Consistency and reliability get you the big bucks in the NFL and if you want to see living proof of that, look no further than offensive tackle, Joe Thomas. Thomas began his sports career playing many positions on the football field throughout high school including defensive end, tight end, fullback, right tackle, and even punter. After receiving praise for performance in sports and as a four-year honor roll academic, Thomas took his talents to the University of Wisconsin where he played from 2003-2006. Again, during his four-season tenure at Wisconsin, Thomas played multiple positions including blocking tight end, left tackle, and defensive end. By the time he got to his senior year, he was named one of the offensive team captain.
In the 2007 NFL Draft, Joe Thomas was selected 3rd overall by the Cleveland Browns where he played his entire eleven-season career. The first ten seasons of his career, Thomas was invited to the Pro Bowl every year. He also didn't miss a single down within that time frame as well making his 10,363 consecutive snaps played the longest streak in NFL history since the league started recording snaps in 1999. With durability like that the Browns offered Thomas a seven-year extension worth $80.5 million in 2011. In 2017, he signed an additional contract worth $26.5 million for two years of service. However, a torn tricep ended his career that same year leaving him with $122.9 million in earnings total. We're sure he's ok. Matter of fact, Google him right now. You might not recognize him at all.
Chefs made their way into celebrity land a while ago. But how many celebrities that weren’t trained as professional cooks are actually whizzes in the kitchen? Here are several that come to mind.
Actress Julia Roberts is confident about her cooking skills. “I’m quite a good cook,” she told E! News. “I’m like a closet home ec teacher…I can really cook anything.” Roberts has said she often cooks fish for herself and her kids. And speaking of her three children, “They think that I’m a good cook,” Roberts told People. “They actually told me that I should open a restaurant.” She also relishes cooking for the holidays, particularly shredded Brussel sprouts. Roberts hasn’t published a cookbook, but we did find recipes attributed to her for peach crisp and banana hemp muffins. Or you can make the same summer salad the actress supposedly eats.
Chrissy Teigen started off as a supermodel. Then her love of cooking filtered into her professional life too. At this point, she’s created recipes for a limited Blue Apron release and also just launched her own home and cooking line at Target named “Cravings,” after the two cookbooks she’s released. Teigen describes cooking as “a time of peace” for herself. So maybe peace out to her tuna melt sandwich or the fried chicken wings that are a favorite of her husband, John Legend.
Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, comes from a cooking Italian family. Her father started his own restaurant in New York and also published a cookbook. And apparently, Lady Gaga has inherited the family’s cooking genes. Her Instagram account occasionally features photos of her culinary activities. Sure, sometimes it’s topless cooking. But other times it’s more poignant like in the post she shared about her bringing food to the family of her dear friend who passed away. Want to try a Gaga/Germanotta family favorite? Check out her recipe for whole wheat pasta with a sweet fennel sauce.