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There is also the issue of tampering, but Cribbs’s agent told the Cleveland Plain Dealer today that he and Cribbs are only speaking with the Browns organization. This is in response to this comment Cribbs made to ESPN Cleveland yesterday, ”My agent has been meeting with several different teams. There is a lot of interest. There are already numbers brought to the table. Things are happening. Wheels are turning behind closed doors.”

Now here is what his agent told Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer, ”Our conversations to this point have been exclusively with the Browns.”

The way I see it, if there is any tampering going on, it is most likely insignificant and the Browns won’t be charging anyone with tampering. The team is still expected to move in a different direction than Cribbs at this juncture, because the 29-year-old is likely asking for too much money. Cribbs and his camp keep reiterating that there is a strong free agent market for the returner, but it is possible that they are just trying to gain leverage and trump up the idea that Cribbs is receiving considerable interest. That may be the reason why Cribbs made that strong comment on ESPN Cleveland, and why his agent rushed to deny anything dealing with tampering.

Cribbs had a fantastic 1,178 return yardage on kick-offs and added 457 more on punts, but he also had just 105 yards of total offense in the receiving and rushing game.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter for more NFL updates @SorianoJoe.

Dec 16, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs (16) during a game against the Washington Redskins at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Washington won 38-21. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

We’ve all heard the praise being bestowed upon Tom Brady for taking a pay cut to help his organization, the New England Patriots. Now Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs has said he’d take a pay cut to stay with the Cleveland Browns.

He is currently set to be a free agent on March 12th and talked about the situation on local Cleveland station 92.3 The Fan.

“It’s at a standstill right now,” Cribbs said, via SportsRadioInterviews.com. “I’m hearing a lot of different meetings are being scheduled with different teams and everything. My plan is to stay with the team as much as possible, even to take a slight pay cut. But at the same time, not huge pay cuts. And I’m trying to work with the team. I want to be a Brown. I want to end my career here. We have the coaches to do it now, to take it to the next level, and I definitely want to be there.”

But unfortunately he alludes to the fact that the feelings might not be mutual.

“Right now, it doesn’t seem like the interest level is there with upper management,” Cribbs said. “I want to be a Brown. I want to continue my career here. I want to retire a Cleveland Brown, and that’s my intention. I’m gonna go as far as I can with the team to make a compromise.”

It’s odd that he wants to stay with an organization that he says hasn’t used him up to his full potential.

“I know I haven’t been used to my potential,” Cribbs said. “My thing with coaches and upper management — mostly with upper management — you draft guys and guys come in that’s new, they have to play. And it shouldn’t be this way. It should be the best guys that’s gonna help you win that play.”

He’s been good as a punt returner, but a very mediocre receiver. Of course he has played in Cleveland.

Oct 28, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs (16) during a game against the San Diego Chargers at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Cleveland won 7-6. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

Cleveland Browns wide receiver/return specialist Josh Cribbs has the ability to be one of the NFL’s most dynamic play makers, but the Browns offense has kept Cribbs from showing his talents this season.

When speaking with The Plain Dealer, Cribbs expressed his frustration with his current role in the Cleveland offense.

“I feel like I’m trapped,” Cribbs said. “I feel like a caged athlete.”

On the offensive side of the ball this season, Cribbs has just 8 touches for 62 yards. It’s not the type of production that the speedster is used to having and he doesn’t understand why he hasn’t been fed the ball more.

“Me going from being able to run the wildcat, to playing receiver last season and catching 41 passes and four touchdowns to nothing — I can’t believe it,” said Cribbs. “By me not playing, I feel like they think I’m not good, that I’ve lost it. But I haven’t. I feel when I’m out there I can contribute, but I’m not able to.”

Cribbs is in a contract year but doesn’t sound like a player who plans to talk to the team about a new deal.

“There’s no point,” he said. “Obviously they feel like everybody that’s in front of me is a better athlete. I disagree. I feel a different way than the coach feels about me. They must feel I can’t produce. We have a difference of opinion.”

Cribbs says it is hard to lose so often and it makes it difficult to watch game film. But even with his frustration in Cleveland, Cribbs is committed to the Browns fans and says they are the reason that he hopes to stay in Cleveland for the remainder of his career.

“It’s because of these fans,” he said. “I’m going to try to stay here. If Mr. (Jimmy) Haslam will have me, I’ll stay. If not, I’m sure I’ll be playing football somewhere else.”

The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Terry Pluto says that the team will not use Cribbs as a wide receiver this year. His only chance at getting on the field as a pass catcher will be competing for a job in the slot.

It’s doubtful the Browns will use Joshua Cribbs much as a wide receiver. They want to sort through the group of Mohamed Massaquoi, Greg Little, Brian Robiskie and Carlton Mitchell (the front office likes him a lot). But they will have open competition for a slot receiver, and Cribbs could be in that mix along with Jordan Norwood and perhaps a veteran who is signed.

Perhaps the move to keep Cribbs away from receiver will benefit him in the long run. Not having to worry about the offensive side of the ball will allow Cribbs to focus on his return game. Chicago Bears stud returner Devin Hester saw his production as a return man drop off once becoming a full time receiver.

It seems that the Browns are trying to avoid that situation with Cribbs and allow him to be the dynamic game changer that they need on special teams.

Cribbs shared on the podcast why his team, who is entering the season with a new head coach in Pat Shurmur and Madden 12 cover athlete Peyton Hillis, would be a perfect fit for the show’s upcoming season.

“I would love for us to be on the forefront,” Cribbs said. “That just gives us more motivation to want to succeed — to let them know, hey, this is what our team is about.

“We’ve got a lot of interesting guys on our team – especially with a new coaching staff, watching how our fans react and the players as well. Our (camp) would be like a real reality TV show. It will be some real drama and success stories in that.”

The Browns are one of the league’s up-and-coming teams, so their appearance on Hard Knocks could either make or break them. It would add pressure to their young players and new coach, but a successful season on the field after a successful season on HBO air could vault the team to the next player and make the Browns superstars.

Cribbs full appearance on the podcast will be available on RadioExiles.com this Thursday.