Joe Thomas has entered the chat room.
A day after Baker Mayfield lashed out at his former Cleveland Browns coach and new NFC South rival Kevin Stefanski, Thomas also weighed in. He’s from Team Stefanski.
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Thomas, an eight-time All-Pro and 10-time Pro Bowl selection and former left tackle for the Browns, posted the news on social media on Wednesday:
“I could be wrong,” Thomas wrote. “But I’m told communication goes both ways and there’s no law prohibiting you (Baker) from texting or calling Stefanski after being traded.”
In case you missed it, Thomas’ tweet was in response to Mayfield’s throw to Stefanski in left field on Tuesday.
Why is Baker angry?
Stefanski was recently named head coach of the Atlanta Falcons after six seasons as Cleveland’s head coach.
On Tuesday, Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer D. Orlando Ledbetter wrote a story about Stefanski and tweeted that “Stefanski is a dumpster fire at QB in Cleveland” and that Mayfield has “failed” as the Browns’ starting quarterback.
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Mayfield wasn’t happy about that. He used the opportunity to bring up old memories with Stefanks, whom he now faces twice each season as quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
“Failure is a meaningful friend,” Mayfield wrote in response to Ledbetter. “Still waiting for his text/call after I was sent away like trash. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, coach.”
“Pal” in this case is Ledbetter. The “coach” is Stefanski. Mayfield clearly remains dynamic during his tenure with the Browns.
To be clear, Stefanski didn’t say or do anything to anger Mayfield. At least not recently, and not publicly. But Ledbetter’s comments opened old wounds for Mayfield, who is unhappy with his time in Cleveland ending in 2022, four seasons after the Browns drafted him No. 1 overall.
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Now, there’s no shortage of excitement in the NFC South, and more battles are on the way.
Essentially, this is lingering brown beef. Thomas is a member of the Brown family.
Thomas spent his entire 11-season NFL career with the Browns and retired after the 2017 season. He didn’t play with Mayfield (a 2018 draft pick) or under Stefanski, who is in his first year coaching the Browns in 2020.
But before Myles Garrett, Thomas was undoubtedly the best player in modern Browns history since the Browns returned to the league in 1999. His voice was influential in Cleveland.
As for moving forward, this will certainly be revisited next season when the Buccaneers and Falcons play for the first time — if not sooner.
