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![Former Browns offensive lineman Joe Thomas speaks at his retirement announcement on March 19, 2018, at Browns headquarters in Berea, Ohio. Thomas said the Browns used the words of the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster as added motivation in their AFC wild-card playoff win over the Steelers. [John Kuntz/The Plain Dealer via AP file]](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2021/01/12/NABJ/65f459f1-6ff7-4e97-91bf-10de1e843350-94389898-5702-4581-8D94-6.JPG?width=660&height=480&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
In the event you’re searching for somebody who’s keen to downplay the importance of the Browns utilizing bulletin-board materials equipped by the Pittsburgh Steelers, legendary left sort out Joe Thomas is not the person for the job.
Thomas believes the feedback Steelers huge receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster made final week fueled the Browns in Sunday night’s 48-37 AFC wild-card playoff win at Heinz Discipline.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield, defensive finish Myles Garrett, operating again Kareem Hunt and receiver Jarvis Landry are among the many gamers who’ve made it recognized they took be aware of Smith-Schuster’s “the Browns is the Browns” take.
Thomas stated he is not in the slightest degree shocked it turned a rallying cry for his former workforce.
“Teaching 101 is discovering methods to encourage your workforce,” Thomas stated Monday in a cellphone interview with the Beacon Journal. “Not that you simply actually essentially want it in a playoff recreation, however these are a bunch of execs, and when any individual on the opposite aspect says one thing as offensive as what JuJu was saying concerning the Browns, saying this is identical outdated Browns basically and that we’re completely happy to be enjoying them and so they’ve bought a pair good gamers, any participant in any sport can be extremely offended by these phrases.
“Let’s be sincere, the Browns have been actually dangerous for a very long time, and the mantra was that they could make a pair good performs, however ultimately they are going to blow it, and there is going to be a degree within the recreation the place they are going to screw it up principally. And that is principally what he was saying — like, ‘They’re nonetheless the identical outdated Browns. They’re nonetheless the identical outdated workforce that went 1-31.’ These guys clearly took offense to it identical to I did.”
Even after the Browns (12-5) earned the fitting to advance to a divisional-round showdown with the defending Tremendous Bowl champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (14-2) at 3:05 p.m. Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium, the Steelers stored speaking.
Steelers rookie receiver Chase Claypool stated Monday on a TikTok reside video, “Unhealthy loss, however the Browns are going to get clapped subsequent week, so it’s all good.’’
Browns veteran defensive finish Adrian Clayborn responded to Claypool’s remarks by tweeting, “Simply go on trip already younger fella.”
Chiefs receiver Sammy Watkins should not have realized how Smith-Schuster’s feedback bought the Browns fired up. Throughout Sunday evening’s recreation, Watkins tweeted concerning the Browns’ scoring outburst reminding him of a online game. When a fan replied by writing it seemed as if the Chiefs would have competitors subsequent week from the Browns, Watkins tweeted, “I wouldn’t go that far lol..!”
Extra:Browns were galvanized by COVID-19 crisis, bulletin-board material: Nate Ulrich’s Takeaways
Instantly after the Steelers misplaced, Smith-Schuster stated he did not remorse what he stated within the buildup to the sport, and Claypool defended the feedback the following day on TikTok.
“We nonetheless need to play them with the identical stage of respect whether or not they’re 0-16 or they’re 16-0. He was saying that the Browns are nonetheless the Browns,” Claypool stated. “There’s nothing totally different about them. We nonetheless play them. That is why he stated anonymous grey faces. It is as a result of it does not matter who they’re. You must play them the identical. That is why I do not mess with the media as a result of if anybody in right here really listened to his interview, it was a great interview reply.”
To recap, that is what Smith-Schuster stated Jan. 6 when he was requested if this Browns workforce has a extra profitable vibe than ones he has confronted prior to now:
“Nah, I believe they’re nonetheless the identical Browns workforce I play yearly,” Smith-Schuster stated. “I believe they’re anonymous grey faces. Sure, they’ve a pair good gamers on their workforce, however on the finish of the day, I don’t know. The Browns is the Browns. That’s identical to a type of issues. AFC North soccer. They’re a great workforce. However I’m simply completely happy we’re enjoying them once more.”
An NFL Community analyst who retired after the 2017 season as a 10-time Professional Bowl choice, Thomas is not shopping for the protection of Smith-Schuster’s phrases.
“There have been some those that stated it was the anonymous grey faces remark that was offensive,” Thomas stated. “Effectively, probably not. That is a cliché saying that soccer coaches within the NFL have been saying since earlier than I bought there. That is one thing that almost each coach I’ve had has talked about that opponent. ‘We do not care who they’re. We simply need to watch the movie and fear about us.’ Stuff like that. However when he took it to the following step and stated, ‘They’re the identical outdated Browns. They have a pair good gamers. We’re completely happy to be enjoying them’ — that is offensive. I do not care who you might be.”
Many Browns gamers mocked Smith-Schuster’s well-known TikTok dance strikes throughout and after the workforce’s first postseason victory over the Steelers. In his postgame interview, Garrett stated the receiver’s feedback had been “disrespectful” and “we undoubtedly didn’t recognize it.”
Showing Tuesday on The Pat McAfee Present, Landry stated, “I do not assume [what Smith-Schuster said] was one thing that everyone [on the Browns] talked about, however I do know that everyone noticed it and felt some sort of means about. You did not have to say on recreation day, ‘Hey, they’re speaking s*** over there,’ or, ‘He is saying s***.’ It was identical to a type of issues that was understood, and we knew what we needed to do.”
Extra:Browns’ Super Bowl belief fueled by fans’ 3 a.m. airport welcome
Thomas had been anxious about Smith-Schuster and Claypool for one more motive.
The Browns confronted the AFC North champion Steelers (12-5) with out two of their high three cornerbacks: Denzel Ward and Kevin Johnson.
They had been out because of COVID-19 together with coach Kevin Stefanski, three-time Professional Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio, receiver KhaDarel Hodge and 4 assistant coaches.
Thomas thought Alex Van Pelt can be well-equipped to name the performs rather than Stefanski as a result of the 2 had a number of days to plan. And Thomas believed Mayfield may compensate for the lack of Bitonio with a fast passing recreation.
However Thomas feared Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and his receivers would feast on a depleted Browns secondary every week after backup QB Mason Rudolph discovered success within the deep passing recreation with Roethlisberger resting through the regular-season finale in Cleveland.
Thomas is glad he picked the Browns to win regardless of his issues.
“Actually, the one means they might overcome that [matchup between the receivers and the secondary] is with a bunch of turnovers, which is what they bought,” Thomas stated. “In order that they bought actually lucky, and so they made me sound good, however I am undecided if you happen to play that recreation once more, if you happen to can win with out these turnovers.”
The Browns gained the turnover battle 5-0. Three of them got here within the first 4 Steelers possessions, and the Browns set an NFL playoff file with 28 factors within the opening quarter.
“The best way that the Browns jumped out to that early [28-0] lead in the beginning, it put me from a place of feeling comfy and relaxed — like I used to be enjoying with home cash, like no matter occurred, occurred — to abruptly like don’t-screw-this-up mode,” Thomas stated. “Once I bought to that don’t-screw-this-up mode, it was much more mentally exhausting.”
Extra:Kevin Stefanski has mild COVID-19 symptoms, expects to rejoin Browns in person Thursday
Thomas is thrilled the Browns delivered their first playoff victory since Jan. 1, 1995, to the long-suffering followers he loves.
“For the workforce to lastly be returning the favor of this loyal fan base, I believe it is an ideal time,” he stated. “That is one thing I even talked about on the finish of my profession with administration. Like, ‘Guys, we higher begin successful as a result of we’re shedding a complete technology of Browns followers.’ In the event you had been below 30, you did not even keep in mind a glory day. There was no such factor as, ‘Oh, keep in mind when the Browns had been nice? Yeah, that is why I need to nonetheless be a fan.’ You had nothing to cling on to.
“In the event you had been over 30, you had the ’80s, Bernie [Kosar] and people guys, and you could possibly discuss them in a nostalgic method. However if you happen to had been below 30, you did not have that. So it is arduous to maintain a fan base alive if you haven’t any of these nice instances to recollect and all you may keep in mind is the agony and the way dad was all pissed off each Sunday ‘trigger the Browns misplaced. So I believe simply the timing of this has been so superior.”
Nate Ulrich might be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com.
AFC Playoffs
Browns at Chiefs
Time: 3:05 p.m. Sunday
TV: CBS (Channel 19)
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