Using
one of the picks obtained in the O.J. Simpson trade, the Bills selected
in the second round of the 1980
draft out of Auburn, running back Joe Cribbs. Cribbs was one of three star
running back to come out of Auburn's explosive wishbone attack. The others
were James Brooks, who went on to star at San Diego and Cincinnati and
William Andrews who played for the Atlanta Falcons. Joe Cribbs became an
instant success in Buffalo, rushing for 1,185 yards, the most ever by a
Bills rookie. He was named rookie of the year and was a starter in the
Pro Bowl. He was a multi purpose back who was equally as dangerous running
as he was catching the ball out of the backfield, catching 52 passes for
415 yards. His style was similar to what Thurman Thomas did in later years.
What Cribbs lacked in break-away speed he made up for in his quickness
in hitting the hole and his remarkable ability to find and follow blockers.
Cribbs continued to enjoy much success in his sophomore year with the Bills, gaining 1,097 yards rushing and catching 40 passes for 603 yards. He even threw a TD pass against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. He made his second straight trip to the Pro Bowl that year.
In 1982 the Bills played only 9 games because of a players strike but managed to still gain 633 yards and a 4.7 yards per carry average, his best ever. After three seasons of experiencing success, Joe Cribbs became disillusioned with his contract and informed the Bills that he was leaving the team after the 1983 season to play with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL. In his final season, Cribbs gained 1,131 yards and led all Bills receivers with 57 catches, a Bills record for a running back.
After playing two seasons in the USFL, where he led that league in rushing both years, Cribbs returned for the Bills but was a non-factor, sharing the rushing load with Greg Bell, on a pitiful '85 squad. Cribbs wanted out of Buffalo and went so far as to tape "jail cell bars" on his locker to express his displeasure with Bills management. On August 19, 1986, one day after the Bills signed quarterback Jim Kelly, Joe Cribbs, just as O.J.Simpson was eight years earlier, was traded to the San Francisco 49ers.
Today, Joe Cribbs is a successful buisinessman in Birmingham, Alabama. He is the Bills third all-time rusher with 4,445 yards, behind Thurman Thomas and O.J. Simpson.