CLEVELAND -- When Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas spoke with WKYC.com backstage at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards on January 17, he expressed a desire to continue his NFL career should he be healthy enough to again reach the Pro Bowl level he did 10 times before.
But if Thomas decides not to return to the NFL, he has a burgeoning broadcasting career, which started with The Joe Thomas Show on ClevelandBrowns.com, has continued with the “ThomaHawk” podcast alongside former Browns receiver Andrew Hawkins and featured an appearance on ESPN’s First Take Tuesday.
During his appearance on First Take, Thomas talked about the Super Bowl and wanting a new team representing the AFC instead of the New England Patriots.
“I’m torn a little bit because I love to see new teams, new players, guys that can really appreciate the Super Bowl experience and have that once-in-a-lifetime dream of playing in the Super Bowl, like Blake Bortles, whereas Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, they’re just relieved they don’t lose,” Thomas said while on set.
“They don’t care about being in the Super Bowl. They just don’t want to lose, and so, for me, it’s fun having a new team in there. But on the other hand, there’s no more polarizing team or player in the NFL than the Patriots and Brady.”
WATCH: Joe Thomas stops by ESPN'S First Take
In addition to appearing on ESPN, and being mentioned as a possible replacement for Jon Gruden, who left the Monday Night Football broadcast booth to return as coach of the Oakland Raiders, Thomas has ventured into writing and has penned columns for Monday Morning Quarterback.
“It’s strange what you think about when your season is over prematurely -- really strange for me, considering in 10-and-a-half seasons with the Browns, since opening day 2007, I never missed a single play,” Thomas wrote in his first piece.
“That’s 10,363 consecutive plays, the longest streak in NFL history. That changed last week. I tore my left triceps trying to push away linebacker Brian Orakpo on a running play against Tennessee.”
WATCH: Joe Thomas joins WKYC.com at Greater Cleveland Sports Awards
Last December, Thomas was selected to his 10th Pro Bowl, and went 10 for 10 in all-star game nods since entering the league via the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft out of the University of Wisconsin. Thomas was 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) were the only other players who went 10 for 10 in Pro Bowl appearances over their first decade in the NFL.
Prior to the injury, Thomas played 10,363 consecutive snaps, which is believed to be the longest such streak in the history of the National Football League, and that is why Browns coach Hue Jackson told him “That I love him and I appreciate everything that he is” before the veteran left tackle left the field.
