Josh Cribbs, Browns Reportedly Reach Agreement On Extension

A few more details are coming out regarding the three year contract Josh Cribbs signed with the Browns. It’s not technically an extension since the old contract was ripped up and replaced with this one.

According to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, the final deal is worth $20 million.

According to Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com, Cribbs will receive $4.3 million in year one, $7.1 million in the first three years.

The kicker is $11 milllion in reachable incentives if Cribbs continues to perform
like he has.

The good news for Cribbs is that the deal has an annual average above the benchmark previously set by Bears return man Devin Hester.

The Cleveland Browns have finally come to terms with Josh Cribbs, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Per Florio, it’s a three extension that exceeds $18 million.

Most recently, reports indicated that both sides had the “framework” of a contract in place but were haggling over guaranteed money.

The Browns reportedly wanted that number around $5 million while Cribbs was pursuing $10 million. In the end, a compromise was struck for approximately $7 million guaranteed.

The extension has been a long time coming. Cribbs signed a long-term deal early on in his career before he really took off in the NFL. He claims he was promised an extension by the previous regime and went public when those promises weren’t kept.

Josh Cribbs is inching closer and closer to getting paid. League sources tell Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer that a new contract between Cribbs and the Browns could be completed by the end of next week.

Haggling points include the amount of guaranteed money and escalators.

As we told you this week, Cribbs is looking for $10 million in guaranteed money while the Browns would like to see that number at $5 million.

In addition to that, the two sides are not close on escalators, according to Cabot. The escalators tied to Cribbs’ performance on the field such as catches, Pro Bowls and touchdowns.

Cribbs is currently under contract for three more years at about $1 million per year. He would like to see that per-year number jump to $4-5 million.

The last time we heard from Josh Cribbs he suggested his days in Cleveland were numbered because of the “insulting” contract offers he received from the Browns brass.

Since then, a new GM and football czar have been hired in Cleveland and both sides appear poised to get a deal done.

According to NFL Network’s Jason LaCanfora, Cribbs and the Browns “have the framework of a new deal in place" but sticking points include guaranteed money.

Cribbs is looking for a number close to $10 million in guaranteed money while the Browns would prefer half that, LaCanfora reports.

Still, there is a sense that gap could be bridged in a few negotiating sessions, and much of the complicated issues with the deal -- a multi-layered bonus and incentive structure based on playing time and performance at various positions (special teams returns, tackles, receptions, rushing yards as the option quarterback, etc) -- are essentially completed.

LaCanfora says there is “optimism” on both sides that a three year deal will get done that will replace the existing three years on his contract.