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Browns return specialist takes kickoff 99 yards for touchdown in loss
By Marla Ridenour Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Monday, Sep 24, 2007
OAKLAND, CALIF.: The season might be only three games old, but Joshua Cribbs stated his case to be the Browns' first Pro Bowler in five years in a 26-24 loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.
Cribbs returned a second-quarter kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, becoming the first player in franchise history to return a kickoff for a touchdown in three consecutive seasons. Cribbs also tied Hall of famer Bobby Mitchell (1958-61) for most kickoff returns for touchdowns in a career with the Browns (three).
The Browns haven't had a player selected to the Pro Bowl since linebacker Jamir Miller in 2002.
In the previous two games, Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski had showed off his overpowering leg and led the league with seven touchbacks. Raiders opponents had only one return, that for 33 yards.
Cribbs was second in the NFL with a 31.2 average and will raise that number after bringing back four for a 43.5 average.
On the touchdown, he caught the ball with his foot nearly on the goal line and showed his usual fearlessness. A block by tight end Steve Heiden gave him running room and Cribbs dashed past Janikowski and outraced two Raiders to the end zone with 1:53 left in the second quarter.
''I saw a great block by Heiden,'' Cribbs said. ''I was concerned about the ref. He had his hands to his side. Then I saw Janikowski and I thought, 'It's over for you.' I gave him the inside fake. He got me last year, I'm never going to let him get me again.''
In 2006, Cribbs had a 92-yard touchdown on a kickoff against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2005, he went 90 yards against the Detroit Lions.
''Almost every time I catch it I see openings,'' Cribbs said. ''Jason Wright protects me at the point of attack. He lets me know if I'm too deep. We know we can score every time. Our motto is, 'Nothing less than 50.'''
Cribbs said just before that kickoff, he got the word that Browns coach Romeo Crennel had given him permission to return the ball no matter where Janikowski put it.
Wimbley breaks through
Browns second-year outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley made his first sack of the season on the Raiders' first play, dropping Josh McCown for a 6-yard loss. Wimbley picked up his second sack in the fourth quarter, when he dumped Daunte Culpepper for an 11-yard loss.
Wimbley's goal for 2007 is 16 sacks after setting the franchise rookie record with 11 in 2006.
''I'm still working hard to get back there,'' Wimbley said. ''Obviously, I can do more to help us win. If in a couple more instances I could have gotten to the quarterback, maybe we'd be in a different position right now.''
Wimbley also finished with five solo tackles, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
A bit of trickery
The Browns' offense was a mess in the first half, especially on the first drive.
Tight end Kellen Winslow was called for offensive pass interference, quarterback Derek Anderson for delay of game and right guard Seth McKinney for a false start. McKinney was flagged again on the second series.
''In the NFL you have to be ready for noise. We didn't handle it very well,'' left tackle Joe Thomas said.
Asked to assess the offense, Anderson said, ''Terrible. We came out flat in the first half. I made poor decisions. I've got to be better for us to win.''
On a third-and-1 at the Raiders 20 in the second quarter, left guard Eric Steinbach was called for a false start, and the Browns all pointed at defensive tackle Gerard Warren, a former No. 1 draft choice of the Browns.
''On one third-and-short they definitely yelled the snap count, and we heard it and jumped offsides,'' Thomas said.
Looks like a player
Punter Dave Zastudil (oblique strain) was among the inactives, forcing newly signed Scott Player into action. Player was also the holder for kicker Phil Dawson.
Player, who spent the previous nine years with the Arizona Cardinals, had a much better debut than Paul Ernster, who dropped his first snap in the opener when replacing Zastudil. Ernster was waived Tuesday and Player was signed.
Player averaged 46.4 yards on five punts with two inside the 20.
Brownies ...
Raiders two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess was inactive with a calf injury, giving rookie Jay Richardson from Ohio State University his first career start. He finished with three assists on tackles. . . . Ethan Kelley started at nose tackle for the Browns in place of Ted Washington, who was not injured. . . . The Raiders broke their streak of six consecutive games without a first-half touchdown when receiver Ronald Curry scored on a 41-yard reception from McCown with 4:45 left in the second quarter.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
OAKLAND, CALIF.: The season might be only three games old, but Joshua Cribbs stated his case to be the Browns' first Pro Bowler in five years in a 26-24 loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.
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