Thomas still undecided about 2018

Joe Thomas says he is leaning “51 percent” toward playing in 2018 or retiring, but he won’t say in which direction.

The Browns All-Pro left tackle, chosen with the third pick in the 2007 draft, played on 10,363 consecutive snaps until a triceps injury in the seventh game of the 2017 season ended his streak.

Thomas, a presenter on Jan. 17 at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards dinner at the Renaissance Hotel, said he had his 12-week checkup on Jan. 16 and was told he will be cleared to play football in six months.

“I’m leaning one way 51 percent, but I don’t want to say which way because it could change,” Thomas said in a session with the media after he and Bernie Kosar presented the High School Athlete of the Year Awards.

“I don’t want to say something until I’m 100 percent sure.

“I don’t think there’s any rush at this point. (The Browns) want to know before the draft (April 26) and free agency (March 14), so if I’m not going to be there they want to know about it.”

Thomas, 33, is signed for 2018, but not beyond. He hinted this could be his last season if he does decide

to play. He is due to make $11.25 million in 2018.

“This is the last year of my contract in Cleveland and I don’t want to play anywhere else,” Thomas said. “I guess I haven’t thought far down the line.”

Thomas said he is excited about John Dorsey being hired as general manager. His blue eyes flashed when the suggestion was made if he does come back it will be to another rebuild.

“You want to fight?” Thomas said jokingly. “The way I look at 2018 for the

Browns is $100 million in cap space, the first and the fourth pick. If you add two guys in free agency that were both $25 million a year, you can assume they’re Hall of Fame caliber. Then you add a first and fourth pick who can presumably be Hall of Fame guys, or more likely Pro Bowl guys. You’ve now added four blue chip guys to your roster.

“Now you’ve totally transformed your team. Now let’s say they sign (quarterback) Kirk Cousins and the best skill player in free agency and you get the first and

the fourth pick. Your team is really, really good all of a sudden overnight.

“And if I think about last year as a team, we weren’t that far from winning a few games. If not for a couple terrible mistakes, we probably would have been 3-13 or 4-12. Now all of a sudden you add infuse three or four Hall of Famers, I would argue you do have a chance to win the Super Bowl.”

Television is another option for Thomas. He said it would be a natural fit for him down the line.