On paper, the Cleveland Browns already look like they have the potential to be a much better team in 2018 than they have been in recent years. Joe Thomas has suffered through some of the worst seasons in franchise history, so you know he must be thrilled with the trades the team has made. However, that does not necessarily mean he will be playing football next season.
After the Browns went out and traded for Tyrod Taylor, Jarvis Landry and Demarious Randall over the weekend, Thomas was asked if the moves will inspire him to play at least another season.
“My decision will be based purely on my health,” Thomas told Pat McManamon of ESPN.com. “But I’m excited by the moves [general manager] John [Dorsey] made.”
Thomas tore his triceps muscle last season, which ended an incredible iron man streak of 10,363 consecutive snaps played. He recently said his rehab from that injury is going well, but he also noted that he has struggled with knee and shoulder issues and been limited to about one practice per week because of them.
In an “Emergency ThomaHawk” edition of his podcast on Saturday with former Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins, Thomas had high praise for both Taylor and Landry.
“Obviously, his ability to make plays with his feet — not only running, but also moving around when something breaks down and throwing the ball down the field — I think is going to be a huge asset for a team that has a lot of young talent but is starting to add some of these other positions,” Thomas said of Landry. “I think he’s a great fit.”
When discussing Landry, Thomas called him one of the top wideouts in the game and said the Browns got him for “peanuts” with the low draft picks they gave up.
Whether he ends up playing or not, Thomas has done his part to try to recruit top players to Cleveland this offseason. He said previously that his decision will come down to health and whether he still loves the game, but you’d have to think the moves the Browns have made will take care of the latter.
