Television a possibility for Thomas, who auditioned for a role with Fox
Browns offensive tackle considering his future.
The media career of 10-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas is on the rise whether he returns to the Browns for another season or retires.
Thomas recently auditioned for Fox, a person familiar with the situation confirmed. The New York Post first reported Thomas’ audition Monday and added he’s being considered for a variety of roles on Fox and Fox Sports 1.
The network hosted Thomas and former Chicago Bears coach John Fox for tryouts, and Thomas was particularly impressive, a source told the Post. In late January, Thomas appeared on several ESPN shows in what can be viewed as another tryout.
Thomas, 33, has yet to announce whether he plans to play next season, a decision Browns coach Hue Jackson said Wednesday he expects the future Hall of Famer to make “fairly soon.” Thomas has said he’ll notify the team before free agency begins. The negotiating period starts March 12, two days before free agency officially kicks off.
Thomas, who’s under contract with the Browns through the 2018 season, has repeatedly said his overall health will dictate how he chooses to proceed. He had never missed a snap in his NFL career until he was sidelined for the final nine games last season with a torn left triceps suffered on Oct. 22. But Thomas has said the knee and back problems he’s endured for years are actually greater causes for concern than his surgically reattached triceps tendon.
After Thomas underwent surgery, he began interviewing teammates for a podcast on the team’s website and writing columns for The MMQB. This offseason, he launched The ThomaHawk Show podcast on Uninterrupted.com with former Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins. And he had been asking teammates quirky questions on video as the host of The Joe Thomas Hour: The Best Two Minutes of Your Life since it launched on the Browns’ website in 2015.
During an interview with the Beacon Journal in November, Thomas discussed possibly embarking on a career in the broadcast booth or studio after his playing days.
“There are lot of things that are interesting to me that I’ve got a passion for that I’m considering pursuing when I do decide to retire, and certainly broadcasting is one of them,” Thomas said on Nov. 7. “I’m not sure about anything.
“I’ve had a number of people from that side of things approach me and ask me if I’m interested, and I’ve always told them, ‘I’m keeping my doors open, but I’m not ready to commit to anything yet.’ Because I think when I do decide to retire, whenever that is, that’ll be one of the things I’ll definitely seriously consider.”
Extra points
■ The NFL released the full order for its April 26-28 draft, and the Browns have the following 12 picks: first round (Nos. 1 and 4 overall), second round (Nos. 33, 35 and 64), third round (No. 65), fourth round (Nos. 101 and 123), fifth round (Nos. 138 and 159), sixth round (No. 175) and seventh round (No. 219).
■ The Los Angeles Rams announced they used their franchise tag on safety Lamarcus Joyner, who played for Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and could have received interest from Cleveland on the open market. With Joyner tagged, Rams wide receiver Sammy Watkins is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next week.
■ The Buffalo Bills announced they agreed to terms on a two-year deal with veteran running back Chris Ivory, who visited the Browns last week.