Joe Cribbs - Lawsuit Against The Buffalo Bills

Lawsuit Against The Buffalo Bills

Cribbs was an immediate success playing for the NFL team which drafted him, the Buffalo Bills, and was named the American Football Conference Rookie of the Year for the 1980 season and as a starter in the Pro Bowl. He also played very well in each of the two subsequent seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl again following each. Even though the NFL played a strike-shortened season in 1982, Cribbs nonetheless rushed for over 1,000 yards. However, Cribbs was not exactly happy in Buffalo; mainly he was not happy playing in the infamous cold-weather games in Buffalo. With one year left on his contract with the Bills, Cribbs signed a contract with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL. In the summer of 1983, Cribbs officially inked a contract with Birmingham worth $3.5 million dollars.

However, the Bills challenged the contract, citing that they had first right of refusal. This clause had been in Cribbs' original contract with the Buffalo Bills. This was placed in the contract in order to protect Buffalo in case there was no collective bargaining agreement and to prevent another NFL team from signing Cribbs in that event. However, obviously there was no mention of a prohbition of any team from the USFL signing Cribbs, as that league was yet to be formed when Cribbs signed his contract with the Bills.

The trial was held in Buffalo, and one of the people testifing for the Bills was head coach Kay Stephenson, who stated that Joe Cribbs was irreplaceable in the Bills lineup. Buffalo Judge John Elvin heard the case. While the trial was going on, Cribbs continued to work out with the Stallions. When the verdict came down, Judge Elvin ruled in favor of Cribbs, allowing him to play for the Birmingham Stallions.