Cribbs is always eager to help the Cleveland community as he has been no stranger to the NFL Grassroots program, Hometown Huddle, Take a Player to School and the Play 60 movement.

Wide receiver Joshua Cribbs was selected as the Cleveland Browns’ 2011 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. Renamed in 1999 after legendary Chicago Bears Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, this honor recognizes a player’s off the field community service activities as well as his playing excellence. The three NFL finalists will be announced at a later date, and each will be present at Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis on February 5, 2012, for the announcement of the NFL Man of the Year. The award has been given annually since 1970 and past winners include many of the league’s greatest players, 13 of whom are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Cribbs is always eager to help the Cleveland community as he has been no stranger to the NFL Grassroots program, Hometown Huddle, Take a Player to School and the Play 60 movement. This summer, he also partnered with the United Way and became a member of the newly created NFL Player Scouting Team.  Impacted by breast cancer, Cribbs proudly wears pink attire on gameday to help raise awareness.  Last year, he was also a Pink Tie Guy to help promote the cause. He created a gameday program – Josh’s Cribb – to host local charitable organizations as his guest on game day. These individuals receive free tickets, food vouchers and custom apparel.

Cribbs is a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Health, respective to asthma. Through the Staying in the Game PSA efforts, he spoke on behalf of asthma and how to prevent it from affecting athletes from being active. The awareness video provided the basic information that coaches and teachers need about asthma to help Ohio student athletes with asthma reach their full potential on and off the field. Each holiday, Cribbs hosts a shopping experience for local kids who are truly in need. Joined by his teammates, he funds a holiday shopping trip where kids can pick out their own gifts. Cribbs has also lent his support to the Cleveland Foodbank, Salvation Army and the Make A Wish Foundation.

On the field, as a wide receiver, Cribbs has registered 34 receptions, 427 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns, all of which are career best figures. As a returner, he ranks sixth in the league in punt return average (11.8) and ninth in kickoff return average (25.7). In his career, Cribbs is the among the NFL’s all-time return leaders as he is first in kickoff returns for touchdowns (8), fifth in total kick return scores (11), seventh in kickoff return yards (8,814) and seventh in total return yards (10,489).

Cleveland Browns Walter Payton Man of the Year Award Nominees

1. 1999    OG Jim Pyne
2. 2000    LB Jamir Miller
3. 2001    LB Wali Rainer
4. 2002    RB Jamel White
5. 2003    QB Kelly Holcomb
6. 2004    DE Kenard Lang
7. 2005    QB Trent Dilfer
8. 2006    QB Charlie Frye
9. 2007    WR Braylon Edwards
10. 2008    K Phil Dawson
11. 2009    WR Mike Furrey*
12. 2010    OL Joe Thomas
13. 2011    WR Joshua Cribbs