DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Joe Thomas agrees to 7 year extension

How nice is it to see a 1st round pick have a 2nd contract (not renegotiated) with the Browns.

I think it would be so awesome if we used our cap-space to front load this contract to make us more agile in future years.

I read on Rotoworld that he's not just made every game, but also every practice? They just don't make them like this guy.

Where is everyone that was yelling, screaming, talking about this Front Office being stuck on stupid and not going after any big name Free Agents.\ now?

I think it's safe to say, these guys that are running the Browns have got it together..

Him saying that he wasn't all that concerned about his contract makes sense ........ lol

Going to the HOF as a Brown!

I wondered if I'd be the first to mention the FO in this thread. Nice to see someone else seeing it from this POV.

So far, we can question some of the choices this new management has made, but the overall impression they leave me with is that of professionalism, football sense and competence. There is that feel that we finally have people at the top who know how to run a professional football franchise.

This re-signing is a perfect example. They didn't play mind games with Joe or his agent. They didn't waste time waiting for his contract to alomst expire before talking in earnest. They took a HUGE issue off their to-do list, and locked down a future HOF'er for what's conceivably his entire pro career.

IMHO, this is how you handle things.

It may be time for Browns fans to finally get comfrotable with the idea that our team is now being run by qualified, competent adults.

Wow. What a concept.

I'm also assuming a nice chunk of the guaranteed money will come on this year's cap, while we have a lot of room...another smart move.

yupyup!

Excellent news! Very happy to have Joe here for a very long time.

Article from the PD.

Cleveland Browns Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas signs 7-year extension, says team is 'building something special'
Published: Monday, August 22, 2011, 8:15 PM Updated: Monday, August 22, 2011, 11:12 PM
By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer

Joe Thomas will be paid $84 million over seven years after signing a contract extension with the Browns on Monday.

BEREA, Ohio -- Joe Thomas sees a Super Bowl victory in the Cleveland Browns' future and he was determined to be around for it.

That's why the Pro Bowl left tackle signed a seven-year contract extension Monday worth $84 million, including $44 million guaranteed.

"I know a championship is coming to Cleveland and I have to be a part of it," he told The Plain Dealer by phone. "That's everything. That's why I wanted to do a long-term deal. Five years ago when I started this thing, that was my top goal on my list was to bring a championship here and I see the huge strides we've made.

"Sometimes we've had to take one step back to take steps forward, but I see the direction this thing is headed and I want to be part of the championship."

Thomas, who's made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons, also wanted to finish his career in Cleveland, which now he'll most likely be able to do.

"No question, that was a big goal of mine coming in was to be able to start and finish with the Cleveland Browns and it means so much to me," he said. "We're really building something special with [General Manager] Tom Heckert and [President] Mike Holmgren and I think this program is headed in the right direction. It was really important for me to make this a real long-term deal so that I can finish my career here."

Thomas, who has never missed an offensive snap in his 64 games here, said he's grateful to remain with a team he loves so much.

"I'm so excited to continue playing in front of the fans that I love and the organization that I love," said Thomas.

His enthusiasm for the Browns has been renewed by coach Pat Shurmur and the new regime.

"I've been so impressed with coach Shurmur and the staff that he brought in and the way he teaches the players," said Thomas. "Tom Heckert's been drafting guys I really want to be around and I want to be part of this really great thing that's going on now. The way the team has picked up the new offense, plenty of mistakes have been made, but you can just see the potential there. It's so exciting to be part of it."

Thomas is especially optimistic about the future of the offense with Colt McCoy at quarterback.

"I've been really impressed with Colt," said Thomas. "The jump he's made and the way he's really taking to this offense has been very impressive. To be able to block for him has been truly special and I'm very happy I get to continue to do that and hopefully someday I can tell my grandkids that I got to block for Colt McCoy."

Thomas, a two-time first-team All-Pro, also said he has his sights on the Hall of Fame.

"No question, definitely a goal," he said. "Getting there and championships and continuing to play well, that's what it's all about. When I have those goals in mind, I'm thinking of a winning season and letting those things take care of themselves, but that goal is definitely still in my mind."

Shurmur couldn't be happier with his premier left tackle, the No. 3 overall pick in 2007 out of Wisconsin.

"Joe is obviously one of the finer left tackles in the business," he said. "He's a very, very good pass protector. I guess what's impressed me is that he's a fine run-blocker as well. Typically, you find a guy that's good at one and average at the others, but I think Joe is good in both phases, extremely good.

