CURSEDCLEVELAND.COM

Cleveland Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini has decided  he’s not yet ready to reveal whether or not top offensive weapon and special teams All-Pro Josh Cribbs will ever walk again, he said in a conference call on Monday.  Mangini’s refusal to part with key personnel information has been consistent; he did not announce Brady Quinn as the opening day quarterback until an hour before their game against the Vikings.

The Browns coach is off to a disappointing 1-8 start in his first year. He says his team’s poor play made it an easy decision to keep Cribbs’ status a mystery.

“With only six days to prepare for a good Detroit Lions football team, it only makes sense to keep them guessing about the amount of packages we’ll be using with Josh in mind,” Mangini said.  “He may play anywhere from 12 to 25 snaps, or he may be undergoing spinal cord treatment on his cervical vertebrae that will likely result in him losing all mobility for the rest of his life. We just have to keep the Lions on their heels at this point and make them gameplan for all possible options.”

Cribbs was injured on the last play of Monday night’s 16-o loss to the Ravens. He was carted off the field after receiving a vicious blow by Ravens defensive end Dwan Edwards during a hook and ladder play that concluded as time expired.

In talking about the Lions, Mangini ironically brought up one of Detroit’s past tragedies in driving home his point that divulging such injury information can give opposing teams a competitive advantage.

“When Mike Utley’s career ended in 1991 after suffering paralysis, Wayne Fontes continued to list him on the depth chart,” Mangini said, “They finished 12-4 and made the playoffs.  Utley never walked again, but they made the most of the situation.”

Before ending the conference call, Mangini joked that Cribbs’ injury gave the organization “all the leverage” in renegotiating his contract.  He also took aim at those criticizing his use of Cribbs on a meaningless down to end the game, “I’ve learned from past mistakes.  If I’m going to put a player in harm’s way, at least it won’t be on the practice fields of Berea.”