Joshua Cribbs, Joe Thomas Make the Pro Bowl

In a year filled with more bad news than good, it’s nice to be ending the 2009 season with a plethora of good news.

Joshua Cribbs and Joe Thomas are in the Pro Bowl again. This is Cribbs’ second visit and Thomas’ third consecutive trip.

Cribbs broke the NFL record a few weeks ago in Kansas City for number of kick returns for a touchdown when he ran back his seventh kickoff. He then raised the bar by running back his eighth not long after.

Thomas does nothing but protect his quarterback, no matter who is behind center. He has become a rock on the offensive line and the crowning jewel of the Phil Savage era.

Cribbs has become more of a national star this year as his dynamic running ability has caught the attention of casual football fans. His 2,423 all purpose yards so far this season trail the recorder holder, Derrick Mason of Tennessee, by 267 yards.

The Pro Bowl selection can’t do anything except drive up Cribbs' new contract, and he’s earned every penny. You don’t let a player like Cribbs become unhappy. He’s done everything that’s been asked and kept his complaints on a professional level.

Pay the man!

Despite the 4-11 record, the Browns do have more Pro Bowl players on the team, but Shaun Rogers was injured a few weeks ago and lost for the season. All Rogers did was block field goals and extra points like swatting flies.

While kicker Phil Dawson hasn’t been called upon this year to make heroic kicks as in years past, he’s still one of the best kickers in the league.

As the season winds down to its final week, Browns fans can take solace in the fact that the team has a solid base, the malcontents have been weeded out, and there is a glimmer of hope going into 2010.

One more game to go before the end, and there still is plenty of opportunity for Cribbs to break some more records.