Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Domato Peko gets away with a late hit on Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas and then apologizes to the All-Pro shortly afterwards.
In last night’s Thursday Night Football matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns, Bengals defensive end Domato Peko committed an unnecessary, late hit on Cleveland Browns All-Pro offensive tackle Joe Thomas on a simple designed run to the right. Peko acknowledged the error in his judgement and went out of his way to apologize for his cheap shot on Thomas. Thomas handled it very well, sounding like he belonged on the set of Fargo.
Even in one of the most historically hostile rivalries in the NFL, it is wonderful to see a level of civility where one player admits a wrong committed to an adversary and the apology is graciously accepted. Joe Thomas is one of the best left tackles in football and has been that for over a decade now. Even playing for a perennial loser in the Cleveland Browns his whole career, he still accepted Peko’s apology with class.
It wouldn’t have been easy for Thomas to shout expletives at Peko, since the Browns’ arch rival Bengals continue with their winning ways in 2015. The Cincinnati Bengals moved to 8-0 with their 31-10 home victory over the Cleveland Browns.
What made this apology from Peko so interesting is that Joe Thomas was mic’d up in this Thursday Night Football matchup and the NFL Network caught it during a timeout. The NFL has plenty of players that are built on class, but people tend to forget that in the midst of football’s violent perception.
In a time where it’s harder to respect The Shield than ever before under commissioner Roger Goodell, it was a pleasant surprise to see humility exhibited in a major rivalry game. You stay classy, Domato Peko and Joe Thomas!