Sunday, December 18, 2016
Associated Press
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.
The one thing Joe Thomas hasn’t lost so far during the Browns’ winless start is his sense of humor.
Mention snow Buffalo’s forecast this weekend, and Cleveland’s tackle said: “The ski slopes are happy.”
Bring up the Browns being in danger of going 0-16, and Thomas didn’t miss a beat.
“Well, we wouldn’t be the first team,” he said with a distinct laugh.
In 2008, the Detroit Lions were the first — and so far only — NFL team to not win during a 16-game season. The Browns (0-13), who play at the Bills (6-7) today, are in contention to double the list of futility.
The best way Thomas knows how to deal with avoiding that possibility is preparing as diligently as he can and leaning on humor as a coping mechanism.
“Definitely this season you have to cope with the difficulties of not winning a game,” the 10th-year veteran said. “It could be overwhelming when you think of a whole season at one time and trying to avoid being 0-16.”
The Browns are running out of opportunities.
What’s worse is Cleveland has actually lost 16 in a row, dating to a 24-10 win against San Francisco on Dec. 13. Yes, the Browns haven’t won in a calendar year.
This year’s struggles are the result of yet another top-to-bottom upheaval, this time under Hue Jackson, their fourth coach since owner Jimmy Haslam took over in October 2012.
Difficult as it might be to accept in the short term, Thomas supports what the Browns are doing by attempting to stockpile draft picks and build through youth. The key, he said, is sticking with a commitment to establish a semblance of continuity under Jackson.
“Part of the reason we haven’t been able to turn it around is instability leads to poor performance,” Thomas said. “But that’s why I’m so optimistic in our future because I think Jimmy Haslam has finally committed to this organization, this management team and coaching staff.”
The Bills are no strangers to revolving doors at coach, general manager and quarterback. It’s a key reason behind why they’re in jeopardy of extending the NFL’s longest active playoff drought to 17 years.