Joe Thomas dreams of Drew Brees in a Cleveland Browns uniform
Forgive Joe Thomas, but after playing 10,363 consecutive offensive snaps to begin his career, the Cleveland Browns’ 10-time Pro Bowl left tackle isn’t keen on waiting for whatever rookie they draft No. 1 or No. 4 overall to develop into competent pigskin hurler. Thomas is a modern day Lou Groza, except instead of blocking for Otto Graham in NFL Championship Games, he’s protected 18 foster quarterbacks as the Browns scraped the floor of NFL standings. He’s finally had enough. Thomas, 33, believes the road to redemption could be paved by current New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.
Early Thursday morning, Thomas began tweeting at Cleveland sports radio host Ken Carman about Brees’ impending contract negotiations with the Saints. To call it tweeting is an understatement. A more accurate description for Thomas’ stream of consciousness would be a vision quest.
If Drew Brees wanted to stay in New Orleans so bad he would’ve re-signed during the season. At the end of the season, do you expect him to say anything besides he “wants to remain in New Orleans?” @KenCarman @923TheFan @SportsBoyTony #ThomaHawk
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) January 18, 2018
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Drew Brees in a different colored uniform next year. Think about all of the other great quarterbacks who have changed teams at the end of their careers and shocked everyone.
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) January 18, 2018
Peyton Manning, Joe Montana, Brett Favre, Drew Brees???
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) January 18, 2018
All I’m asking is the question, then why didn’t he re-sign already? Maybe there’s a good reason, but I haven’t heard it yet. Please fill me in maybe this is a topic for the next #ThomaHawk show https://t.co/sp60rFPVeP
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) January 18, 2018
Let’s be clear, I’m not arguing he’s definitely coming to cleveland, there’d be a lot of teams that would bid for his services, but @Browns are the team with the most cap space. https://t.co/ae7P4BKosI
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) January 18, 2018
Clearly money is A FACTOR or he would have already re-signed for the absolute minimum. He’s looking to be fairly compensated for his services, can’t begrudge that. But, what if the @Saints don’t value his services the same way he does. What happens then. Tell me https://t.co/MOlpaur7Pp
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) January 18, 2018
He’s already got a ring, maybe he wants the chance to be the guy who turned cleveland around and brought a first SB ring to 2 different franchise? That would be something he’s never done. Tell me why I’m wrong https://t.co/MOlpaur7Pp
— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) January 18, 2018
It’s impressive that Thomas thought this through in such detail, however, there are a few flaws in his hot takes. For one, it’s not called Drew Orleans for nothing. Even at 39, Brees owns New Orleans and he holds all the cards because the franchise hasn’t identified a successor to groom yet. Besides, the ground game and short passing attack spearheaded by Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram has rejuvenated him added two years to his lifecycle as an effective starting quarterback.
Drew Brees hasn’t responded to Thomas’ personal rumor mill, but if he did, it would probably play out something like this.
This is good news for Browns fans. Recently, Thomas has vacillated between returning from the ruptured left triceps tendon he suffered in October and retirement. If he’s inventing scenarios about Hall of Fame quarterbacks landing in Cleveland, then there’s a strong likelihood he’s leaning towards getting back out there.
More coverage from Yahoo Sports:
– – – – – – –
DJ Dunson is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at dunsnchecksin@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter or Facebook.