Joe Cribbs
| Date of birth | January 5, 1958 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Sulligent, Alabama |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Running back |
| US college | Auburn |
| NFL draft | 1980 / round: 2 / Pick 29 |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Pro Bowls | 1980, 1981, 1983 |
| Career stats | |
| |
Joe Stanier Cribbs (born January 5, 1958 in Sulligent, Alabama) is a retired National Football League and United States Football League football running back. He played collegiately at Auburn University along with future NFL backs William Andrews and James Brooks. He began his professional career in 1980 with the Buffalo Bills.
After being drafted in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft, Cribbs went on to start all 16 games of his rookie year with Buffalo, finishing with 1185 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. His performance earned him consensus UPI AFL-AFC Rookie of the Year honors and a spot in the Pro Bowl, the only rookie chosen as a starter that year. In five seasons with the team, split around a detour with the USFL, Cribbs had 13 100-yard games and ran for 1,000 yards in a season three times.
In the spring of 1984, Cribbs left the Bills in a contract dispute and signed on as a member of the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL).
Today, Cribbs is living in Alabama. For the past six years, he has run Joe Cribbs Associates, an advisory company. "I do a lot of work with some current NFL players, helping them with investments and different things. Just basically helping them understand the game and get prepared for life after the game. Some I may assist with disability insurance or help get an annuity. Just various degrees of work. It just depends on the guy."
Cribbs was to serve as the President of Team Alabama of the AAFL, which suspended operations shortly before playing its first games. Almost immediately, Cribbs was named commissioner of the United National Gridiron League, which also has yet to play a game, though its preparatory operations continue (unlike the AAFL).[1]
Joe Cribbs is the uncle of Cleveland Browns player Joshua Cribbs.
College Career
Joe Cribbs played college football at Auburn. He played his first college football game in 1976, and when the season was over, he had 171 yards on 43 rushing attempts. He got more playing time in 1977, with 872 yards on 161 rushing attempts. He scored four touchdowns as a rusher. He also caugfht six passes for 51 yards.
1978 was the breakout year. Cribbs rushed for 1205 yards and 253 attempts, scoring 16 touchdowns, and averaging well over hundred yards a game. He was a threat out of the backfield as well, catching right passes. He was also used on gadget plays as well. Cribbs passed the ball four times, completeing three passes for 74 yards.
In 1979, Cribbs final season at Auburn, Cribbs had 200 rushing attempts for 1120 yards, and scoring fourteen touchdowns rushing[2]
Lawsuit against the Buffalo Bills
The NFL played a strike shortened season in 1982, and Cribbs rushed for over 1,000 yards. However, Cribbs was not exactly happy in Buffalo, mainly he was not happy in playing in the infamous cold weather games in Buffalo. With one year left on his contract with the Bills, Cribbs signed a contract with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL. In the summer of 1983, Cribbs officially inked a contract with Birmingham worth $3.5 million dollars.
However, the Bills challenged the contract, citing that they had first right of refusal. The clause had been in Cribbs original contract with the Buffalo Bills. This was placed in the contract in order to protect Buffalo in case there was no collective bargining agreement and to prevent another NFL team from signing Cribbs. However, there was no mention of any team from the USFL signing Cribbs, and the USFL was not formed when Cribbs signed his contract with Buffalo.
The trial was held in Buffalo, and one of the people testifing for the Bills was head coach Kay Stephenson, who stated that Joe Cribbs was unreplaceable in the Bills line up. Buffalo Judge John Elvin heard the case. While the trial was going on, Cribbs continued to work out with the Stallions. When the verdict came down, Judge Elvin ruled in favor of the Cribbs, allowing him to play for the Birmingham Stallions.[3]
References
- ^ UNFL Wants Team in Alabama
- ^ http://www.totalfootballstats.com/PlayerQB.asp?id=861
- ^ Kickoff magazine Violume 4
- About.com. "AFL/AFC Rookie of the Year". Retrieved 19 June 2005.
- databaseFootball.com. "Joe Cribbs Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards". Retrieved 19 June 2005.
External links
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