Browns sign former Chiefs CB Terrance Mitchell
March 14, 2018The Legend of Joe Thomas: While We’re Waiting…
March 15, 2018The next stop for Joe Thomas will be in Canton as the long time left tackle for the Cleveland Browns officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday afternoon.
“This was an extremely difficult decision, but the right one for me and my family,” said Thomas in a prepared statement. “Playing in the NFL has taken a toll on my body and I can no longer physically compete at the level I need to.”
“From the moment I was drafted, the city embraced me in a way that I could never fully describe. I am proud to call Cleveland home. The loyalty and passion of Browns fans is unmatched and it was an honor to play in front of them from the past 11 years. I would like to thank all of the coaches, teammates, staff, fans and everyone who has shown me support throughout my career. Even though I will be hanging up my cleats, I will always be a Cleveland Brown.”
"I was standing in front of the media at the podium, and I had Mobic (a powerful anti-inflammatory) in my body, I had Tylenol and Vicodin. I couldn't stand for more than a minute or two without excruciating bone pain in my knee and my back." – Joe Thomas on ThomaHawk pod
— Jordan Zirm (@clevezirm) March 14, 2018
The third overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, Thomas played every offensive snap for the Browns from his rookie season through Week 7 in 2017, when he sustained a torn triceps that ended his consecutive snaps streak at 10,363. His Iron Man stretch, which consisted of 167 consecutive games, is believed to be the longest consecutive snaps streak in NFL history. He became just the fifth player and the only lineman in NFL history to be selected to the Pro Bowl each of his first 10 seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Barry Sanders, Lawrence Taylor, Mel Renfro and Merlin Olsen. Thomas’ 10 Pro Bowls are a team record, surpassing Hall of Famers Jim Brown (nine) and Lou Groza (nine). Thomas was the longest tenured member of the Browns and was selected to the Associated Press All-Pro team eight times, including six first-team honors.
“Joe means so much to me both personally and professionally,” said Head Coach Hue Jackson in a press release. “Joe has been not just a tremendous Cleveland Brown, but one of the best to ever play in the National Football League. I appreciate everything he has done for this organization and not just on the field, his leadership and what he brought to the locker room, as a coach you couldn’t ask for a better captain than Joe Thomas. He earned the respect of teammates and peers around the league for the way he worked. To play 10,363 consecutive snaps, what a tremendous accomplishment. I don’t know if something like that will ever be matched again.”
“I have watched Joe from afar throughout his career,” said General Manager John Dorsey. “I have nothing but respect for the way he has carried himself and the amazing things he has accomplished. He has played this game at an extremely high level. Joe is a heck of a football player and an even better man.”
On the ThomaHawk podcast, Thomas stated that he has recently experienced a ton of pain and has spent much of the last few years on pain medications, including Vicodin.
“As a competitor, you think that you can still do it,” said Thomas. “My mind is good, but my body is not willing. I think that’s where I am.
“I’ve had two knee scopes, ACL surgery in college, I had another knee scope, obviously elbow surgery, countless ligament tears, muscle tears, arthritis in every join in my body… For the last two to three years, I haven’t been able to practice. I’ve had moments where I couldn’t tie my own shoe for three-to-four weeks. I’d strap on a back brace and pump my body full of medicine to get out there and play decent on Sundays, but then the next Monday comes and you feel even worse. You get to the point where you can’t do it anymore.”
The Thomas era in Cleveland is one that—despite a lack of overall wins—should be celebrated. He spent much of the last decade playing at an elite level while having to endure countless offseasons of flux at both the front office and head coach level, as well as the quarterbacks for whom he was tasked with protecting.
The Browns had been rumored to be in the mix for a variety of tackles leading up to this offseason’s free agency period, being tied to players like Nate Solder, but reportedly agreeing in principle with former Broncos offensive tackle Donald Stephenson and former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Chris Hubbard. It is believed that Thomas will remain active with the franchise while continuing to host his highly rated podcast with former Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins.