The best player of the expansion-era Browns?
That’s a no-brainer. It’s left tackle Joe Thomas, who has worked his way through nine straight losing seasons – and likely a 10th in 2017 – to fashion a career that will land him as the franchise’s 17th inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The most productive player of the re-born franchise?
That’s so easy, too. It’s Phil Dawson, the best kicker the Browns have had in either era, and that includes Hall of Famer Lou Groza, whose success spelled out the importance of the kicking game.
And the most exciting player the Browns have had since 1999?
That is also a slam-dunk. It’s returner Josh Cribbs, who officially retired as a Brown on Wednesday.
Cribbs is also the best story. A former slash-style quarterback at Kent State making it onto the Cleveland roster as a rookie free agent and then becoming one of the greatest returners in NFL history? Yeah, who saw that coming?
He is, as well, the player who performed with the most heart. He was fearless. He was tough. He was dedicated. He played with passion. And he woke up every day fully aware of how blessed he was to be a player from a local college playing for the hometown team.
A class act through and though and a man who epitomized the value of hard work and belief in yourself, Cribbs never turned down an interview request or a wide-eyed kid who wanted an autograph. He was the people’s choice.
But it’s for his explosiveness and ability to make big play after big play that he will be remembered most. He was the one Browns player of the expansion era who was a legitimate threat to score a touchdown every single time he got his hands on the ball, no matter where that came on the field or who it was against.
By himself, Cribbs was worth the price of admission. And considering what tickets cost, that’s saying a lot.
A whole lot.
The Browns may never find another player quite like him. He was indeed that special.
And, for what he did for the Browns and you, the fans, he deserves a healthy and heartfelt thank you.
