Cleveland's Mr. Reliable hasn't shown any signs of letting up, and that was made clear in his new spot in NFL Network's "Top 100 players of 2016" rankings.
Browns left tackle Joe Thomas moved up two spots from his place on last year's list to No. 23. The Browns' longest-tenured active player hasn't missed a snap (8,959 and counting) or Pro Bowl in his nine seasons with the team.
"He's always been to the Pro Bowl because he's that dominant of a player." Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap said in NFL Network's video feature for Thomas.
This past season, Thomas joined an exclusive class of seven Pro Football Hall of Famers as the only players to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first nine seasons. After his eighth nomination in 2014, he became the first offensive lineman in NFL history to accomplish the feat.
"He is a born leader, a true leader," Browns tight end Gary Barnidge said. "He's going to tell you what you did wrong and help you because he wants to win."
The respect for Thomas was clear in NFL Network's feature. Numerous players not only praised his on-field skills, but also his affability and high character.
"Joe's probably in a press conference saying, 'Oh, you know great job today, guys.' He's a super nice guy," Patriots defensive end Chris Long said. "You watch him play and it's kind of boring to be honest. It's like watching a defensive back over there in man coverage and everyone else is in zone. 'I've got this guy and you guys go play 10-on-10 over there.'"
Thomas is the second Browns player to crack the top 100. Barnidge was ranked No. 94, marking his first-ever inclusion on the list.
