The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Former Browns lineman to broadcast preseason
Former Browns first round pick Joe Thomas will be part of a new television crew to call all three of the Browns’ preseason games, which also includes play-by-play announcer, Tom McCarthy.
JSchudel@news-herald.com
Joe Thomas, who never missed a snap during his time with the Browns until a triceps injury abruptly ended his career, is part of a new television crew that will call a pair of preseason games in August, the team announced on July 27.
Tom McCarthy, a veteran in the booth who has worked MLB, NFL and college football games, will do the play-by-play. McCarthy and Thomas are replacing Jay Crawford and Tim Couch, who handled the television broadcast of preseason games in 2018 and 2019. No preseason games were played last season because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“It gives me chills just thinking about being back in Cleveland and being able to call the Browns’ preseason games,” Thomas said in a statement. “This team, this city and these fans have all had a huge impact on my life, and being paired with a veteran broadcaster like Tom McCarthy just adds to the excitement.
“The Browns accomplished some great things last year, and I’m looking forward to being there as they build on that success for 2021.”
The NFL reduced the preseason from four games to three when it decided to increase the regular season from 16 to 17 beginning with the 2021 season. McCarthy and Thomas will be in the WEWS Channel 5 television booth for the 7 p.m. Aug. 14 game in Jacksonville and the 1 p.m. Aug. 22 game against the Giants at FirstEnergy Stadium. The third preseason game, at Atlanta at 8 p.m. Aug. 29, will be televised nationally by NBC — WKYC Channel 3 in Cleveland.
“Joe was one of my favorites to interview during his years as a player, so to be paired with him in the booth is tremendous,” McCarthy said in a statement. “Kevin Stefanski and the rest of the Browns staff and players were a lot of fun last year, and I am excited to see what they have in store for their fans, the AFC North and the National Football League in 2021 and beyond.”
The Browns selected Thomas with the third overall pick in the 2007 draft. He immediately was named the starting left tackle. He was on the field for 10,633 consecutive snaps. He was injured blocking on a running play on the 43rd play of a game with the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 22, 2017, at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The radio tandem of playby-play announcer Jim Donovan and analyst Doug Dieken are back for the 23rd consecutive season. All three preseason games and 17 regular season games will be broadcast on 92.3 The Fan (WKRKFM) and sister station 98.5 WNCX (WNCX-FM) plus 850-AM ESPN Cleveland.