NEW YORK -- Running back Joe Cribbs, his 'learning experience over' has bought out the remainder of his contract with the USFL Birmingham Stallions and plans to be back in the NFL by Thursday, Cribbs' agent said Friday.
Player agent Louis Burrell said the former All-Pro paid $750,000 to escape the final three years of his five-year agreement with the Stallions, one of several USFL teams in deep financial trouble.
Burrell said he has been talking to the Buffalo Bills about either signing Cribbs or trading his rights to another NFL team. Cribbs jumped the Bills after the 1983 season and signed a $2.35 million contract with his hometown Stallions.
'We all make mistakes,' Burrell said. 'We consider the deal with the Stallions a learning experience. Hopefully, we'll put together a deal with an NFL club in a few days.'
Burrell said he began talking to Buffalo general manager Terry Bledsoe four weeks ago about Cribbs. First, however, he spoke to other NFL teams to make sure there is still interest in the 27-year-old running back.
'If Buffalo is not interested, we'll politely ask the Bills to allow Joe to sign with another club,' Burrell said. 'You can look forward to seeing Joe in somebody's camp next Thursday.'
Bledsoe could not be reached for comment. The Bills, who require veterans to report Monday, replaced Cribbs last season with No. 1 draft choice Greg Bell of Notre Dame. Bell rushed for 1,100 yards and caught 34 passes.
Cribbs gained over 1,000 yards in three of his four years with the Bills after they drafted him out of Auburn in the second round of the 1980 draft. In four seasons, he rushed for 4,046 yards and 20 touchdowns, and caught 162 passes for 15 more TDs. In two years with Birmingham, he rushed for 2,514 yards.
Burrell said Cribbs is not worried about moving from the USFL season, which just ended, into the NFL. In 1984, he played year-round when he went from Buffalo to Birmingham.
Burrell said Cribbs is not making unreasonable contract requests.
'We're not trying to get paid in the area of Billy Sims or Herschel Walker,' Burrell said. 'We're looking for a fair contract Joe deserves with his statistics.
'Joe realizes his goal is to be in the Hall of Fame some day.'
Burrell would not disclose the identity of the other teams he talked with, but mentioned Kansas City, Miami and the New York Giants as clubs that need a running back.
'Hopefully, Joe will go to a team that's heading toward the playoffs,' he said.
Cribbs, AFC rookie of the year in 1980, was earning $120,000 per year when he left the Bills.
