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

Agreed. The way I read this: http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cleveland-browns/joe-thomas-2348/ he's earned over $80 million in just the last 7 years.

He's a smart guy, so take taxes out, take agent fees out, - guy probably has anywhere from $50 mil to $100 mil in cash/investments, etc. House or homes? The guy doesn't 'waste' money.

Now, imagine having that kind of money, and to get more by playing a violent game, you risk losing the ability be able to enjoy it - knee injury could prevent him from walking. CTE (which, I believe, he's said he's already got some memory loss).

Do you continue to play? Maybe. Or do you retire, and go to an almost assured media job making ....what, $250 thousand, $500,000 a year. Or do you retire and just enjoy life, knowing you're set, and your kids are set for life?



He will make a decision based on his, and his wife's desires. In no way will he, nor should he, make a decision on somebody calling him a wuss. Anyway, he's proven he's not. (as have most nfl players)

Having an extra $10 million in his pocket won't be the determining factor for a guy like him. I can see where some players that blow through money and are looking at "dang, I can't afford to retire" would def. play again just for the money. I don't see Joe as being that person.

JMO.

If leaving is his decision, I support it 100%. I want him to go out healthy and live a healthy retirement. If he wants to come back, I'll believe it's because he believes he can play at a high level and is still healthy. Bottom line, I want him to stay healthy and live a good life no matter what he decides.

naught for nuthin...

I was at the game. I saw Joe was injured and I turned to my friend and said, "He's done. At his age, if that's a major injury, and it sure looks like it is, I don't see him coming back."

Like most fans, I love Joe. If he's done, so be it. I want nothing but the best for him and his family. He's earned it!

IMO he's just forcing our FO's hands to sign a vet QB .. he doesn't want to start over with a rookie (not that we still can't draft one)

I don't think he has that kind of juice. He may be well respected, but I doubt he's that type of influencer.

I'll never understand why we didn't trade Joe Thomas two years ago when we let virtually all of our other talent go. With his years in the league, we had to have known he wouldn't be here for the turn around.

I have had that guy on ignore for quite a while, so I do not see nuggets like this unless someone else quotes it. I am glad you did, because otherwise I would not have seen the single most ignorant post to grace this board in a long, long time. Maybe ever.

Wow.

That makes me sick! What does Joe Thomas still owe us? You say he has been given everything in life and you don't think it's too much to ask? You say he needs to now earn his millions as though up to this point he hasn't.

I say nothing's been given him, he's earned every bit of the good life he has. The good life with the chronic back and knee pain he's lived with for years and will live with for the rest of his life.

He gave the Browns everything and so far, other than a paycheck, he's gotten nothing in return. Nobody works all their life only to be a loser. With his contributions to this team he deserves so much more than that.

He doesn't need to "train [his] brain for excellence for the next 3 years". He's already achieved that. He's been at that level his whole career.

He owes us nothing. He already paid with his time, his body and his always optimistic attitude that never wavered even in the worst of times.

I have never heard anyone say such stupid things as you have.

Oh yeah, and your, "Don't puss out on us", comment is the stupidest of all.

STFU

Joe is definitely retiring. His podcasts with Hawkins pretty much give that away.

He has already had some cognitive problems.

So as I stated back on 10-26-2017

I don't feel sorry. I understand where you're coming from completely, but it just isn't Joe. If he had his time again, I honestly don't think he'd change a thing. He loves the Browns, loves the fans and has given us his Hall of Fame efforts. He was born to be a Cleveland Brown, and he's been on of the best ever in a downright intimidating list of other Browns.

I hope he comes back, but even if he doesn't, he won't stray far. He'll keep talking Browns for a long time to come.

I got caught up in the he is, he isn't, he might, he might not, nobody knows but Joe, let's wait until he tells us himself ...

I think right now Joe knows he's able to play at least another season at a high level. This is my personal speculation, but I feel it's 100% true. He's just waiting to see what this team does and the moves it makes before deciding if it's worth to keep fighting in the Brown and Orange or just sit back and watch another failed season from one of his homes, or a fishing boat somewhere. Make funny Podcasts about how we're still a bad football team. Enjoying the offseason not in a facility or studying a new offensive play book and getting to know a new coach and staff.

My deep, but speculated, conclusion is... Joe is done. He'll retire the best LT to play the game and will be in the HOF soon.

Joe is in though place, very hard decision to make.IMHO he deserves to be in a winning team, and finish his career in a high note,not being tied with the worst team in NFL history.

Actually I think its already strange to be in the Hall of Fame without having played a Superbowl, but to be in Canton without ever playing in a playoff game...

Its not going to be an easy vote...

He said on his podcast that he didn't want to leave it up to his wife. He said players who retired due to their significant other end up really resenting their partner because of it. He said he has to make the decision himself. I think he knows that he can continue to play at a pro bowl level, so he'll stay.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/02/05/super-bowl-52-eagles-patriots-peter-king-mmqb

What.

He has been the best LT of his generation. I don't think that there is much doubt that he will be a 1st ballot Hall of Famer.

Joe's got a lot of bitcoins riding on it!

j/c

I have a feeling we have seen Joe Thomas play his last down. Too many appearances, too much media pandering, too much interest in wanting to be a broadcaster. Joe is gone ladies and gents, its time we realize that.

