At his first press conference as the Browns head coach, Hue Jackson wasted little time doling out praise toward his longest-tenured player.
“Joe Thomas is one of the best left tackles in this league, bar none,” Jackson said. “He is a tremendous football player and has been. He has been one of the cornerstones of this organization and this football team.”
The 10 months that have followed have only solidified that assessment.
“Joe is a blessing, in my opinion, to me and to our coaching staff,” Jackson said earlier this month. “Anytime you have a guy who has been through so many different situations here, I have a great respect for that.