NFL Notes: Browns, Eagles, Rams & Vikings

Browns

Browns LT Joe Thomas explained that he wants to be back of the turnaround in Cleveland, despite his name coming up in trade rumors the past two years.

“I’m a Clevelander,” Thomas told Elizabeth Merrill of ESPN The Magazine. “I’ve spent the majority of my adult life here. Every day when I come to work, it’s ‘Let’s turn this team into a consistent winner.’ Because it would be such a special story. It would be like when the Cubs won the World Series. Everybody in the country has probably been cheering for them for so long because they’ve been suffering for so long. And you want to cheer for teams like the Browns.”

While Thomas could join a true contender and pursue a Super Bowl title, he says he’d prefer to do it in Cleveland.

“It’s so important for me to be here for the turnaround,” Thomas said. “I don’t want to just get a Super Bowl ring [by] being traded to a dream team. It would feel unsatisfying. Unfulfilling.”

Eagles

• Eagles HC Doug Pederson told reporters on Wednesday that he expects both WR Jordan Matthews and RB Ryan Mathews to play in Sunday’s game. (Jeff McLane)

Rams

Rams HC Jeff Fisher had another interesting comment on Tuesday, this time claiming he has no idea that GM Les Snead was also signed to an extension.

“I’m so busy here, I was honestly unaware that he was extended. I’m being honest with you,” Fisher said, per Aldon Gonzalez. “We’re just working here.”

Fisher also appeared to call out Snead for some personnel decisions.

“I look at this as being my responsibility, the win-loss record,” Fisher said. “We need to do a better job from a personnel standpoint. We’ve had some unfortunate things take place with some high picks in Steadman Bailey and Tre Mason and those kind of things you don’t anticipate. But we’re moving forward.”

Vikings

Vikings HC Mike Zimmer mentioned Tuesday during an interview with KFXN that he has “no idea” if RB Adrian Peterson plans to return this year.

“I have no idea,’’ Zimmer said, via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer-Press. “I don’t know if he’s coming back or if he’s thinking about coming back.’’