Is Josh Cribbs really a future Hall of Famer?
By: Jake Rajala
The gifted Josh Cribbs is recognized as one of the very best return specialists in NFL history. In 2007, he registered the most kick return yards in the league with 1,809 yards. This led him to earn second team All-Pro honors. Wait, there’s more. He recorded the most kick return touchdowns (3) in the league and and second most yards (1,542) in his career. This led him to be named first team All-Pro.
With this all enunciated, fascinating question arises: Is Cribbs really a future Hall of Famer? I have to say no. I believe he deserves to be in the Browns Hall of Fame, as he is arguably their best return specialist in their history. Nonetheless, I don’t feel he’s on the same par as returners that have made it into Canton.
The former Chicago Bears legend Devin Hester made it in the HOF. Well, he was named first-team All-Pro three times and even second team All-Pro on another instance. Hester is the first returner to be named into the Hall of Fame.
I would have liked to see him earn a couple of more AP nods. Then I would hand him the probability of making it into Canton.
If Cribbs was a Pro Bowl WR at the same time as being an electric returner, I would say Cribbs should be in the HOF. That type of versatility doesn’t come around that often. Percey Harvin had this ability, but he didn’t play for a full season in his somewhat short career.
The last factor around Cribbs is his Championship closet. He doesn’t have a Super Bowl to his name. This would offset him not making a lot of Pro Bowls or AP nods. Sadly, he never won a Lombardi trophy. To be fair, the Raiders and the Browns aren’t exactly dominant teams.
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