Browns OT sends message in Cousins push
CLEVELAND — Why is Joe Thomas turning into a lobbyist to bring free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins to Cleveland?
Thomas has been having a gleeful time with his various media appearances. So this could be an extension of that.
But there seems to be more to it.
Thomas has not made up his mind about playing for the Browns next season. Wait a minute. Thomas has not made public his plans about playing for the Browns next season. He has said he’ll have a decision before free agency opens March 14.
Thomas was the team’s first-round pick in 2007. He played every snap — 10,363 in a row — until suffering a torn triceps in his left arm last Oct. 22 in a loss to Tennessee.
As he was recovering from surgery, the Browns announced on Nov. 4 that they had revised the contract of their star left tackle.
They gave him an immediate $1.5 million raise for the rest of 2017 — even though he was out for the season.
They added another $1.5 million to his 2018 deal, raising his salary to $10.8 million. He also has some other bonuses that could take the 2018 deal to $13.5 million. As of now, that will make him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman. That may change once the free agent period opens.
Thomas is not simply driven by money. But the Browns certainly have given him several million reasons to play one more season.
Ready to retire? Thomas turned 33 on Dec. 4.
He has had cranky knees, often limiting his practice time in the last few seasons. If he does retire, the knees will be the reason — not the triceps injury.
But is Thomas really ready to embark on a media career? That’s doubtful.
His Twitter pleas for Cousins to sign with the Browns are humorous: “I hear Cleveland is nice this time of year ... that is, if you’d like a statue someday.”
Another tweet: “You could make MORE money and MORE history in Cleveland than anywhere else by FAR.”
Thomas is correct on both points:
1. The Browns have more than $100 million in salary cap room. If they decided to out-bid all other teams for the Washington quarterback, they can do so.
2. The Browns and their fans are so desperate for a contending team, Cousins can become a Cleveland quarterback hero like Bernie Kosar and Brian Sipe. Neither went to a Super Bowl. Both delivered lots of wins and fun. Both are revered in Northeast Ohio.
3. Thomas also knows the Browns’ best chance to win in 2018 would be with an established veteran such as Cousins at quarterback. Thomas sounds as if he’d love a chance to block for Cousins, who will be 30 by opening day of 2018.
4. Thomas was with a Browns team that was 10-6 in 2007, his rookie season. It’s been pretty dismal ever since. A 4-44 record in the last three years doesn’t make the Browns very attractive to Cousins.
About left tackle: It’s open to debate, but Profootballfocus (PFF) rated Thomas as the No. 4 best tackle in the NFL.
He was No. 2 in pass blocking.
Maybe you don’t have him rated quite that high, but he is still an excellent left tackle. No one on the roster can replace him. It’s doubtful a rookie can come close to his performance in 2017.
According to PFF, Thomas did not allow a sack last season and only one quarterback hit in 495 snaps.
In 2016, it was four sacks and four hits in 1,029 snaps — so he was better in 2017 than 2016.
Spencer Drango replaced Thomas, and PFF rated him as the No. 63 tackle. They rated 81 tackles overall.
According to PFF, Drango allowed 11 sacks in 11 games!
Drango was a left tackle at Baylor. He’s better suited to be a guard in the NFL.
I doubt Cousins will sign with the Browns.
But Thomas pushing hard for that to happen could be a good sign for his return in 2018.