BEREA — In many respects, Joel Bitonio took the torch from legendary Browns offensive lineman Joe Thomas in 2018.

A 10-time Pro Bowl left tackle who became a Pro Football Hall of Famer , Thomas retired after the 2017 season. Bitonio then picked up the proverbial baton as the de facto spokesman for Cleveland’s locker room, ascended to a top leadership position and began a run of seven consecutive Pro Bowl nods as a Browns left guard.

Bitonio will soon begin his 12th NFL season, one more than Thomas played. And although Bitonio isn’t viewed as a surefire Hall of Famer the way Thomas was, Bitonio has a strong case to eventually join his close friend in Canton.

When the Browns host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7 in the regular-season opener at Huntington Bank Field, it could

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