Too much weight loss.

How much upper body work can he do with his elbow healing?

I suspect that has a lot top do with his appearance.

It's something very simple that people simply aren't thinking about. It's a very smart thing to lose a little weight when the off season begins. That weight will turn to fat quickly if you keep it on your body.

It's nothing for a player to lose 15 pounds during the off season and then pack it back on once you start heavy training in the spring. It's actually a very smart thing to do.

People are just grasping at straws trying to figure out what Joe's decision will be.

Joe looks like he's lost a lot more than 15lbs.

Hmmmm....so a lack of being able to work out helps him lose weight.

Why doesn't that work for me??

I agree. He's down 30 pounds minimum.

IMO, Joe is already in the HOF. He's an all pro, perennial pro bowler and outstanding man on and off the football field. On the field, he's the best LT. He's been ELITE since year one, literally.

Hope he is only here in the Land if he plays. I also think he is first ballot HOF. If he has enough fire in his belly to play again, I hope he plays. Here. But part of his decision will also depend on some other considerations, his community and charitable work, which might have some impact on him. He seems really passionate and and focused on what is important. Suited up, he might help a QB come here in FA. You could do worse, but not better.

Hope he gives us a thumbs up. Just an angle seems to be neglected about what matters.

It stupid to think Joe isn't a HOF player. He is a first ballot HOF player.


The question is what helmet is he going to wear on his plaque?



That's a joke....



See, there is a group of goofballs who somehow think great players only play on great teams and win championships.


Average players, especially QB's can make the HOF based on winning and championships, but great players get in no matter the record.

I tend to agree with you. If we were talking about a normal team with some playoff games, I would say sure.

But a HOFER without one playoff game... that's hard IMHO.

Cribbs should be a Hofer also,but I think he will never be in Canton.

And the truth is that JT superior play has virtually no impact on the Browns results. I know he is a sacred cow here, but that's the truth.

Somehow I think a Hofer is a player that makes a difference, which I don't think JT does.

Joe is the most dominate left tackle over the past 10 years. He doesn't make the plays he just protects the ones who do.

It's not Joes fault he was drafted by a franchise who "wasted" his talents with terrible front office after terrible front office and with terrible coach after terrible coach and with terrible QB after terrible QB and with terrible owner after terrible owner.

Joe just plays football and does his job, and he's pretty darn good at it.

Or in the browns case the ones who don’t, sad to say.

I don't know that Cribbs is a good example. He was a great returner. Are there any HOF players who were basically just special teamers other than kickers?

Consider this. The first year we get JT we go 10-6 the first year we don't have JT we go 0-16. I think JT has been so underrated over the years. Without him we started to use a lot more multiple TE sets and a lot of help on the left side. I think having a stalwart left tackle allows a play caller to really spread the field.

Steve Tasker is still waiting...

That isn't a good example either. We weren't going to win a game this year had Joe played all 16 games. He played all the games last year where our lone win was a blocked kick.

Joe is a 1st ballot HOF selection no matter a lack of playoff games.

I think Pro Bowls is a good measure. Are there any players in the HOF who were never selected to the pro-bowl?

Correlation certainly doesn't prove causation, but I was being a tad flippant. I do believe that having JT allows us to get into a lot more 3 WR sets, which helps all facets of play calling.

I think that all-pros are better indicators than pro bowls. They don't have a game attached and none of the players go to Hawaii, but screw fan voting. It's dumb.

Also, if there's one player to compare Joe Thomas to, it's his fellow draft class member, Calvin Johnson. CJ never won a play off game and spent his entire career with the Lions who lost a lot more than they won with him.

TROY AIKMAN
Yeah, I said it. Zero All-Pro teams. Five of 12 seasons at .500 or below. Barely more touchdown passes (165) than interceptions (141). His approximate value on pro-football-reference ranks No. 167 overall, behind Warrick Dunn, Ricky Watters, Steve McMichael, Henry Ellard, Randall Cunningham, Boomer Esiason, Drew Bledsoe, London Fletcher, Dave Krieg, Donovan McNabb and so many other ridiculous names. Brad Johnson has more touchdown passes as does Jon Kitna, Chris Chandler and Jim Everett and, well, so many other ridiculous names. His passer rating is 49th in league history. He has three Super Bowls? Great. That’s one more than Eli Manning. Aikman was a fine NFL quarterback. He was a very fine NFL quarterback. At points he was a superb NFL quarterback. He was not a Hall of Fame quarterback

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/08/pro-foot...y-aikman-canton


Oops, I read that wrong. Zero All Pros, not Pro Bowls.


Saw the case against Paul Hourning, he had 2 Pro Bowls.

Didn't know that. Somewhat shocked by that fact.

That goes to a earlier point I made that a average QB can gain HOF value by being on good teams. I don't think Terry Bradshaw was a great QB, though he did make some pro-bowls.

He should have been in long ago as well as a bunch of other Special teamers.

Devin Hester probably has a shot. Josh Cribbs has a shot too. Before them it was Bill Bates and Mel Gray. The HOF also way behind on kickers and punters.