Joe Thomas is the veteran of veterans in the Cleveland Browns locker room. If Thomas says it you know most, if not all, of his teammates think pretty similar. Thomas has seen it all since being the #3 overall pick for the Browns. Coaching changes, Front Office Changes and even ownership changes. He has good perspective on all things Cleveland Browns.
So when Joe Thomas speaks about Johnny Manziel, we listen. It is right to take note of Thomas’ comments about Manziel, out of Tony Grossi’s column, even if they backup what many of us already knew: Johnny Manziel lost his teammates trust last year:
"“You know, I think he lost probably a lot of trust among the guys on the team last year by the way he handled himself once he became the starter. And I think he had a lot of time to reflect, I’m guessing, after the season was over by the comments he made in the media and by his actions, checking himself into rehab … I think those were really positive steps."
As expected, Thomas doesn’t just throw Manziel under the bus. He notes the problems that Manziel had handling himself but quickly goes on to talk about some reason for hope. Thomas, like us, sees good coming from Manziel checking himself into rehab. Thomas’ words “handled himself” seem to be more about off the field than on. Rehab could be an important part of that process of handling himself better.
Thomas does make it clear that action will speak louder than words, while hitting a quick jab at suspended WR Josh Gordon:
"“Yeah. Everyone wants to talk the good talk in the media, and that includes Josh Gordon, but it’s your actions that really are telling to your teammates about if you really mean what you say,” Thomas said."
With Gordon and Manziel tied at the hip as poster children for problems the Browns had yesterday, it is interesting that Thomas brought him up. You have to wonder if Gordon was mentioned in a question or comment prior to Joe making his. The fact that Thomas uses Gordon’s full name suggests it wasn’t but anything is possible. Gordon, like Manziel, blew a lot of smoke verbally last year.
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The good thing for Johnny Manziel, as Joe Thomas noted, was that he can earn that trust back. His work ethic, attitude and maturity will play a huge role in whether he is seen as “one of the guys” next year. While the quarterback position is pushed much higher than any other, good QBs earn that on and off the field. Manziel did neither and because of that he lost his teammates trust.
Are you surprised by Joe Thomas’ comments about Johnny Manziel?