If you thought the play of the Browns offensive line was spotty – to be kind – in the 17-11 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the preseason opener last Thursday night, then you may be in for a shock.
The performance could be even spottier – translation: worse — — Thursday night in the preseason home opener when the Atlanta Falcons visit FirstEnergy Stadium.
That’s because left tackle Joe Thomas, the future Pro Football Hall of Famer, might not be able to play because of a bad back that has kept him out of the last three practices.
There has been talk the last two or three years – perhaps longer – that Thomas would be traded. He was almost dealt last season to the Denver Broncos.
There are those who believe that Thomas will definitely be traded at some point. It’s just a matter of when.
Thomas is still playing at a high level and would help a contender. The Browns aren’t contenders now and probably won’t be for a while. They are building with young players, and by dealing Thomas, they would acquire up some more young talent either with players already in the NFL, or draft picks.
From that standpoint, a trade makes sense, and with the Browns relying so much on the common-sense thinking that their new reliance on analytics point to, it probably will happen.
But before the Browns pull the switch on moving Thomas, they need to keep in mind that trading any player – even one headed to Canton – is actually the easy part. The much harder part is having a plan as to who will replace that player.
OK, then, who would replace Thomas?
Who would protect quarterback Robert Griffin III’s blind side?
Who would answer the bell at all times, just as Thomas has done on every offensive snap of every game since being drafted by the Browns at No. 3 overall in 2007?
Who knows?
But here’s a good bet: Whomever he would be, he won’t make it to nine Pro Bowls in a row, tying Hall of Famer Jim Brown’s team record.
And here’s another good bet: He won’t be a leader both on and off the field, showing the Browns’ young linemen how to be pros.
Following the 2012 season, the self-proclaimed genius, Joe Banner, let Phil Dawson, the second-best player in the expansion era next to Thomas, walk in free agency. The Browns are still looking for a kicker.
My fear is that the same thing would happen if they get rid of Thomas.
Certainly, Thomas is worth a lot on the open market.
But I believe Thomas is worth even more – much more – in the Cleveland market, giving loyal Browns fans something good to root for while yet another complete makeover is carried out.
Yes, the NFL is a business, but it’s an entertainment business. And it sure wouldn’t be entertaining to watch Thomas’s successor get beat like a drum every Sunday.
Until that makeover is done and the winning starts, let the entertainment win people over.
That’s the least that the Browns management should do
