Joe Thomas reveals why he turned down Peyton Manning and refused to leave the Browns
· Yahoo Sports
Joe Thomas has revealed why he refused to force a trade away from the Cleveland Browns, even when Peyton Manning personally tried to convince him to join the Denver Broncos.
The former offensive tackle spent his entire 11-season NFL career in Cleveland, earning 10 Pro Bowl selections and six first-team All-Pro honours despite never winning a Super Bowl.
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Thomas admitted that the Browns’ struggles eventually made him question whether he could achieve his championship ambitions in Cleveland. However, his connection with the franchise remained too strong for him to demand an exit.
Joe Thomas explains why he refused to force a trade to the Denver Broncos
Speaking on The Dan Patrick Show, Thomas was asked whether he had ever considered requesting a trade away from Cleveland.
“I never did,” Thomas said. “I was always happy in Cleveland. I always felt a great pride in building something special. I loved the franchise. And I wanted to do it there.”
Thomas explained that winning a Super Bowl with the Browns would have meant more to him than chasing a championship elsewhere.
However, the veteran acknowledged that his belief in the project began to fade during his 10th season, when Cleveland entered a significant rebuilding period.
“Even after I’d broken down in year 10 and realized, we ain’t doing it. We’re not good enough. I’m fooling myself. We can’t do it here anymore,” he said.
Despite that realisation, Thomas still wanted to leave a lasting legacy in Cleveland rather than force his way out.
His loyalty was tested when the Broncos approached him ahead of the 2015 trade deadline. Denver were looking for protection for Manning, who was approaching the end of his career, and the quarterback personally contacted Thomas to discuss a potential move.
Manning explained that Denver had a deal on the table but needed Thomas to tell the Browns’ general manager that he wanted to be traded.
Thomas admitted the offer was difficult to turn down but refused to push for a move.
“I am happy in Cleveland. I love it here. If a deal gets done on its own merit, great; if not, I’m not willing to try and force a trade,” he said.
Denver went on to win the Super Bowl that season, while Thomas remained in Cleveland for two more campaigns before retiring in March 2018.
Although he never lifted the Lombardi Trophy, Thomas chose loyalty to the Browns over the chance to pursue a championship alongside Manning.
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