There are numerous phrases to explain Cleveland Browns legend and Course of 2023 Corridor of Famer Joe Thomas's vocation in the NFL, but there is one particular that stands out over the relaxation: loyal.

For 11 seasons, Thomas was the Browns' left tackle, and despite the crew under no circumstances making the playoffs in the course of that span from 2007 to 2017, he remained in Cleveland.

Thomas was a 6-time 1st-group All Professional and 10-time Professional Bowl tackle all through his time with the Browns. So, you would understand why teams inquired about Thomas's services for the duration of his profession. 

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Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns runs onto the area prior to the video game towards the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium on Dec. 14, 2014, in Cleveland. (Jason Miller/Getty Photos)

But loyalty is a thing that Thomas informed WHD News Digital was instilled in him at a youthful age, and it carried more than to sporting activities.

"I assume it was constantly crucial to me," Thomas explained. "It was a value that my mother and father taught me when I was a child – the importance of loyalty to your loved ones, your community, your faith, your church, your buddies. To me, it usually carried more than to sports, way too, due to the fact I grew up in the early ‘90s viewing soccer. There definitely wasn’t a large amount of player movement."

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"Just currently being equipped to cheer for a crew that had a participant form of his entire occupation. I enjoy that as a enthusiast, and I think there’s a nostalgic element of me that nevertheless appreciates that and enjoys that," he continued.

Nowadays in sports activities, permit by itself the NFL, loyalty to franchises hasn't been the very same. And as Thomas mentioned, it just isn't just the participant not seeking to be with the franchise. It functions both of those strategies.

Franchise are trying to continue to keep fees down whilst players are recognizing their worth and not succumbing to deals they truly feel don't match it.

But Thomas by no means had that way of thinking when he was in Cleveland, even with all the losing. In his rookie yr, they went 10-6, but unsuccessful to make the playoffs (the Tennessee Titans experienced the exact same record but held the remaining wild card in the AFC).

Former Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Joe Thomas talks with the NFL Community prior to the game among the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sept. 20, 2018, in Cleveland. (Jason Miller/Getty Illustrations or photos)

From there, Cleveland would access as large as 7 wins in Thomas's remaining seasons, which incorporated an -16 campaign in his final calendar year when he was only able to enjoy seven games. In point, that was the first season in which Thomas skipped a recreation in his complete vocation.

"I think as a participant it was important to me to be loyal to Cleveland and the Browns and the firm and my teammates," he mentioned. "It was easy for me to enjoy sticking all over even nevertheless we didn’t constantly have the most results."

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"I undoubtedly realize why we are wherever we are, but that doesn’t suggest I don’t long for the days when you had one particular participant that was with a team endlessly. As admirers, you could just cheer for him and knew he’d be all over. You can obtain his jersey and buy the jersey for a child and understood he was heading to be there and not have to obtain a new Browns jersey at Christmas."

You will nonetheless catch some No. 73 jerseys with "Thomas" written on the back at Browns online games these days. Thomas is a legend in Cleveland, a single the city will under no circumstances fail to remember with a jersey that will by no means spoil or turn out to be obsolete.

And an hour south down Interstate 77 on Aug. 5, Thomas will be enshrined in the Corridor of Fame, where his allegiance will by no means adjust.

Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns is proven during a recreation versus the New York Giants on Nov. 27, 2016, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland. (Nick Cammett/Diamond Photographs/Getty Photos)

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"I’m truly just happy on behalf of all Cleveland Browns nations to be able to go into the Hall of Fame symbolizing that orange and brown uniform," he explained.