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

I think he will let the team know before the FA signing period begins. If he decides he's leaving, I think he's classy enough he'll give the team every opportunity to sign or draft a LT.

On his podcast he said he will let the team know soon. I got the vibe that he is retiring.

Its going to boil down to who they sign to be QB. I have a strong feeling he is only willing to come back if he feels he has a QB worth blocking for and that doesn't include rookies who according to him take 3 seasons to truly be ready to play.

That would mean he would have to wait until FA is under way. Every indication he's given is that he'll let the team know before then.

Why would Joe leave now when there is some light at the end of the tunnel ???

Because there's always light at the end of the tunnel. He's been there-done that.

Because the gas light has turned on and a new tunnel just appeared. I do think he will play for at least another year and I also listen to the podcast. I think he just has an itch to continue to play and he will scratch it, if only to not live with the regret of not itching it.

I said before the draft. There aren't any FA tackles who could come close to replacing Joe.

I get that feeling too. The Thomahawk podcast is blowing up with all football fans. ESPN is starting to talk to them

I still feel he might come back if we sign Cousins.

I think, and I'd bet alot, every Browns fan would state Joe has EARNED the right to tell the Browns when he's made up his own mind and they shouldn't put a date on that decision....They, management, also need to get his replacement ready- cuz NO one is irreplaceable- we all leave eventually. PS. just watched a piece between Alex Rodriguez and Coach K- three things to be a Blue Devil- Talent, Academics, AND CHARACTER- hope our front office doesn't make another Johnny Manziel mistake. My prediction is Joe plays one more year- attempts to play injury free one last season, then retires...if he can make it thru another. If I were he I'd hang it up and start a broadcasting career......GO Browns!!!

I am thinking we ask him. Or should. How much, what, how long? I want to see him back, then see him retire and go HOF here. He has earned that I think, and it is worth a listen IMO.

I believe Joe has said something along the lines of the Browns want to know his plans so they can plan accordingly and he will let those plans be known. I can't remember if he said before the draft, before FA, or just spoke in general terms.

That is what I have heard.



I don't think it means before free agents are signed. I think he is undecided and needs a nudge one way or the other to help him decide.


I remember reading a article where he said if talking to Cousins, he would say you could have me on your backside if you sign with us.


I don't think Joe is interested in a rookie QB. He is like me, win now. He is at the end of his career. Give him something to play for, he might give 2-3 more years. Give him a rookie QB, he is probably done.

He said it recently. Something to the effect of "Browns should plan for my replacement whether it is this year or soon after". And, he went on to say he would make a final decision before FA.

If Dorsey says they are going all in on Cousins he may stay. If Dorsey says they are going all in on McCarron or Daniels + a #1 rookie...he may say "later days".

Thanks. I thought so.

I hope it isn't just tied to Cousins though because even if the Browns want him, the odds of him wanting the Browns is a very long shot.

Think about it. The team has been a mess for decades. A portion of the fan base are demanding the HC be fired. The owner has a history of firing people.

It's not exactly the stable environment I would want to go to if I were a QB.

I don't see people demanding that Hue be fired. Not sure where that comes from?


I don't like the the guy at all. Not even a bit, but I am not demanding he be fired.


He's here, he is my teams coach, so I hope he finally gets it right.

I really do!

True. BUT, JT can sell Hue. Everybody except Britt and Kessler can sell Hue to other players. Add to it Dorsey, Highsmith and Wolf now residing in the FO. Then add to it Haley at OC as well as the pieces that are there that are working (our front 7, Duke, our OL) + Gordon if he stays clean! THEN add to it our draft picks and our cap space.

Dude...if we can't get our "crap" together and get it right this time around then we need to pack up and move out because it will never work. The cards are stacked in our favor! Why wouldn't Cousins want to come here? I mean Jax are closer to winning than we are but he would be just another guy down there. He would be a god in C-Town if he comes and immediately begins to win.

By Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland.com

"I don't think there's any real rush at this point," he said Wednesday night at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards banquet. "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."

cleveland.com

I think he is leaning toward retirement and is more trying to see if/when he feels like coming back for one last season. The way he has said things like not wanting to do what Favre did leads me to this thought.... it says that he is ready to retire, but he's giving it time to make sure he doesn't get that itch to play again.

