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.
Most of your favorite celebrities either studied acting in college or went straight from high school into a life of the arts. But, hey, not all of them. Some celebrities actually have advanced college degrees.
Turns out Mayim Bialik is just as much of a genius as the one she plays on The Big Bang Theory. She earned her Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of California, Los Angeles, focusing on obsessive compulsive disorder among people with Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare condition in which the hypothalamus malfunctions.
Little known fact: Natalie Portman skipped the premiere of Star Wars: Phantom Menace because she was studying for her high school exams. She had two papers published in scientific journals while she was still in high school, and graduated from Harvard University with a B.A. in Psychology.
Before he was looking for answers on X-Files, David Duchovny was just trying to find the answers for English finals at Princeton University90. David graduated from Princeton in 1982 with a B.A in English. He continued to feed his love of literature by receiving a master’s degree in English Literature at Yale University. David was an excellent writer and poet. His work consistently received praise by his fellow classmates and teachers at Yale. His writing was even nominated for a college prize by the Academy of American Poets.
Sigourney Weaver graduated from Stanford University in 1971 with a bachelor’s in Literature. It was while studying at Stanford that Sigourney realized her true passion in life was to become an actress. Shortly after graduation, she attended Yale for their well-known drama program. She would go on to receive a master’s in Acting from Yale University and become friends with fellow famous actress Meryl Streep.
Meryl Streep is considered one of the most successful actresses of all time. She is also one of the most highly educated. Before collecting an array of Oscars, Meryl collected diplomas. She graduated from Vassar College with a B.A. in 1971. Meryl has a habit of being unsatisfied with impressive accomplishments as her acting career has shown, so she attended Yale University and earned a master’s degree in Acting.