Article Photos

Advertisement

BEREA - The only good news for the Browns the day after a 16-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens concerned the medical report on Joshua Cribbs.

Cribbs was injured on the final play of the game and remained on the field for close to 10 minutes. He was removed on a cart and was taken to a hospital, where tests were negative and he was released in the early morning hours of Monday.

In an attempt to make something happen after catching a short pass from Brady Quinn, Cribbs flipped the ball to tight end Robert Royal. Immediately after releasing the ball, Cribbs was hit in the chin by Brandon McKinney. Cribbs was reportedly joking with teammates that huddled around him. Coach Eric Mangini wouldn't confirm if Cribbs suffered a concussion.

"I talked to Josh for a while," Mangini said. "Everything they did after the hit was to make sure he was okay. He felt he could have gotten up, but he didn't want to disagree with what the medical people were saying. He's moving around and feeling fine. He's a little stiff and tired, but in typical Josh style he's focusing on Detroit."

It could be ironic that a play that might damage Mangini's chance to return next season was meaningless. There's no such thing as a 16-point play.

The play, according to Mangini, was a catch-and-run call. Cribbs improvised with the lateral.

Since then critics, including Cribbs' agent J.R. Rickert, have lined up to take shots at Mangini for allowing the play call.

"The situation was a competitive moment," Mangini said. "In retrospect I'd probably do it differently if I had to do it again. I don't want anybody to get hurt on any play."

The Cribbs' situation is another headache Mangini doesn't need to deal with at this stage of the season. The Browns have a 1-8 record as they prepare to head to Detroit for a game Sunday against the 1-8 Lions.

There's a difference between the two teams. The Browns are considered to be in disarray, while the Lions have made some strides under first-year coach Jim Schwartz.

A loss to the Lions won't help Mangini's cause. He was asked Tuesday during a conference call what he would like to say to disgruntled fans.

"We're frustrated, just like they're frustrated," Mangini said. "We're frustrated as a coaching staff and as players, and we're taking the responsibility to improve it. No one is happy about it. Nothing worthwhile happens easily and quickly. It takes time. It's not always without frustrations and difficulties, but you have to commit to improving."

It's difficult to say if Quinn made any positive strides. He completed 13-of-31 passes for 99 yards and a 23.5 passer rating, but he was under constant pressure from the Ravens' pass rush.

Former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski, an analyst for "ESPN's" Monday Night Football telecasts, was critical of the lack of vertical passes thrown by Quinn.

"Some of that is a function of guys not being open and sometime it's a function of protection," Mangini said. "It's not like we didn't have vertical routes called. We didn't want to force something in. That's a pretty good front seven."

PRACTICE HABITS: It was reported Tuesday that the NFL players union plans to investigate the practices conducted by Mangini. There have been complaints that practices occasionally exceed three hours, and many of the sessions are conducted with players wearing shoulder pads.

Two players, including rookie running back James Davis, suffered injuries during what's called "opportunity time" after practice. Davis is out for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.

"The union can come in and take a look at whatever they want to look at," Mangini said. "Nothing is hidden here. It's transparency. It's not a lot different than some teams, and I'm sure it's less than some teams."

mmclain@tribtoday.com