![\"Joe](\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/8f\/4by3\/2022\/11\/11\/8f92a59e5d0f4d66b522ffcbfbab4351_md.jpg\")
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Former Cleveland Browns star Joe Thomas<\/strong> just went scorched earth on <\/strong>Jim Irsay<\/strong> … blasting the Colts owner for hiring “drinking buddy” Jeff Saturday<\/strong> as Indy’s next head coach.<\/p>\n Thomas, who played 11 years in the league, didn’t hold back a thing while appearing on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” on Friday … calling the Saturday hire “the most egregious thing I can ever remember happening in the NFL.”<\/p>\n “It is one of the most disrespectful things I have ever seen in my entire life,” the ex-offensive lineman said.<\/p>\n Thomas’ main issue is Saturday’s experience. The former Colts center never coached at the NFL or collegiate level — and had been working as an ESPN analyst at the time of the hiring.<\/p>\n Thomas called it a complete slap to the face of all of the other coaches in the league who have worked tirelessly at their crafts for years.<\/p>\n Thomas then said Saturday’s introductory press conference earlier this week — one in which Irsay said he was actually glad Jeff didn’t have prior head coaching experience — was also disrespectful to those around the NFL.<\/p>\n “I was in France with my kids earlier in the week, but when I saw this, I thought it was a joke,” he said. “I thought maybe I had a little Google translate and all the sudden I’m in the wrong calendar and it’s April 1st or something going on.”<\/p>\n Thomas threw some shade Saturday’s way too … seemingly implying the 47-year-old should have simply rejected Irsay’s job offer.<\/p>\n Jeff will begin his tenure on Sunday — whether Thomas likes or it not — when the Colts take on the Raiders in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n![\"Colts](\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/4e\/1by1\/2022\/11\/07\/4e0fbfda2ac84f4e8c43e00104287905_xxs.png\")
<\/p>\n Colts Fire Frank Reich After 5 Seasons, Name Jeff Saturday Interim Head Coach <\/h4>\n