3 Former Cleveland Browns we wish could suit up for playoff run

Adding 3 former Cleveland Browns to playoff roster

With a record of 11-5, the 2020 Cleveland Browns clinched a spot in the NFL playoffs, and in the process, they ended the longest active drought in the league. Not since the 2002 season had a Browns team been in the playoffs, which means we no longer have that dark cloud hanging over our heads.

While it’s true there were a lot of bad teams during that stretch ‚— which included no winning seasons at all since 2007 — there were some good players during that time.

Here, we look back over the past 18 seasons and select three players who never made it to the playoffs with the Browns who we would love to add to this team’s playoff roster — assuming we could add them in the prime of their career that is.

3. Josh Cribbs, Kick Returner

Like every player who makes this list, Josh Cribbs did get to taste the playoffs later in his career, but it was never with Cleveland. Instead, he was in the postseason in 2014 with the Indianapolis Colts in what proved to be his final season in the NFL. By then, Cribbs wasn’t the same player but the 31-year old did average 29 yards on six kick returns for the Colts.

Still, he’s remembered for his days as the biggest playmaker on a terrible Cleveland franchise. Undrafted out of Kent State in 2005, Cribbs was with the Browns for eight seasons and had 11 special teams touchdowns (eight kickoff returns and three punt returns).

In all, he had 10,015 yards on kick returns and 2,154 on punt returns. As an offensive player, he had 753 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and another 1,161 and seven touchdowns as a receiver.

Should the Browns be able to use him in his prime now, he could be the type of player to flip field position and would be a welcome addition on offense in the team’s many wide receiver runs.