DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Joe Thomas Remains Undecided About Future|

Joe Thomas Remains Undecided About Future, Optimistic New GM John Dorsey Will Turn Assets Into Key Players

By Daryl Ruiter | 92.3 The Fan
January 17, 2018 at 10:30 pm

http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2018/01/17/joe-thomas-remains-undecided-about-future/

CLEVELAND (92.3 The Fan) – Joe Thomas hasn’t decided if he’ll play for the Cleveland Browns in 2018.

And he isn’t leaning one way or the other – at least that is what he is willing to say publicly.

“There’s some days you go back and forth,” Thomas said Wednesday night at the 18th annual Greater Cleveland Sports Awards.

“I’m making progress [on the decision],” Thomas added. “Have had a lot of time to think and spend some time with the family but not ready to definitively make a decision one way of the other just yet.”

Thomas, a 10-time Pro Bowler and presumed future Hall of Famer, hopes to inform the Browns of his decision prior to free agency, which begins on March 14.

“I don’t think there’s any real rush at this point,” Thomas said. “Obviously, they want to know before the draft and free agency, so that if they have make different plans if I’m not going to be there, they want to know about it. I told them I’ll make a decision when I’m ready and let them know and give them as much time as I possibly can.”

Thomas, along with former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar, presented the ‘Male and Female High School Athlete of the Year’ awards, which went to Wadsworth quarterback and 2017’s Ohio Mr. Football Joey Baughman and Brecksville-Broadview Heights volleyball star Shannon Williams.

Thomas was also honored for his consecutive snaps streak that ended at 10,363 when he tore his left triceps tendon in the third quarter of a 12-9 loss to Tennessee on Oct. 22.

“It’s funny because during the season, year seven, I had a back spasm that lasted four weeks. Couldn’t practice. Basically couldn’t tie my own shoes,” Thomas said. “And I go, ‘This is my last year. There’s no way I can do this another season.’ And I made it four more after that. So it’s weird the highs and lows that you go through during a season, especially because of the emotional and physical toll a game takes on you.”

Thomas just had a positive medical checkup on his left elbow but he is still months away from being cleared to play football again, which he anticipated wouldn’t come until June or July at the earliest.

“The elbow is something that’ll take care of itself,” Thomas said. “I feel confident the rehab has gone well and it will continue to go well. Really for me, knee and back are the primary issues that I’ve been dealing with a number of years.”

Thomas won’t be influenced by anything that transpires around the team or how the offseason is progressing for them. He is optimistic about new general manager John Dorsey’s ability to turn over $110 million in salary cap space as well as 4 of the top 35 picks in the NFL Draft that can come turn the team around quickly.

“If you look back historically, if you added two guys in free agency that were both $25 million a year, you could assume that they’re probably Hall of Fame-caliber. Then you add a first pick and a fourth pick who presumably could be Hall of Fame guys, or more likely probably Pro Bowl guys, you’ve now added four blue chip players to your roster. Now you’re totally transformed your team.”

Thomas has one year remaining on his current contract worth $11.25 million and should he ultimately return this season, he is also undecided beyond 2018 and whether or not he will continue to play once his deal expires.

“I’m not ready to say anything definitively because I would hate to be wrong,” Thomas said. “Because I’ve seen how a lot of other guys’ careers has ended. I grew up in Wisconsin a Brett Favre fan and I’ve seen how many times he was definitely not going to come play and then he played for the jets and the Vikings. So I don’t want to say anything definitively. I don’t know. It’s hard to say. But what I can say is this is my last year on my contract in Cleveland. I don’t want to play anywhere else. I guess I haven’t thought that far yet.”

Sounds like us releasing Joe Haden had an effect on his passion and the Cleveland Browns.

Sure sounding like his tone suggest he is done, and quite frankly - I would hope so. There's no reason to destroy his body to battle with a team that has no clue of winning and no clue of many other things.

Enjoy your family now Joe, and your podcasts haha! Best LT to play.

Unless he is now extra susceptible to injury then I hope he suits up. I can't tell the man how to think but in my eyes, how could this upcoming offseason look or feel any different from the others?

If he has lost passion for the game or the combined records of the last 2 season (and the expansion Browns in general) have at last crushed his spirit, then sure, hang it up.

Whatever he does, he's a Cleveland LEGEND.

I wish he could play one more year for us then a year on a real contender. He deserves a chance at a super bowl.

My guess is that Joe Thomas is tired of watching the playoffs on t.v
Losing catches up to you no matter what
I think he sits out a year, let's his body and mind rest then decides his next path to take
He knows the Browns are 2 3 years away from a playoff berth .

I think his career path will have been Browns and then retirement. I don't see him playing for another team.

I don't think he'd be mulling anything other than returning for another season with us if he hadn't gotten hurt.

