Earlier this month, just as the new braintrust in Cleveland was being ushered into Berea, the agents for Josh Cribbs launched a media blitz to show just how unfairly they thought their client was being treated by the Browns. Before Mike Holmgren could even fill out his front office roster, Cribbs’ and his camp demanded a new contract. The two sides engaged in long staring contest, and in the heat of the moment it seemed nothing would ever get done. Dawn Aponte, now with the Dolphins, made the infamous “final offer” comments. Cribbs cleaned out his locker and told everyone he doubted that he’d be back with the Browns next year. His agents said they would ask for a trade without a new deal. It was going to BE THE END OF THE WORLD?!
Of course, rational people figured that while Cribbs’ negotiating strategy was probably ill-advised, things would calm down, Holmgren would get things settled in Berea, and the two would come back to the table later on with clearer heads and get a deal done.
That seems to be exactly what’s happening. Holmgren has said in numerous media interviews that he wants Cribbs back next year.
From a National Football Post article:
“Holmgren came in and made a lot of changes; the offer that was made to me was made by people who are no longer there,” Cribbs said. “Holmgren reached out to my people and said he was going to right the ship and make it right. I’m going to give him a clean slate, give him the benefit of the doubt, until he gives me a reason not to.”
Now, flash back to earlier this month when everyone was in an uproar about the Browns’ apparent refusal to do right by Josh Cribbs. It was then that Dawg Pound Mike launched a collection to fund a billboard to be placed somewhere around town, because, apparently, Holmgren’s decision making is easily swayed by billboards.
Well, the billboard is finally going to become a reality, complete with the design posted above. Perfect timing, right? All sides seem happy and committed and confident in their ability to get something done soon. Cooler heads have prevailed. The manufactured craziness is in the rearview mirror. Billboard time!
Now, to be fair, using a billboard to tackle a time-sensitive news topic is probably not the best idea in the world — there’s the fundraising, the design, the approval, getting the space, and the actual installation. You run the risk of it being completely irrelevant, as this one surely will be, by the time it’s up. But what are you going to do? You begged fans for their cash and promised that this great travesty of not paying a millionaire athlete more millions of dollars would be addressed publicly with a billboard. You can’t not put it up at that point.
Which reminds me, I finally raised enough money for my “Dear Mark, Please Keep CC in Cleveland” billboard. It should be installed across from the Jake very soon!
This article appears in Jan 27 – Feb 2, 2010.
For all his touting of his “mad marketing skillz”, Dawg Pound Mike seems pretty pedestrian in his efforts to me.
Dawgpound Mike is a useless douche. Move to cincitucky where you can have chad johnson lambeau leap into your arms every game. Cleveland and Cribbs were finally making progress and this garbage has to go up.
Wouldn’t that money raise to put up that billboard be better spent somewhere else maybe a local food bank or some other community chairity considering that good people are going through some rough times? Hey Dawgpound Mike don’t you have anything better to do than raise money for a billboard sign? I think that has been done before (Buffalo), so why don’t you take your so called celeb status and shove it. ASS!!
Yo dog pound mike is a fool. he be sippin ol’ grandads cough syrup to much playa. yo if you gots money to waste come on down to da east side and look me up i need some cash, holla at ya boy!
French Fry boy get a life. Don’t you get it we don’t want you as a fan.
How about adding a
“Lebron, we are your family…PLEASE DON”T GO!!” Billboard?
I beleive what they did is right! God look what DPM has done for us fans. GOD he bleeds orange and brown and he follows through with what he said he was going to do. Thanks man!
and another thing…I think his meeting with Lerner has changed alot of stuff
This for me is the straw that breaks the camels back in the Josh Cribbs self made soap opera. Because he’s crying to anyone who will listen to him, he has people spending money on billboards in the hope of getting millionaire Josh more money. This in a time when many Americans are starving, losing their homes, homeless and unable to get medical care. I hope your proud of yourself Josh. I hope Holmgren views this latest attempt as the final insult and sends this piece of s–t bags packing.