There might be no greater measure for consistency in the NFL than with Joe Thomas.
The Cleveland Browns' best player of the franchise's 2.0 segment, Thomas announced his retirement on Wednesday after playing every snap of every game — and playing left tackle brilliantly — prior to his season-ending injury in 2017.
“This was an extremely difficult decision, but the right one for me and my family,” Thomas said in a statement. “Playing in the NFL has taken a toll on my body and I can no longer physically compete at the level I need to.
“From the moment I was drafted, the city embraced me in a way that I could never fully describe.