Josh Cribbs went to three Pro Bowls during his eight-year career with the Cleveland Browns, including last season. He holds seven Browns records, most of which are for returns and all-purpose yards.
Now, two weeks away from when most teams begin their minicamps, Cribbs is without a team. He is the last of the AFC North's top 20 free agents who remain unsigned.
Cribbs was expected to sign with the Arizona Cardinals this offseason, but he hasn't fully recovered from surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee. The Cardinals then used a third-round pick on Tyrann Mathieu, who has big-play ability as a returner.
Asked if Cribbs was off the Cardinals' radar, general manager Steve Keim told the team's official website: “That’s something we have already explored. At this point, I really can’t get any further into it, so I will leave it at that.”
That doesn't sound like Cribbs is on the Cardinals' priority list. Early in free agency, it was reported that Cribbs was deciding between the Cardinals and the New England Patriots. But the Patriots are no longer an option after they signed return man Leon Washington.
Two potential destinations for Cribbs are the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Lions didn't re-sign returner Stefan Logan, and the Buccaneers looked at Washington in free agency.
Just don't expect a reunion between the Browns and Cribbs. The new regime decided to part ways with Cribbs and kicker Phil Dawson, the two longtime faces of the expansion era Browns. Cleveland is set to go with Travis Benjamin, a fourth-round pick from a year ago, as its primary returner.