Cleveland Browns Offensive Guard Joel Bitonio Announces Retirement
克里夫蘭布朗隊進攻後衛 Joel Bitonio 宣佈退休
Introduction
Joel Bitonio has announced his retirement from the National Football League after playing twelve seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
Joel Bitonio 在克里夫蘭布朗隊效力十二個賽季後，宣佈從國家美式足球聯盟 (NFL) 退休。
Main Body
Bitonio's professional career began when he was selected 35th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. Over the next twelve seasons, he started 178 games, which is the highest number for any player since the team moved back to Cleveland in 1999. His success is highlighted by seven Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro awards. Furthermore, his career earnings exceeded $107 million, setting a record for the left guard position.
Bitonio 的職業生涯始於 2014 年 NFL 選秀會被選在第 35 順位。在接下來的十二個賽季中，他共首發 178 場比賽，這是自 1999 年球隊遷回克里夫蘭以來，所有球員中的最高紀錄。他的成就包括七次入選 Pro Bowl 及兩次獲得第一隊 All-Pro 獎項。此外，他的職業生涯總收入超過 1.07 億美元，創下左後衛 (left guard) 的紀錄。
Loyalty to the team was a major factor in Bitonio's decision to retire. In an official statement, he emphasized his commitment to the Cleveland franchise and stated that he never seriously considered playing for another team. Although he did not win a Super Bowl, his performance remained strong; in 2025, he ranked third among guards in pass block win rate. He decided to retire in March after becoming a free agent and discussing his future with General Manager Andrew Berry.
對球隊的忠誠是 Bitonio 決定退休的主要因素。在官方聲明中，他強調對克里夫蘭球隊的承諾，並表示他從未認真考慮過效力於其他球隊。雖然他未曾贏得超級碗，但其表現依然強勁；2025 年，他的傳球封堵勝率在後衛中排名第三。他在成為自由球員並與總經理 Andrew Berry 討論未來後，決定於三月退休。
At the same time, the Cleveland Browns have started to reorganize their offensive line under head coach Todd Monken. This strategy included trading for right tackle Tytus Howard, signing linemen Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins, and keeping Teven Jenkins. Additionally, the team used the ninth overall pick in the 2026 draft to select left tackle Spencer Fano to fill the gap left by Bitonio's departure.
與此同時，克里夫蘭布朗隊在總教練 Todd Monken 的領導下開始重組進攻線。此策略包括交易獲得右截鋒 Tytus Howard，簽下線鋒 Zion Johnson 與 Elgton Jenkins，並留任 Teven Jenkins。此外，球隊在 2026 年選秀會使用第九個整體選秀權選擇左截鋒 Spencer Fano，以填補 Bitonio 離隊後留下的空缺。
Conclusion
Bitonio has ended his professional career in Cleveland, leaving the team to integrate new players into their offensive line.
Bitonio 在克里夫蘭結束了他的職業生涯，由球隊將新球員整合至進攻線中。
Vocabulary Learning
The Power of 'Connecting Words'
At the A2 level, you likely use simple words like and, but, and because. To move toward B2, you need Transition Signals. These are words that act like bridges between your ideas, making your English sound professional and fluid rather than robotic.
⚡ From A2 to B2: The Upgrade
Look at how the article connects ideas. Instead of saying "and," it uses more sophisticated alternatives:
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"Furthermore" (Upgrade from And/Also). Use this when you want to add a strong, extra point to your argument.
- Example: "The car is fast. Furthermore, it is very safe."
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"Although" (Upgrade from But). This introduces a contrast. It tells the reader that despite one fact, something else is still true.
- Example: "Although it was raining, we went for a walk."
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"Additionally" (Upgrade from And). This is perfect for lists of actions or facts in a formal way.
- Example: "I need to buy bread. Additionally, I need milk."
🔍 Spotting the Logic
In the text, the author uses these words to build a story of a career:
- Furthermore introduces his earnings after talking about his awards (adding success to success).
- Although contrasts his lack of a Super Bowl win with his high skill level (balancing a negative with a positive).
- Additionally connects the different players the team signed (listing a strategy).
Pro Tip: If you start a sentence with Furthermore or Additionally, always put a comma immediately after it. This is a hallmark of B2 writing.