"He's big, has good feet, balance and body control. He has pretty good power for a guy that's a tackle. And he has a feel for the game. Usually what makes a player good is kind of a combination and he's blessed with a lot of those things."

What's more, Shurmur has been impressed with Thomas' character.

"Joe is a steady guy, which you need from an offensive lineman," he said. "He's a guy that comes out here every day and works. Every once in a while he can be vocal, I wouldn't say that's his nature to just be exerting himself verbally.

"There's time within a practice or within a day when something needs to get said and he'll step right to the front and say it. I have a great appreciation for what he is as a player and a man."

Thomas' agent, Peter Schaffer, said it was Thomas' excellence both on and off the field that made the Browns want to wrap him for his career.

"Joe is part of the Browns' family," said Schaffer. "When you walk into the facility and see the Hall of Famers on the wall, hopefully Joe will be thought of in the same way someday."

Thomas is one of 19 Browns to earn Pro Bowl status four or more times and just one of five offensive linemen in club history to make four or more consecutive trips.

This is all I got.

and we can now breathe. thanks joe. you're the best. no, literally you are the best LT in the NFL.

Literally the best moment and most important move of the entire year and it's not even close.

Great move!!

Woohoo!

Great news!

Probably the biggest single thing I take away from this is this comment:

Quote:

---

"I've been so impressed with coach Shurmur and the staff that he brought in and the way he teaches the players," said Thomas. "Tom Heckert's been drafting guys I really want to be around and I want to be part of this really great thing that's going on now. The way the team has picked up the new offense, plenty of mistakes have been made, but you can just see the potential there. It's so exciting to be part of it."

---

As all of us know, Joe isn't a bragger, he doesn't get in front of a microphone and beat his chest. In fact, he may well be one of the most quiet players in terms of being in front of the media.

Yet he comes out and says stuff like this. There are those that are gonna say that he's spouting the party line and that may well be true. But who cares, Joe doesn't strike me as the kinda guy that would say it, if he didn't believe it.

So if the party line is "we are going to bring a championship to Cleveland" then I'm just dandy with it.

No question about it Clem.. Heckert, Holmgren and now Shurmur seem to be on the same page.. We've said that before about FO/Coaching regimes, but this move should put to rest any and all concerns about them.

They have a priority list and they are just checking things off 1 at a time.

Not overspending on "rent a players" as some on here were screaming about. Very conservatively, they've gone about changing the culture of the orgainzation.. Piece by piece they are putting together a very sound organization. One that I think will contend for many years to come.

You know how we've always thought that this team needed an identity? If I'm reading this right, we may be on our way to finding out what that identiy really is!

I think I may be more proud to be a Browns fan today than I was even during the Kosar years.. And that's really saying something.

j/c

So nice to not worry about him taking his talents elsewhere next year....

Yes, it is....

Great news!!

Hopefully this starts a new trend of star Cleveland players sticking around for their entire careers.

j/c
This is great news.

I went to PFT this morning, and the first things i see is the steelers locked down Timmons ..... and i'm thinking how can a team up against the cap keep locking down their core players. When are the browns going to get their act together and do this with Joe?

And then i scroll down a bit further, and my wish is granted. Thomas a brown for life. Just excellent news.
And nice to hear it from a player that this organization is moving in the right direction- and he proved it by signing the deal.

j/c

As I was thinking about it last night, I couldn't believe it. I mean, there were people on this board who were pretty convinced he wanted to go to Green Bay. Shows what we know, I guess...

Well, Green Bay put themselves out of the picture by drafting an OT in the first round for the second year in a row.

So happy! It's incredibly hard to find a LT of Joe's caliber... for years we all called for one. Then we got him. Now we'll keep him... awesome!

This started my day out right, cheering into my coffee! Solid. I am delighted with the message this sends other incredible veteran players who might be joining us as well as those in house presently. JT will rock!

Agreed! Feeling a lot of pride and trust in this FO and how tight they are. I am most pleased by this group's solid judgment as much as I am for the plans in motion. It is methodical and relentless, and most of all, fair.
Good for JT. Go, Brownies.

Browns are building something special for sure.. Glad he resigned.. Future HOF easily... Browns need to hurry up and get this winning streak going.. You don't get stud LT's like this everyday..

I've been a little vocal about defending this regime regarding thier lack of action in this shortened off season. And I think it's starting to show that the guys running the show have a handle on how to build a team from the ground up.

