Cleveland, OH (92.3 The Fan) – Joe Thomas always thought of himself off as an ordinary Joe.
Except this Joe was anything but ordinary.
Since their return to the NFL in 1999 the Browns have struggled to find footing in a city that loves them more than they deserve. They have failed to find enough good players to field a team worthy of such devotion, but Thomas was an exception.
Thomas was never one for the spotlight, but as we came to learn in the later stages of his career his personality commanded it.
For 11 seasons his play demanded it.
No other lineman in league history made the Pro Bowl in their first 10 seasons until Joe did. No Brown had made 10 Pro Bowls in their careers until Joe did.
Thomas was named an All Pro by the Associated Press eight times, six as a member of the first-team.
The local chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America honored him twice as the 'Player of the Year' and the ‘Good Guy’ for his professionalism with the media and service to the community. No matter how repetitive, mundane or redundant the questions were, Thomas was always there to answer them.
Thomas was also named the Browns’ Walter Payton Man of the Year three times for his community service in and around northeast Ohio and he was a finalist for the league award in 2012.
His Hall of Fame credentials are impeccable. Not even the stain of 11 tumultuous and painful years of losing will keep him from pro football's hallowed hall.
He went fishing the day he was drafted because spending time with family was more important than the glitz and glam of Radio City Music Hall or the ceremonial presentation of a jersey and hug from the commissioner.
That was Joe.
Through all the losses, change and dysfunction there was one thing the Browns could always count on and that was No. 73 anchoring the left side of their offensive line every Sunday from September through late December and sometimes the first weekend of January.
Outside of Thomas’ rookie season that saw the team go 10-6, the Browns were never any good to play beyond the mandated 16-game regular season.
He blocked just as hard for Charlie Frye as he did Derrick Anderson, Ken Dorsey, Brady Quinn, Bruce Gradkowski, Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, Colt McCoy, Brandon Weeden, Thaddeus Lewis, Brian Hoyer, Jason Campbell, Johnny Manziel, Connor Shaw, Josh McCown, Austin Davis, Robert Griffin III, Cody Kessler, Kevin Hogan and DeShone Kizer.
He once had to introduce himself to Josh Johnson in the huddle during the fourth quarter of the 2012 season finale in typical Joe Thomas fashion – “Hi, I’m Joe Thomas and I’ll be your left tackle,” so the legend goes. It was a lighthearted moment in a 24-10 beating by the Steelers that capped off another dreadful 5-11 campaign.
He played just as hard for Romeo Crennel as he did Eric Mangini, Pat Shurmur, Rob Cudzinski, Mike Pettne and Hue Jackson believing they could coach the team's return to glory. They never did.
He prayed Phil Savage, George Kokinis, Tom Heckert, Mike Lombardi, Ray Farmer or Sashi Brown could build a team to get him to the playoffs. They never did.
No matter how turbulent the waters got in Berea, Thomas, ever the eternal optimist that this was the year it was all going to turn around, was as steady as the North star.
He played 167 consecutive games and 10,363 consecutive snaps through knee, ankle and back injuries for a franchise that gave him every reason to quit.
Yet he proudly fought on because to him, it was his job.
That was Joe.
With heavy snow falling and piling up by the minute in this past December, Thomas stood with his arm in a sling coaching up his fellow linemen. Most players, check that, every other player done for the season would've been relaxing in the comforts of the warm facility. But not Joe. If he couldn't be out there with them Sunday, he wanted to teach them all he knew.
That was Joe.
Not many athletes embrace Cleveland. To them it's simply where they work during the season. He made it his home.
That was Joe.
The Browns already have plans to honor Thomas this season by placing 10,363 in the 'Ring of Honor.' They should've just annouced that they've retired 73 on the spot and put Thomas there instead of waiting for time to pass to salute football's version of Cal Ripken Jr once again.
Unfortunately, father time is undefeated. Even for the greats like Thomas, the call always comes that it is over.
And so, the Browns are forced to bid farewell to an all-time great. A career they wasted but one their long-suffering fans should never forget.
He came into the NFL sitting in a fishing boat and in five years he'll sail into Canton, Ohio as one of the greatest to ever play the game.
The class of 2023 awaits.
No ordinary Joe indeed.