In his mind, I bet the allure of getting to retire as the only person in history with more than 10,000 snaps to play their entire career without missing a snap is part of it. It's silly, but that would be a cool exclamation point on a Hall of Fame career. Nobody else in Canton can claim that.

Ditto. My biggest 'complaint' has been addressed with Haley calling the plays. Maybe our TE's will be a more frequent target...

Maybe they'll be better blockers this year so we don't have to put Telfer in the game so frequently.

joe will come back if we get cousins.

I'm starting to get nervous. The TomaHawk show has been an incredible success. JT and Hawk are amassing the views, getting national exposure and growing at a phenomenal rate. JT is clearly having a lot of fun, and it's about as successful a start for a post-playing career as anyone could hope.

I'm wondering if he'll start thinking about his long-term future. If he returns to playing, his show is put on hold and it can be hard to re-gain that momentum.

I wonder if he's starting to consider riding this new wave, with or without Cousins.

With that said, Cousins would certainly help. A much better win-now option for a player who honestly seems like two, maybe three years if in superbowl contention, is all he'd consider.

Seeing him have so much fun doing what he's doing, I'm not as certain anymore that he'll return.

If he doesn't,he will always be a favourite of mine, but I'll be sorry we wasted his career, not just for us but for JT. I think he'll play one more year, especially if we get a QB we think can help us win now.
#73

I think retirement is in his plans as well. He was on the Golic & Wingo show and said some things I didn't know. He was asked how his rehab is coming and he said it's coming along fine. But that is the least of his physical concerns. He has had serious back and knee issues for years. Those are things that would keep him out more so than the elbow. Plus he said his wife has been on him for some years to retire. Probably because she sees how he struggles with the back and knee problems.

Joe gave us all he's got. He doesn't owe us any more. He can bow out now and would get no ill feelings from me. Of course I'd love to have him back but it's it's totally up to him. To go out the iron man he is would be fitting. I'd like that a lot better than limping away with nagging injuries.

I agree w/your post. The only thing I'll say to the contrary is that I would hate to see his very last play in the NFL end w/an injury.

After all those years of never missing a snap, having to leave a game w/an injury on the final play of your career seems like a cruel twist of fate.

He's said he will let the team know before free agency and won't be like Favre. Those three things are not aligned.

I agree with you. Yet I also don't believe there are any LT's in this years draft that can replace him either. LT's like Joe just don't come around often. Actually they almost never come around. I just believe he will want to give the team every opportunity to at least find a stop gap player.

Because that's all we'll find for now.

I wish he would just tape that Bicep, put a brace on that knee, bulk up and get into tip top premium shape. Get out there and never jump off sides, false start or hold. Press in and train your brain for excellence for the next 3 years or so. I don't think that's too much to ask from a player that has been given everything in life you could possible want. Earn some of those millions and millions and millions of dollars. Don't puss out on us! Press in and JUST DO IT! Go Browns!

I mostly agree. Joe is one of the best to ever play the position. You don't replace him just like you don't replace a Joe Montana.

I do think there are some good LT prospects in this draft. Guys who can step in and have long careers.

As for the free agents, I don't see any better than going with someone we already have or a drafted rookie.

Joe may tell us before FA. All I am really concerned about is he makes a decision a few weeks before the draft so we can make plans.

When you think about it, we need to be making those plans anyway. It's not like the guy is going to play 5 more years if he plays any more at all. Next year is his last year on the current contract. If we start to do something special, maybe he signs on for a couple more at most.

That's like the most disrespectful thing I've ever seen here.

I don't think so. I would say it to his face. I would encourage him to give it everything he has. If he quits, we'll never know what could have been! Not trying to be disrespectful at all.

He just cemented his troll status.

You don't consider saying "don't puss out and earn your millions" to Joe Thomas disrespectful? You're calling him a puss if he retires. You weren't raised right.

See, when I read a post like yours it makes me wish we had a dislike button.

He has half his life to lay around and enjoy life. I believe he has a lot left in the tank and he needs some fool to tell him...

Despite the white noise you're spewing, Joe is already having chronic back and knee problems. His health and the wishes of his family will come before anything else as it should be. He has a bright future in the broadcasting business and Joe shouldn't listen to anyone else other than the doctors, how he feels and his family in making his decision.

He's done his time and earned his money.

I completely understand what you are saying. I trust Joe will make the best decision for He and his family. I just hate seeing him go!

I believe we all would if that's his decision.