He has been doing a lot of talking about active players and coaches, situations and trades on twitter. That would suggest to me that he is done, usually guys don't talk about the league as openly as he has unless they are at least leaning toward retiring.

Being that it is highly unusual for Joe to do this kind of talking, plus the podcast, I can't see him coming back but would love it if he did.

Joe Thomas has been pretty outspoken for the last several years.

Not like this, he was talking the specifics of the Jimmy G trade. If outspoken is saying Johnny Maziel was a moron, sure but is that really outspoken? This is different.

If his mind was made up he would inform the team. Reading tea leaves doesn't answer anything. Obviously Joe hasn't made his mind up and nobody really has a clue what he's thinking other than him and probably his family.

I think he retires, but it seems he really wants Drew Brees to come here.

If that's true, Haslam should go thru hell and high water to get him then.

Thomas was very outspoken on the Deflategate fiasco last year also. He also crushed Justin Gilbert. There are many more examples that I can't think of off the top of my head.

Yeah, I think he truly is uncertain. Part of me hopes he's forcing the FO to try and "win now" ... or at least sooner (in other words, SIGN/TRADE for a QB)

Alex Smith may be the target

j/c:

I have no idea about his decision. What I do know is that a part of me will die the day he retires.

The outdoors beckons Joe...

In the end I bet he comes back. There is no other place he is going to make the money he will make playing in the NFL.

Bristol*

I am pleased he is still undecided. He is struggling with this choice. Hope he returns and plays well. If he goes, retire a Brown. If he is able to return and play, the Legend is even bigger IMO. I wish him the best. Keep thinking.

I haven't been able to open up the link and listen to anything... but why are you guys bringing up Haden? The effect on JT from Haden getting the axe wasn't mentioned in the article.

He said it on his podcast today.

Joe Thomas Says Release Of Joe Haden Was ‘Deflating’ To Coaches, Team On Podcast

http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2018/01/18...o-coaches-team/

The Hue Hate Club will ignore this and continue to put all of the blame on him while absolving Sashi.

Gotcha, thank you.

I also really didn't understand the move at the time, and less so with the benefit of hindsight.

I mean, yeah... Haden had not lived up to anywhere near his contract... but teams make moves like that because they need to free up cap space. We led the league in cap space (or we were a close #2... doesn't make a difference).

I think it was made even worse because Hue had just talked up Joe a week earlier. I'm sure the coaches were like: "WTH?"

You're talking about a well grounded, multi millionaire who is probably perfectly content with who he is, what he's accomplished and what he has. He can be in the HOF by 38 and really enjoy the heck out of his life with an intact body and mind.

Love JT.. But did you notice the big drop in production with Spencer Drango in for him? Neither did I.

Not sure there ever has been anyone quite as good as Joe, but Drango isn't horrid.. In fact, I kinda thought he did a decent job.

Still, I hope that JT comes back.

Yeah, I saw a bunch of two tight end sets with Randy Telfer playing. It was pretty noticeable, but Drango played OK. He'll make a good utility linemen, not a starter imo.

I really can't believe that you just posted that.

Drango was given a lot of help blocking. JT plays on an island. I suggest if you get the opportunity you look at some film of both playing the position to see that. There's zero comparison there.

honestly, we really need another year out of Joe.

It would hurt to have to use some of our capital this year on the OL again.

And for the guy who just compared Drango to JT.....please feel free to delete your account lol

It can't to push that back a year and back another boatload of money. AS people without the kind of money we are talking about we don't understand. We think about having $10 million and say, "I'd be set forever." But when you make that money every year, you want to make it again. It is part of what motivates these guys to their core.

I hope he comes back, if not on our o-line, to coach it.

Make him the OC imo. ESPN and Fox are going to have a bidding war over him when he eventually retires.

I believe Thomas mentioned yesterday evening at the CLE Sports Award that he was soon heading to Bristol to do some work at ESPN.

He's certainly taking the steps to set himself for a career in the media after/when he retires.

I don't think that. Cutting Joe was a mistake.

I said "I don't think that" because you think I am one of the "haters".

I dunno, man. That quote sounds to me like he's being a good soldier. If I were posting that for someone else, I would've highlighted the first part.

According to the report, Jackson was “irate” when executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown decided to cut Haden, suggesting a rift might exist between the coaching staff and front office.


“That did not come from me. I think you guys know me well enough that if I feel something, I am going to say it,” Jackson said of the report. “I don’t run from that. Me and the executive team are working lockstep, hand-in-hand. I don’t know where that came from.”

https://www.ohio.com/akron/sports/browns...s-cut-by-browns

Give Joe some time. He just has his first MAJOR injury. He has no QB worth blocking for. Let FA and the draft pass and see if we get a QB that excite him enough to play for. I think he has 2-5 more years of play left IF he WANTS to.

Spencer did a nice job though when he came in so I am not so certain we need to draft his replacement. I mean there is that LT Orlando that I would just love to draft =)