Cleveland Browns

Report: Joe Thomas asked Browns to explore trade

Published Nov. 8, 2015 9:49 a.m. ET

foxsports

By Steve DelVecchio

When the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos were unable to work out a trade for Joe Thomas before Tuesday’s deadline, the Pro Bowl offensive lineman made it seem like he could not have been more relieved.

Was he telling the truth?

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Thomas asked the Browns to shop around and see if there were any opportunities to trade him. The deal with Denver apparently fell apart because Thomas wanted more money.

And when Joe Thomas learned he was nearly traded to #Broncos, his agents smartly asked for guaranteed $ in ’16 and ’17 to remain in Denver.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 8, 2015

That certainly gives you a different perspective than the one Thomas himself provided earlier this week. Although, Thomas’ agent was furious over Rapoport’s report and said it is a total fabrication.

If Thomas did want to be traded, you can’t blame him. The 30-year-old is one of the better tackles in the league, and the Browns have done nothing but lose since they drafted him with the third overall pick in 2007. Having said that, it’s now hard to believe that Thomas would have been as “crushed” as he says if Cleveland dealt him.

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