Hester, Cribbs prove they are in special class of own
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Video: Pro Bowl Festival draws fans to Kapiolani Park |
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
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It's not much of a surprise the Chicago Bears' Devin Hester has made the Pro Bowl as a return specialist his first two seasons in the NFL.
He had six career kick returns for touchdowns at the University of Miami and was drafted in the second round in 2006.
The Cleveland Browns' Joshua Cribbs, his AFC counterpart, is another story.
He played quarterback at Kent State and finished as the school's all-time offensive leader with 10,839 yards, but had no special teams experience.
Cribbs went undrafted, but signed with Cleveland in April of 2005.
"I had to come in through the back door," Cribbs said. "Now I can say I'm in the main event. I had the desire. I'll play wherever I had to play to make the football team: lineman, guard, anything; 'Put me out there coach.' I ran down there on special teams and I did my best. I worked hard at it and three years into it I made the Pro Bowl."
Hester has been one of the most prolific kick returners in his young career.
He already holds four league records: most returns for a touchdown in a season (six in 2006 and 2007), most kick and punt returns for a touchdown in a season (six in 2007), most touchdown returns as a rookie (six in 2006) and most touchdown returns in one game (once in 2006 and again in 2007).
"You're trying to make plays," Hester said. "That's what we're out there doing."
This season, he had 42 punt returns for an average of 15.5 yards and four touchdowns, and 43 kickoff returns for an average of 21.7 yards and two touchdowns.
Hester has earned respect from other teams and noticed other returners are getting "real" kickoffs and he's getting "squibs."
This season, Cribbs had 59 kickoff returns for an average of 30.7 yards and two touchdowns, and 30 punt returns for 13.5 yards and one touchdown. He also had 23 special-teams tackles.
Cribbs is one of six Browns named to the Pro Bowl.
"They're so happy I made it," he said. "They were more excited than me. It's great for us. Cleveland is being represented at the Pro Bowl here in Hawai'i."
According to Hester, he and Cribbs have different styles.
"Josh is more of a straight-forward guy," Hester said. "He'll hit it and go with it. Sometimes I like to set up my blockers and wait for things to happen."
Hester said the return teams will have the advantage in tomorrow's game at Aloha Stadium as many players who have little or no experience are thrown on to the special teams.
"I kind of like to make fun of these guys," Cribbs said. "Braylon Edwards got beat on the punt team, he was calling the positions the wrong name."
Cribbs also wants to out-do Hester tomorrow.
"We're going to have our little battle going on," Cribbs said.
Hester and Cribbs also play wide receiver for their respective teams.
Hester had 20 receptions for 299 yards and two touchdowns this season for Chicago. He started out his career as a defensive back after playing the position in college.
Cribbs, a first-time Pro Bowler, had three catches for 37 yards and nine rushes for 61 yards for Cleveland.
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Pro Bowl rosters for AFC, NFC
Tomorrow At Honolulu (s-starter; x-will not play, injury/personal reasons; y-injury replacement; z-deceased)
American Football Conference Offense Wide Receivers — sx-Randy Moss, New England; s-Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis; Braylon Edwards, Cleveland; T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati; y-Chad Johnson, Cincinnati. Tackles — s-Matt Light, New England; x-Jason Peters, Buffalo; x-Jonathan Ogden, Baltimore; sy-Joe Thomas, Cleveland; y-Marcus McNeill, San Diego. Guards — s-Alan Faneca, Pittsburgh; s-Logan Mankins, New England; Kris Dielman, San Diego. Centers — s-Jeff Saturday, Indianapolis; Dan Koppen, New England. Tight Ends — sx-Antonio Gates, San Diego; Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City; y-Kellen Winslow, Cincinnati. Quarterbacks — sx-Tom Brady, New England; Peyton Manning, Indianapolis; Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh; y-Derek Anderson, Cleveland. Running Backs — x-LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego; x-Willie Parker, Pittsburgh; s-Joseph Addai, Indianapolis; y-Fred Taylor, Jacksonville; y-Willis McGahee, Baltimore. Fullback — s-Lorenzo Neal, San Diego. Defense Ends — s-Jared Allen, Kansas City; s-Kyle Vanden Bosch, Tennessee; x-Jason Taylor, Miami; y-Aaron Schobel, Buffalo. Interior Linemen — s-Albert Haynesworth, s-Tennessee; s-Vince Wilfork, New England; x-Jamal Williams, San Diego; y-Casey Hampton, Pittsburgh. Outside Linebackers — s-Mike Vrabel, New England; s-James Harrison, Pittsburgh; Shawne Merriman, San Diego. Inside Linebackers — s-DeMeco Ryans, Houston; Ray Lewis, Baltimore. Cornerbacks — s-Asante Samuel, New England; s-Champ Bailey, Denver; Antonio Cromartie, San Diego. Free Safety — s-Ed Reed, Baltimore. Strong Safeties — s-Bob Sanders, Indianapolis; x-Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh; y-Antoine Bethea, Indianapolis. Specialists Punter — Shane Lechler, Oakland. Placekicker — Rob Bironas, Tennessee. Kick Return Specialist — Josh Cribbs, Cleveland. Special Teamer — Kassim Osgood, San Diego. Long Snapper — Ryan Pontbriand, Cleveland. National Football Conference Offense Wide Receivers — s-Terrell Owens, Dallas; s-Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona; Torry Holt, St. Louis; Donald Driver, Green Bay. Tackles — x-Walter Jones, Seattle; s-Flozell Adams, Dallas; s-Chris Samuels, Washington; y-Chad Clifton, Green Bay. Guards — s-Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota; s-Leonard Davis, Dallas; Shawn Andrews, Philadelphia. Centers — s-Andre Gurode, Dallas; Matt Birk, Minnesota. Tight Ends — s-Jason Witten, Dallas; Chris Cooley, Washington. Quarterbacks — x-Brett Favre, Green Bay; Tony Romo, Dallas; Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle; y-Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay. Running Backs — s-Adrian Peterson, Minnesota; Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia; Marion Barber, Dallas. Fullback — s-Tony Richardson, Minnesota. Defense Ends — s-Aaron Kampman, Green Bay; x-Patrick Kerney, Seattle; Osi Umenyiora, N.Y Giants; y-Trent Cole, Philadelphia. Interior Linemen — s-Kevin Williams, Minnesota; s-Pat Williams, Minnesota; x-Tommie Harris, Chicago; y-Darnell Dockett, Arizona. Outside Linebackers — s-DeMarcus Ware, Dallas; s-Julian Peterson, Seattle; Lance Briggs, Chicago. Inside Linebackers — s-Lofa Tatupu, Seattle; Patrick Willis, San Francisco. Cornerbacks — s-Al Harris, Green Bay; s-Marcus Trufant, Seattle; Terence Newman, Dallas. Free Safeties — z-Sean Taylor, Washington; s-Ken Hamlin, Dallas. Strong Safety — s-Darren Sharper, Minnesota; Roy Williams, Dallas. Specialists Punter — Andy Lee, San Francisco. Placekicker — Nick Folk, Dallas. Kick Return Specialist — Devin Hester, Chicago. Special Teamer — Brendon Ayanbadejo, Chicago. Long Snapper — Ethan Albright, Washington. |
Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.
