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Pro Hall of Fame offensive tackle and longtime Cleveland Browns icon Joe Thomas took to Twitter to discuss the recent trade request of star defensive end Myles Garrett.
In a candid and passionate video message, Thomas addressed the frustration surrounding the All-Pro defensive end’s desire to move on from Cleveland, offering a perspective rooted in experience and reality.
“This really isn’t about one player losing faith in his team’s ability to win a Super Bowl. It’s a reflection of this franchise’s current state, a direct result of the disastrous trade for Deshaun Watson.”
In 2017, Joe Thomas wrote an article with Sports Illustrated detailing how it felt for his season to be cut short in 2017, snapping his streak of 10,363 consecutive snaps played. In this piece, he recounted a moment from his freshman year, one that encapsulates the trope of we, not me. “My first year at the University of Wisconsin, I remember a guy going down in practice, and he was in pain laying there on the field, and everybody stopped to look. After a couple of seconds, one of the coaches hollered: ‘MOVE THE DRILL.’ We all just moved about 30 yards down the field and continued practice.”
“It wasn’t about money, this trade request, he had already ‘moved the drill’ in his mind”
The message is clear: football doesn’t stop for any one player, no matter how great. Thomas believes that Garrett has already mentally checked out of Cleveland, and the Browns must now do everything in their power to maximize his trade value.
“His request really isn’t about disloyalty to Cleveland, don’t make that mistake, right, it’s more about making the most of his career while he is still in his prime.”
Coming from Thomas, these words carry significant weight. The former left tackle spent his entire career with the Browns, enduring years of mediocrity without ever seeing playoff success. If anyone understands the frustration of watching a career pass by without a realistic shot at a championship, it’s Joe Thomas.
“Browns fans, we need to accept it, we need to focus on what comes next. Don’t dwell in the past, we need to move the drill too”
While Browns fans may not want to hear it, Thomas’ words offer a sobering but necessary perspective. If Thomas’ words ring true, the Browns have no choice but to press forward—just as they would in practice when the drill moves on.