Josh Cribbs Says the NFL Prohibited the Wildcat During the Pro Bowl

One of the NFL's most versatile and dangerous players, the Cleveland Browns' Josh Cribbs, was not allowed to run what can sometimes be one of the most exciting plays during the Pro Bowl on Sunday night.

The NFL prohibited the Wildcat formation for the Pro Bowl.

Why you may ask?

The NFL said that since defenses are not allowed to blitz during the exhibition game, offenses cannot use any Wildcat formations as well.

Talk about a great way to make the Pro Bowl even more lame.

Cribbs told Sporting News Radio personality, Todd Wright, that AFC Coach Norv Turner had a set of Wildcat plays for offense with Cribbs getting the snap.

Who wants to see a dangerous talent, like Cribbs, run from the Wildcat?

Now that the news is out, it makes this journalist very disappointed that Cribbs could not display his talent as a Wildcat talent.

In 2009, Cribbs ran the ball 55 times for 381 yards and one touchdown almost exclusively out of the Wildcat.

Is the Wildcat More Dangerous Than Blitzing Defenses? A Quick Look.

A blitzing defender can be much more damaging in the game since a blitzing player is trying to time the snap count in order to explode toward the line of scrimmage and get to whoever has the ball.

There can be injuries caused by this sudden attack at the snap of the ball, so it's understandable that the NFL does not allow blitzing, but not having the Wildcat takes away some fun from a not-so-fun-at-times game.

Is the Wildcat as dangerous of a play as a blitz can be?

Not a chance because all the formation consists of a a quarterback lined up as a wide receiver and a non-quarterback (usually) lining up behind center almost always in the shotgun.

Then it seems like 98-percent of the time, the non-quarterback player gets the ball then just runs with it in a very structured blocking scheme that hopefully enables the ball carrier to break free into the second and third level of defense.

Is this play really any more dangerous than simply running the ball?

No way because it's designed to cause confusion and is a rather enjoyable play to watch unfold if successful.

Too bad NFL fans across the nation could not watch Cribbs and the Wildcat, especially since the ratings for the game on ESPN were the highest they have been in recent memory.

Maybe the NFL should reconsider.

(Article also posted on Dawg Scooper)