Sweat soaked Joe Thomas's jersey, rolled down his face and dripped off his nose. After a two-hour practice in pads on one of the hottest days of the summer, the Browns' macho man needed to sit down in the shade, although he suggested it as a courtesy.
But nothing could dampen the three-time Pro Bowl left tackle's enthusiasm for his offensive line and his offense, even with another practice in Tuesday evening's humidity ahead.
''I think we're definitely ahead of where we were at this point last season,'' Thomas said of his unit. ''I think we're ahead of where we were at the end of last season right now.
''We had some new guys come in last year, some shuffling around going on, didn't really have a solid starting five until right before the season. Then we had a couple injuries. We really started to jell the second half of the year. I think we kind of picked up where we left off.''
The four-game winning streak to end last season did little to convince NFL analysts that the Browns will do more than flirt with mediocrity this season. Cleveland-bashing is in full throttle (see Edwards, Braylon) and its NFL franchise won't escape it. Need a bottom feeder for your power rankings? The Browns are your team.
But the fact that the Browns led the league in rushing offense with 900 yards during that winning streak convinced Thomas that something special was going on. Of that total, 570 came from running back Jerome Harrison, who broke Jim Brown's single-game mark with 286 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Talking to Thomas, no one could tell that he played on the league's worst offense in '09, even as the running game finished eighth.
''I'm very comfortable with where we are,'' he said. ''I think we know the offense better in our second year. We've got a couple new running backs. We've definitely got some good talent at quarterback and receiver and the tight ends. We feel like we can really do some damage on offense. I think things are looking very good for us.''
The Browns also did not give up a sack in two of their final three games and finished with 30 allowed, which tied for 10th in the league. Nine of the 30 came in the first two games against the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos, including four by the Broncos' Elvis Dumervil, who abused right tackle John St. Clair en route to an NFL-high 17.
''People didn't really appreciate Dumervil's ability at that point,'' Browns coach Eric Mangini said, including himself among that group. Mangini said the game plan should have included another layer of pass protection with a running back to chip Dumervil.
The Browns were also starting a rookie center, 21st overall pick Alex Mack, who needed time to learn to cope with all the demands of his position.
''That was kind of a tough role for him to work into, but by the end of the year he was really playing exceptional,'' Thomas said. ''Alex's confidence has grown immensely. You really saw that at the end of last year and I think it's really taken a jump in the offseason. He's become one of the leaders of the offensive line. I look for really big things from him.''
For the final five games in 2009, Floyd ''Pork Chop'' Womack had moved into the starting lineup, the first three of those at right guard, the latter two at right tackle. The lone piece of the line puzzle who didn't return this year was Rex Hadnot, who signed with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency.
Former Browns left tackle Doug Dieken, now the team's radio analyst, was impressed by Womack's finish at right tackle and said his athleticism made him an upgrade over those who have played that spot of late. Womack might have been spurred by the arrival of team President Mike Holmgren, who drafted him in 2001.
''I feel comfortable with Womack out there,'' Dieken said.
But in the Browns' big picture, the right side of the line — especially right guard — is as pesky as a horsefly on a hot day. Tony Pashos, a seven-year veteran signed in March, has been sidelined for much of training camp. First, Pashos came down with an illness, then he suffered a right shoulder injury, although Mangini expects him back soon. Shawn Lauvao, a third-round pick from Arizona State, has been working at right guard, but the highly intelligent rookie would still bring growing pains.
Left guard Eric Steinbach's massive contract also looms, especially if the new front office decides his deal (which calls for base salaries of $5.75 million, $6.25 million, $6 million and $6.25 million in 2010-2013) is a luxury the team can't afford.
Going into the preseason opener Saturday at Green Bay, Dieken worries that training camp isn't providing an accurate picture because the Browns linemen haven't faced an elite pass rusher with Shaun Rogers (broken leg in '09) still out. He also thinks Lauvao needs to help quickly.
Purists that they are, Cleveland fans long for the day when the offensive line is settled and they can worry about who's the Indians' starting second baseman and how to replace LeBron James. But Thomas already sees stability on the horizon.
''I hope we're in that day right now,'' he said. ''I hope this is the beginning of a good four- or five-year run with the group we've got.''
During a tumultuous 2009 season, Thomas asserted his leadership and was not afraid to criticize. His voice became the voice of reason. So while forecasters continue to predict doom, the beacon of hope Thomas provides couldn't come at a better time.
