5 days ago
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Cleveland Browns star offensive lineman got emotional during his final press conference. Joel Bitonio, the longest-tenured Browns player, got red-eyed discussing his career with the media.
Emotions were already high in Berea after the team fired longtime head coach Kevin Stefanski earlier in the morning. Bitonio finished his 12th season with the Browns. It was a rough season as the Browns threw in the towel by October. The franchise left guard has flirted with retirement over the past couple of years. After his post-season press conference, it felt inevitable.
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The intelligent lineman was raw as he reminisced over his career. He told reporters that he was soaking in the pre- and post-game moments during the final month. Bitonio didn’t answer when asked about his retirement, saying he was considering it. He said he wanted to know how his body felt after the season. Bitonio also noted the Head Coach search will likely influence his decision. However, in the final moments of the interview, Bitonio let his guard down. Reporters asked him how he’d look back at his career. Bitonio stammered an answer before croaking, “You try to help the team win every day. That’s what I did.”
Hopefully, the Browns can retain Bitonio. He’s been a fixture of the organization. He’s carried the torch Joe Thomas handed to him. He’s led a top offensive line group. Bitonio has been a perfect representative of the team and city. His leadership is irreplaceable. The Browns have the worst offensive line unit in the NFL. They can’t afford to lose their best player to retirement.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns OG Joel Bitonio gets misty eyed when discussing retirement
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