After Several Days of Speculation, Joshua Cribbs Fails Arizona Cardinals Physical
By Scott Allen
December 23, 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Cleveland Browns punt returner Joshua Cribbs (16) returns a punt during the first half against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Well, all that waiting and free agent wide receiver/kick returner Joshua Cribbs has failed his Arizona Cardinals physical. Sometimes it just isn’t in the cards, pun intended. Cribbs is coming off a torn meniscus and subsequent surgery.
The Cardinals will most likely will give him another physical in a couple of weeks. Although the official reason for the failed physical is not known, it is thought to be because of his off-season surgery. Cribbs had tweeted last week his thanks to the Cleveland. He has been with the Cleveland Browns since being drafted out of college.
I have mixed feelings on this. While I don’t think the Cards necessarily need Cribbs, still he does provide excellent speed and would be a welcome replacement on kick returns with the expected departure of LaRod Stephens-Howling. It is not know if the addition of Cribbs would affect Patrick Peterson’s status as punt returner.
If Peterson is healthy, I believe it would be better to leave him as the punt returner and then give the kickoff returns to Cribbs. Cribbs would be a good addition as a fourth or fifth receiver. He only had seven catches in 2012. Peterson made the Pro Bowl in his 2011 rookie season, however he did not return any punts for touchdowns in 2012. I would expect a bounce back season in that department in 2013.