Draft well, hang on to your own stars, use Free Agents to fill in the gaps or for emergency needs. Don't spend foolishly just to get some big name players..

Pittsburgh, NE, GB,, all have made great strides by doing it this way. Philly did also so I'm a little puzzled by thier actions this off season.. Maybe they think they are 1 or 2 players away and they went out and got them.. in that case, it makes sense.

Philly's offseason has been overblown IMO. They are still sticking to that plan for the most part. They just have signed a bunch of 'big name' guys to 1 year deals that make it seem like they did more than they did. All these 'big name' guys have reasons they had to sign 1 year deals, but it kept them in the headlines.

They traded an asset while the value was still high (Kolb) - received a high draft pick and a starting CB (Rodgers-Cromartie)

2 big offseason FA deals
Nnamdi Asomugha - his agent literally begged them to offer a contract.
Jason Babin - ~$5mil/year deal. Not huge, but not small.

1 year low risk veteran deals
Ryan Harris (injury risk) - starting RT (Vick's blindside)
Ronnie Brown - backup RB
Steve Smith (off microfracture surgery) - backup WR
Cullen Jenkins - starting DT
Vince Young - backup QB

other lower profile additions:
Donald Lee(TE), Evan Mathis(OG), Anthony Hargrove(DT), Derek Landri(DT), Jarrod Page(S), Johnnie Lee Higgins (KR/PR and maybe WR)


On defense, they should have a good DL, and a ridiculous set of CBs. But, their LBs are unproven and/or unspecatcular and they need their safeties to step up as well.

On offense, they have a rebuilt OL, which could be good or fall apart (Ryan Harris is about as reliable to stay healthy as Pashos). They have a couple good RBs who fit their system now, but their WRs have had major issues this preseason (Maclin's sickness, DeSean injury concern, S.Smith coming back from microfracture, no real depth beyond).

But, most of those guys signed on 1 year deals are backups and the 2 starters are not known for being able to make it through a season healthy. It'll definitely be interesting to watch the team (and we get a good look at alot of them this week), but I don't get the over-the-top hype that has been associated with them.

OK OK...

I was vocal about the firing of Mangini. I thought it was to soon. I had serious doubts about the FO.

NOW, with the outstanding play in preseason, solid drafting, solid coaching from Shumur and this with JT....

I'm coming around. Hat's off FO! And Joe, you are a pure class act.

I think that for some fans, the most difficult part will be excercising the patience necessary to see this thing through. We've been so starved for a winner for so long, it's understandable that some would be antsy when they see highbux FA's going to other teams.

Let's keep in mind that top-heavy teams with no depth have one, maybe two shots (and loooong shots, at that...) of winning the Big Dance... and then the team falls apart. It happened to us during that Butch run, when we backed into the WC game v. Pitt- and capspace forced us to dump personnel and start all over. Meanwhile, teams like Pitt, NE, etc. just keep rolling right along. An argument could be made that we lost that game not because of Northcutt, but because their team was ready for Prime Time, and ours wasn't. The playoffs are a crucible- designed to burn away the impurities, so that only the real product remains. As history has shown more times than not, it's a system that works.

I think the concept of "grow your own" and "build from the trenches out" sounds right to most, but some just can't stand the waiting. Give them a FO who is willing to give the fans a say- and start taking shortcuts- and you end up with a perennially mediocre team with even longer odds at giving its fan base satisfaction.

Logic dictates that there is only one tried & true forumla to multiple SB wins: draft well to build a team that is foundationally solid, treat them well (JT), and instill in them a culture of pride and team identity. Only by fielding a squad that is ready to contend for the playoffs yearly, do you have a chance at anything more than a Cinderella "one & done" scenario.

Oh, gee.... kinda like what Paul Brown did, back when Brownies were the absolute beasts of the NFL, eh? IMHO, it's high time we finally cast off the "quick fix" way of doing things, and got back to Football 101.

It will take some years to build, but it will yeild results for a decade or more. I like our odds much more if we do it that way.


.02

One thing that is completely and totally obvious is that the entire management of the team is now not only completely on the same page, but on the same sentence and paragraph.

Everyone who has any kind of direct interaction with the players, from team president, to GM, to front office personnel, down to the coaching staff all speak the same language, and a player will get exactly the same answer to any question he asks anyone. There is huge value in that.

This really is the first time we have had this much cohesion between every level of the team.