AFC North: First Take

Cleveland Browns Pro Bowl returner Josh Cribbs is making the media rounds in Bristol, Conn., Monday. On ESPN's "First Take," he discussed his unhappiness with his contract.

Cribbs was paid a base salary of $900,000 this past season after making his second Pro Bowl. The Browns offered to raised his annual salary to $1.4 million over the final three years of his deal, which disappointed Cribbs and his representatives.

Cribbs said he wished the dispute could've been settled privately. But he feels he's not getting offered fair-market value.

"To this point, I have not gone public with how I felt," Cribbs said. "But I went two times trying to get a different contract, and two times [I was] turned down and told to wait and be patient, and I have. I feel like I’ve played and did what I had to do on the field to show them why I deserve it."

According to a recent report in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, other returners such as Devin Hester, Roscoe Parrish and Andre Davis are making a minimum of $3.2 million per season. At this point both Cribbs and the Browns appear far apart.

Edwards questions Steelers' 'want to'

December, 11, 2009
12/11/09
3:00
PM ET
Edwards
Edwards
Former head coach and NFL analyst Herm Edwards knows a struggling team when he sees one.

Friday on ESPN's First Take, Edwards had some harsh criticism for the reigning Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers (6-7), who lost their fifth straight following a 13-6 defeat to the lowly Cleveland Browns (2-11).

"It's not about plays, it's about your emotional investment and want to," Edwards said. "The emotional investment was by the Cleveland Browns and they wanted to. They wanted to win that football game."

I doubt Pittsburgh would disagree much with that assessment. Team captain Hines Ward called the Thursday's performance "embarrassing," and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger agreed.

With their playoff hopes all but dashed, it will be interesting to see if the Steelers respond in these final three games. Pittsburgh will host the Green Bay Packers (8-4) next on Dec. 20.

Ochocinco: Bengals better than Broncos

October, 29, 2009
10/29/09
11:16
AM ET
Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

Chad Ochocinco is making the ESPN rounds Thursday in Bristol, Conn.
Ochocinco

This morning the Cincinnati Bengals star receiver had some interesting comments on ESPN's "First Take" during his entertaining debate with Skip Bayless.

Among the comments was that the 5-2 Bengals are better than the undefeated Denver Broncos. Denver, at 6-0, is regarded as one of the NFL’s elite teams. But the Broncos needed a fluke tip in Week 1 to edge Cincinnati, 12-7.

"We’re the better team," Ochocinco said. "They’re playing very well, by far. But us offensively, I believe we have the better quarterback, a better running back ...The receiving corps, it speaks for itself because the numbers don’t lie."

Bayless vehemently disagreed and sided with Denver, citing a better defense.

Ochocinco also picked the 3-3 Baltimore Ravens to beat the Broncos on Sunday.

"Defense is going to win the game for the Ravens," Ochocinco said. "As far as the Broncos, in order to beat the Ravens you have to establish the run, and that’s the hard part."

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

I wanted to pass on a quick note that I will be on "First Take" on ESPN2 Thursday morning around 10:30 a.m. ET to preview the AFC North division. We will discuss hot topics surrounding all four teams, so be sure to tune in.

If you cannot see the division preview live, we will try to get the segment on the blog at some point this afternoon.

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