Bruce Arians Sees WR/KR Josh Cribbs As An Offensive Weapon, Not Just A Special-Teamer

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians, the former Browns offensive coordinator, would love for Josh Cribbs (knee) to hurry up and get healthy, because -- eureka! -- he views him as an exciting offensive weapon. "I would love to have him if he can get healthy,'' Arians said at the NFC coaches breakfast today. "He’s a dynamic player in a lot of phases, not just special teams. Obviously he’s one of the best [special-teams players] ever. But I think he can do some things offensively to help us become more dynamic.” Cribbs passed his physical with the Cardinals on Monday, according to his agent JR Rickert, but the Cardinals want to wait until the knee is fully recovered before they sign him, which could be about five weeks. If it happens, Arians has been conjuring up kinds of scenarios for Cribbs. "I’m not a Wildcat guy, but he can get his hands on the football quickly without taking it from the quarterback and using him in a lot of different ways with a package.” He even thinks some tailback is a possibility. "I think possibly,'' Arians said. "He’s such a big, physical guy. Whether he could play in the backfield, I’d have to find out. I’d like to get my hands on him and find out about a couple things he can do as a receiver and a back.” Maybe even use him defense?: “Possibly. I would love to see him and Patrick Peterson back there on punt returns.” Arians admitted he thinks Cribbs, who caught 41 passes in 2011, has untapped potential as a receiver. "That’s the part I’d like to get my hands on to find out about,'' he said. "Get him out on the grass and see what his positives and his negatives are as a receiver. I know once he gets his hands on the football how dynamic he can be. It’s where do you put him to get his hands on the football.” Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer