Joe Thomas Blew Up The Myles Garrett Trade Debate and Cleveland Fans Are Already Fuming

Alright, 12s, gather 'round, because even when it's not our Hawks making headlines, some news just makes you stop scrolling. This one dropped like a bomb earlier this month, and now Joe Thomas, the legendary offensive lineman, has weighed in with a take so spicy it's got Cleveland fans seeing red. We're talking about the blockbuster trade that sent Myles Garrett, a legit superstar, packing from the Browns to the Rams.

The Shocking Swap and the Legend's Surprising Spin

Myles Garrett, man, what a force. This guy was the heart and soul of that Cleveland defense for eight whole years. Think about it: Thomas and Garrett were only teammates for Garrett's rookie year back in 2017 before Thomas hung up his cleats after a stellar career. After that, Garrett became THE guy, the undisputed best player on their roster for almost a decade. So when the news broke that the Browns traded him to the Rams, yeah, it definitely caught a lot of people by surprise. You know that feeling when you hear something that just doesn't compute?

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But here's where it gets wild: Joe Thomas, the guy who knows that organization inside and out, revealed on SiriusXM NFL Radio that he actually saw this coming. He said he "knew there was always going to be a chance that the Browns would trade Myles," because of "the situation they’re in and the valuable asset they had." And then he dropped the ultimate hot take: Thomas believes trading Myles Garrett "was the right decision, even though it hurts." Right decision? Even for a guy who was their cornerstone?

Why It Hurts, and Why Thomas "Gets" It

Thomas isn't blind to the pain, though. He totally gets why it's "tough" for Cleveland fans. For so many seasons, when things were rough, Garrett was "the one thing we got to cheer for, right?" Last year, even when they were "out of the playoff hunt for a long time," Garrett gave them "reason to be proud." Remember him "chasing that sack record, and to finally get it"? That was pure pride for their fanbase. Thomas even acknowledged Garrett's "commitment that he had on the field to his team."

So, how can he say it was the "right decision" then? Thomas understood the move, especially since the Browns snagged Jared Verse as part of the trade package. It was a business decision, a cold calculation about a "valuable asset" and their "situation." It's hard to hear, but that's the NFL for you. Sometimes, even when it tears at the fabric of a fanbase, teams make moves they believe are best for the long haul.

This kind of shake-up, even in another city, just hits different. It makes you think about the value of your own stars, and how brutal the business side of the game can be. Our 12s know that feeling, right? While we're hyped watching Sam Darnold connect with Jaxon Smith-Njigba out there, this whole Myles Garrett saga is a stark reminder of how quickly things can change. We'll be watching to see how this plays out for the Rams and Browns, knowing our Hawks are always the real deal here in the Emerald City.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.