Extras from interview with Browns standout Josh Cribbs

Cleveland Browns' Josh Cribbs (16) beats the Baltimore Ravens defense on a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

View Larger Version >>

I interviewed Browns Pro Bowl return man Josh Cribbs over the phone Friday afternoon while he was on his way to the set of "Jim Rome is Burning" in Los Angeles.

The bulk of our conversation, and what ultimately led to this story, was about LeBron James leaving town and Cribbs' pride in becoming who many consider the new face of Cleveland sports.

Anyway, here are some parts of the interview that didn't make the cut for the story:

On participating in "Cleveland Pride Night" Saturday at Quicken Loans Arena: "The people of Cleveland are die-hard fans and hard-working people, and they represent something. I can only pride myself in giving back to the fans as much as possible. That's why I sign autographs for everybody. You never see me turn nobody down because the fans ultimately pay our salary.’’

More on what should replace the empty space where the LeBron James mural that once hung on a building in downtown Cleveland: "Something that just says no matter what we go through, we're gonna still stand. We're gonna still be here. We're gonna still go out to win. And something that signifies that the fans will never give up, a picture or a word or something that basically gives the fans hope, something to cheer for, something to look forward to."

On recently dabbling in acting: "I definitely welcome all opportunities, and you have to always look ahead. Football isn't forever. The NFL to us, the athletes, doesn't last long. It's a very short time period for us to grab a hold of our small celebrity and to make the most of it. Definitely (acting more in the future is) a possibility. I had fun doing it, and football has opened up those doors for me. It's opened up the opportunities for me to have that chance."