If there is one player on the current Browns roster you have to feel for from this past season, it’s that of future Hall of Fame tackle Joe Thomas.
Thomas played at a high level again this season, despite playing for a one-win team that had to fight to just get that. Wrapping up his 10th season in the league, Thomas is still a player this Browns team can build on.
If you watched Sunday’s broadcast on CBS between the Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, the announcers pointed out something that basically had to be thought about to believe, that being that Thomas has NEVER played in a meaningful game in which anything for the Browns has been on the line in week 17.
Wow.
Here’s hoping the worst is over for this Browns team, and for Thomas, he stated on Monday that he feels the teams’ future is on the upswing after a season which hit rock bottom.
“The track that we are on, the trajectory is a good one,” Thomas said.
“I think starting with keeping the staff in place, keeping the management team in place, I think the stated goal this of season is to bring in some free agents, re-sign some of our young quality players that we have here. Obviously, everybody knows about the number of draft picks we have. The path we are is great.
“We have the right head coach, and we have the right management team. Definitely, things are looking up for the Cleveland Browns.”
Thomas’ point is well taken that it seems that all Browns players do believe they have the right guy to coach this team, as while Hue Jackson made some mistakes along the way, he’s still a coach that looks like he can turn this franchise finally into the winner fans deserve.
As for Thomas, he knows one the keys to any success the Browns have in 2017 is bringing back a couple key free agents, including wide out Terrelle Pryor and linebacker Jamie Collins, who came to the team via trade from New England during the season.
The Browns failed to keep their bigger name free agents last season and the results spoke for themselves. Thomas is hopeful that mistake won’t be repeated in 2017.
“One of our biggest mistakes that we’ve made since I’ve been here is not identifying talent early on in their career, after you’ve drafted them, and re-signing them before they get to free agency,” Thomas said Monday.
The Browns do have plenty in terms of draft picks, but having those picks be right is again something that has stopped this team from moving forward over their tenure back in the NFL since 1999.
They have two top picks in 2017, the 1st and 12th, and Thomas knows getting those two picks and others right, along with bringing back free agents, are two things that should put this franchise finally on the right track.
“I think after my 10 years in the NFL and my experiences that I have had, our ideas align pretty closely with how to build a team and the most efficient, effective way to build a roster and what is going to give you the best probability to have success in free agency and in the draft because no matter who you are, you are not going 100 percent in the draft,” Thomas said.
“What you want to do is set up your management team with the right process that gives you the best chance because in the draft, it is still a shake of the dice, but what you want to do is try to get the odds in your favor as much as you possibly can. I think they are taking the right approach.
“I really agree with a lot of what their thoughts are on how to build a team.”
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