoing a contract dispute with team management.

Joshua Cribbs is indeed a player of a different breed. He is a throwback to a bygone era of football, when the team was put first and men played, not for individual accolades, but for the love of the game.

As much as Josh Cribbs plays for his team, he also plays for the fans.

Cribbs is not a much heralded first round draft pick, or a homegrown product seemingly destined to bask in the adoration of the city of Cleveland. He isn't a $100 million quarterback or ego-driven wide receiver. He is a man who earned the love and respect of Cleveland fans through his drive and heart on the field.

Cribbs gives the respect and love right back to the fans in Cleveland, making himself available to the public whenever possible. When he signed his new contract in March, Cribbs didn't cancel an autograph session he was scheduled for at the 2010 Cleveland Auto Show in order to hold a large-media press conference. Instead, he held his press conference at the show, and then gave fans a chance to meet and talk with him.

"It’s not very often that fans get to hear an announcement from a player in person. And, it’s even more unlikely that they’re given a chance to speak to that player right after that announcement has been made," Cribbs said in a statement.

This is the kind of down to earth act that shows how much Cribbs appreciates his fans.

On Friday, Josh made an appearance on ESPN's Jim Rome Is Burning, telling guest host Marcellus Wiley that the best reason to play in Cleveland is the "Die-hard fans...I don't see any better fans anywhere"

Josh Cribbs is also a man of undeniable character off of the field. Last year he traveled to a Berea-area high school to walk the son of former college coach Mike Drake onto the football field for senior night. Drake passed away in 2005 of lymphoma.

Cribbs credits Drake for instilling in him the fundamentals he still utilizes today, and he attended the senior night event as a sign of respect and thanks. He did so without fanfare and didn't alert the media, allowing the spotlight to shine solely on the students who were there to be honored.

Joshua Cribbs is not only an exceptionally talented player and great teammate, he is a good human being. Whether on the field or off, Cribbs has shown time and time again what being a special football player is all about.

So, as the Cleveland Browns begin the 2010 season and Joshua Cribbs enters his sixth year in the league, cherish every game. With every run, pass, catch, tackle and return that Cribbs makes, we are witnessing greatness.

While Cribbs may not end his journey in Canton, (though I wouldn't bet against it) fans of the Cleveland Browns will be telling future generations about the days when they got to watch Cribbs in action. 

One day in the future, a young Browns fan will look upon a mural of past Cleveland Browns greats. There, sandwiched somewhere between Jim Brown and Lou "The Toe" Groza, will be Joshua Cribbs.

I often hear the fans of rival teams say that it is a sad state of affairs when the face of your franchise is the return specialist, but I think I can speak for Browns fans everywhere when I say that we're actually pretty damn proud of it.