By Tony Grossi, The Plain Dealer
Joe Thomas has it going now.
The Browns' left tackle earned his fifth straight Pro Bowl berth on Tuesday. He was named a starter. No other Browns player made the regular roster.
"It's a tremendous honor any time you can get named to the Pro Bowl," Thomas said. "For me to represent the Cleveland Browns for a fifth time is kind of hard to believe. It never gets old." 
D'Qwell Jackson was named first alternate at inside linebacker and Josh Cribbs was second alternate at kick returner and third alternate as a special teamer.
Thomas is the first Browns player since Jim Brown to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first five seasons. Brown did it nine years in a row. The last to do it five or more times was Leroy Kelly from 1967 to 1972.
Thomas was the NFL's third overall draft pick in 2007. In that rookie year, Thomas started what has become kind of an obsession for him -- playing every offensive snap for the entire season. That streak has continued this year through 15 games.
"I try not to think about it too much," he said. "Crazy things can happen. But I do kind of pride myself in being a guy out there every play. As an offensive lineman, it's important for us to be out there, to be next to each other, every play and every game."
What's made Thomas' consecutive Pro Bowl streak more impressive is that the Browns have had terrible offensive teams and records since his rookie season. They were 10-6 in 2007, but the past four years have gone 4-12, 5-11, 5-11 and so far 4-11.
In August, Thomas, 27, signed a seven-year contract for a potential $84 million with $44 million guaranteed. At the time, Thomas was euphoric about the possibilities with a new coach on board, Pat Shurmur.
His optimism hasn't waned during one of the more difficult seasons of the team's expansion era.
"I see this thing heading in the right direction," Thomas said. "I see us developing young players. We're more competitive in every game. It's not going to be long when we're winning those 10-games plus on a consecutive basis."
Until that happens, other deserving players on the Browns will have to wait for Pro Bowl recognition. Thomas said he felt Jackson was deserving, along with center Alex Mack (who made it as an alternate last year) and defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin.
Jackson finished third in the fan vote and third overall among inside linebackers. He was named first alternate behind Baltimore's Ray Lewis and Kansas City's Derrick Jackson
Jackson wrote on his Twitter account: "I want to thank all the fans for their support voting me as 1st alternate behind Ray Lewis and Derrick Johnson. They are well deserving."
Jackson could have a higher honor awaiting him. He is a leading candidate to be named the NFL's comeback player of the year.
The drama over who made the Pro Bowl is actually more interesting than the game itself. It will be played Sunday, Jan. 29, in Honolulu.
No comments:
Post a Comment