Cleveland Browns

Joe Thomas clarifies his reason for crying after the Browns' first win

Published Dec. 27, 2016 8:59 a.m. ET

Brett Smiley

Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas is a consummate team player who has shown loyalty to an organization that has shown him very little winning in his 10 seasons with the team.

When the Browns finally, mercifully, broke through for their first win of the season Saturday in a 20-17 victory over the visiting Chargers, the perennial Pro Bowler Thomas flooded with emotion. Based on the timing of his tears and Browns head coach Hue Jackson's speech (watch below), it appeared that the victory and the relief of staving off an 0-16 season is what overcame Thomas.

https://twitter.com/Browns/status/812784856577019905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

But not so! Here is Thomas on Monday night explaining what was really going through his mind:

https://twitter.com/joethomas73/status/813566084695683072

Hang in there, big fella. It's unclear when Thomas read the book or saw the movie, but that's certainly a tough one to work through.

It's okay, Joe. Strong men also cry. Strong men also cry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqbGiwi1rNI