BEREA: It's not difficult to tell that the word is out on the Browns' Joshua Cribbs.

The first indication: The fear other teams have in booting the ball to Cribbs, who leads the AFC in kickoff returns and is sixth in punt returns. Last week, the Arizona Cardinals made a concerted effort to make sure he touched the ball as little as possible.

The other indicator: Cribbs' name appears on the league's Pro Bowl ballot as both a kick returner and a special teamer.

There's little doubt which aspect of his game is most valuable to the Browns. Since arriving from Kent State University, where he played quarterback, Cribbs has evolved into a threat to score each time he receives a kickoff. He leads the conference with 31.2 yards per return and two touchdowns.

The Browns will be facing a player from the same mold Sunday at the Meadowlands. In Leon Washington, the New York Jets have a kick returner who averages 30.6 yards and has scored three times.

''It is a big matchup; No. 1 and 2 go head to head. They have a very good special-teams unit. They had a Pro Bowl (kick returner) last year in Justin Miller, and Leon is doing good this year,'' Cribbs said. ''They have good special-teams players and a good special-teams coach. We have to be on our game.''

Browns special-teams coach Ted Daisher said Washington gives his unit a look at what other teams face against Cribbs.

''We have a lot of respect for Leon Washington. He's an excellent player. He has played extremely well. He's a dangerous returner with good skills,'' Daisher said Friday. ''He's an explosive guy, and if he gets to the seam he can make the big play.

''I like the way he returns kickoffs. I think he's a tough guy for being a smaller-built guy. I think he runs it up in there and is very physical.''

Daisher views the Jets' special teams as being every bit the Browns' equals. As for Washington, he might find the Browns attempting what the Cardinals did to Cribbs: kicking to confuse the Browns' return man.

''First off, you've got to respect Leon Washington and what he has done. We'll kick the ball in different ways. We'll kick it to him, we'll kick it away from him,'' Daisher said. ''You kick it to wherever you think you have your best chance of being successful. We have all the respect in the world for him, but you have to try and create field position.''

If there is a glaring difference between Washington and Cribbs, it's Cribbs' production on the dirtier side of special teams — kick coverage. He leads the Browns with 17 special-teams tackles, a fact he takes seriously.

''It is important,'' he said of his kick coverage. ''I feel like guys look up to me and I can lead by example.''

Daisher can only recall one player, perennial Pro Bowler Steve Tasker, with the special-teams acumen of Cribbs. Tasker, however, could not run the ball on kicks like Cribbs.

''(Josh) runs down the field and he's fearless on kickoff coverage. They run the wedge at him — he'll throw it right in there,'' he said. ''He'll just go throw it right in there, being physical and he avoids it and makes plays. I have never seen anybody as multi-talented as that. I just haven't.''

That is why the Pro Bowl talk surrounds Cribbs. He hears it and recognizes that trading returns with Washington provides a unique opportunity, yet views it as a part of a bigger picture.

''I'd be a fool to say I don't see personal gain from this game. I'm just concentrating on winning. We have a chance to do something great on this football team, and whatever I have to do to contribute to that,'' he said, ''whether it's outshining him or doing well individually, I will. But we're really concentrating on this team thing. This kickoff-return unit, we have a lot of guys banged up and we have a lot of preparing to do for this football game.''

Cribbs said he had no preference whether he made the Pro Bowl as the AFC's kick returner or special teamer.

''It's like when I came into the NFL. I didn't care what position I played. The Pro Bowl is the Pro Bowl,'' he said. ''I have a confidence. It's a standard. And if we keep up to the standard, I will be in the Pro Bowl.''

Walking wounded

The Browns list wide receiver Tim Carter (illness), tight end Steve Heiden (ankle), defensive lineman Ethan Kelly (knee), linebacker David McMillan (knee), linebacker Antwan Peek (knee), defensive lineman Orpheus Roye (knee) and cornerback Eric Wright (knee) as questionable for Sunday. All practiced on a limited basis.

Right tackle Kevin Shaffer (knee) and defensive lineman Robaire Smith (knee) had full practice and are probable for Sunday.

Brownies ...

The NFL slapped defensive lineman Simon Fraser with a $5,000 fine for head butting a member of the Arizona Cardinals during a kick return last week.