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Cleveland Browns teammates, coaches happy to see Joe Thomas get enshrined into Ring of Honor

Cleveland Browns teammates and coaches were happy and proud to see former left tackle Joe Thomas get enshrined into the Ring of Honor at FirstEnergy Stadium Sunday.
Credit: Kevin Jairaj
Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas (73) during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium in Houston.

CLEVELAND -- The number 10,363 is a very meaningful one to the Cleveland Browns, and they recognized the man associated with that number, former left tackle Joe Thomas, during today’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers at FirstEnergy Stadium.

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft out of the University of Wisconsin, Thomas was honored when “10,363” was enshrined in the Browns’ Ring of Honor to recognize his consecutive snaps streak over 11 years with the franchise.

Thomas joined the Browns’ 16 Hall of Fame players in the Ring of Honor.

“I think it is unbelievable,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said Thursday. “My time here with one of the greatest players to me that has ever played the game at left tackle here in Cleveland was special to me. Watching Joe from a far, and then, having the chance to coach him, I understand why all of you guys thought that he was so special as a person.

“Then watching him as a player and watching a guy who would not take a play off -- I do not care what the aches were or what the situation was -- until he could not physically do it anymore. I will never forget walking on that field when he was down there and him not being able to get up, understanding that this might be it.”

Credit: Tommy Gilligan
Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas (73) blocks Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) during the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

In December of 2016, Thomas was selected to his 10th consecutive Pro Bowl, and went 10 for 10 in all-star game nods over his first decade with the Browns. With that selection, Thomas became the first Browns player ever selected to participate in 10 Pro Bowls.

Thomas joined an elite group of athletes with the 10th straight selection, as defensive tackle Merlin Olsen (Los Angeles Rams), defensive back/running back Mel Renfro (Dallas Cowboys), running back Barry Sanders (Detroit Lions) and linebacker Lawrence Taylor (New York Giants) are the only other players who went 10 for 10 in Pro Bowl appearances over their first decade in the NFL.

“To watch and look back on his career and see what he has done, man, that is amazing to me,” Jackson said. “Nobody else has ever played that many [consecutive] snaps, and I do not know if anybody else will do that again for a long time. It just tells you how important football was to him. To go through all of the seasons that he went through when things did not go well, that does not happen in this league, and I think that we all know that.

“I think what he has done, the way he played, the way that he conducted himself with class within this organization, the way he conducted himself out in the community and all of the good things that he did for this football team will never be forgotten. Joe Thomas is a class person and a great, great football player.”

Credit: Aaron Doster
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Benson Mayowa (93) defends against Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas (73) at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.

In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Thomas was recognized for his efforts to help in the community.

Thomas remains the only player in Browns history to be the organization’s Walter Payton Man of the Year on multiple occasions. Thomas was honored with the award in 2010, 2012 and 2016, and was a finalist for the 2012 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.

Also, Thomas is the only player in Browns history to be selected for the PFWA (Pro Football Writers’ Association) Dino Lucarelli Good Guy Award multiple times and was a two-time Browns Player of the Year choice by the local chapter of the PFWA.

Thomas received the Browns’ Salute to Service Award in both 2016 and 2017, created a program to give game tickets to members of the USO of Northern Ohio, and once made a 10,000-mile, week-long trip to military installations in the Middle East to visit with troops as part of the NFL/USO Tour.

Credit: Ken Blaze
Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas (73) looks on from the bench during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.

Thomas and his wife, Annie, have given support to numerous charitable organizations in Northeast Ohio, including the Cleveland Kids in Need Resource Center, Providence House, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL).

“I think Joe is going to be in the Hall of Fame someday, so for him to go in the Ring of Honor for his snap count and just what he has done for the city and the work he has put in for Cleveland is pretty cool,” left guard Joel Bitonio said.

“He is kind of one of the first guys that I have played with that has had the opportunity to be recognized, and it is going to be fun. I am going to be playing the game, but hopefully, afterwards, I get to hang out with him and get some dinner or something like that. I know he is excited for this event. He has been talking it up this weekend. I know he is going to be really appreciative of the fans, and hopefully, we get a win to keep the fans happy after that ceremony.”

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