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Browns icon details how team broke him: 'I'm kinda fooling myself'

Hall of Fame offensive tackle Joe Thomas recently reflected on his difficult playing days in Cleveland, confessing that the franchise's pervasive losing eventually broke him emotionally. Among his memories was a crushing 33-13 home defeat against the New England Patriots back in 2016 that left him in tears, prompting a modern-day apology from former opponent Julian Edelman.

The retired lineman also recalled an ambitious past effort by Peyton Manning to recruit him away from the struggling organization.

The long-standing woes of the franchise resurfaced following Cleveland's 34-10 season-opening blowout defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin publicly derided the Browns over the lopsided Week 1 showing, highlighting quarterback Deshaun Watson's struggles.

In response, Cleveland head coach Todd Monken openly disputed Tomlin's mockery, rejecting the notion that the setback was merely typical franchise dysfunction.