Joe Thomas played as a king then retired on top, preferring to finish at his peak rather than continuing to play as he slowly became mortal.
“This was an extremely difficult decision, but the right one for me and my family,” Thomas said in the team’s press release following the announcement. “Playing in the NFL has taken a toll on my body and I can no longer physically compete at the level I need to.”
That’s commendable, although somewhat disappointing. It may sound crazy, but as great as it is to see him retire as a Cleveland Brown, it would have been satisfying to see him in a playoff game, just once, and maybe even see him hoist a Lombardy Trophy before hanging it up.