Clarification on why Thomas remains with the team

[Patspsycho]

Explained here:

Why Thomas remains a Patriot - Extra Points - Boston.com

I don't know what the facts are, but if he is no longer welcome, why would he still be accessing the facilities? Understood they can't cut him, but why still have him around as a disruptive influence? I wonder if this has something to do with the union.

 

[JSn]

I think they could boot him off the premises as "Conduct Detrimental" and if they lose the inevitable arbitration, they just have to pay him anyway. And in that case, they might even score a roster exemption.

 

[pats1]

Nothing ground-breaking there, just everything we've been talking about.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

I think you'll see BB boot him permanently on Monday. IMO BB was looking to avoid heavy duty distractions this weekend after the nonsense on Wednesday and Thursday. Sit him today and throw him out tomorrow.

 

[patsfan-1982]

ya it's a union thing rember a few years ago when the titans would not let steve mcnair around the team befor they traded him to the ravens


the union made so that all player most be able to work with the team

 

[Rob0729]

I guarantee you that when the Pats are done with the season, there will be a guard waiting for him at the front gate with a box with his personal effects telling him that his services are no longer needed. If the Pats season ends with a home game, they may make him get changed in the parking lot.

Thomas being cut will be the first thing the Pats do in the next football yhear. Either there will be no cap and his dead money is irrelevant or there will be a new CBA and they will spread the $8.8 million over two years.

 

[Va_Pats_Fan]

I think you'll see BB boot him permanently on Monday. IMO BB was looking to avoid heavy duty distractions this weekend after the nonsense on Wednesday and Thursday. Sit him today and throw him out tomorrow.

where does the cap room come from?

 

[patsox23]

This is directed not at the OP, but at the Globe website: Why on Earth are you treating this as breaking news or savvy analysis? Are AD's cap-number implications not COMPLETELY obvious? I mean, if you're going to post this - especially after that exact topic has gotten PLENTY of discussion in multiple sites, forums, sportstalk shows, blogs, etc... - why not also "break" some news with "The Patriots Have a UDFA rookie QB backing up Brady" and "Why Joey Galloway Should be Considered an Unsuccessful Personnel Move" - Good God.

 

[Rob0729]

I think you'll see BB boot him permanently on Monday. IMO BB was looking to avoid heavy duty distractions this weekend after the nonsense on Wednesday and Thursday. Sit him today and throw him out tomorrow.

He can try to suspend him for conduct detrimental to the team, but he cannot cut him because of the cap. The problem is whether the Pats wouls win a grievance based on what Thomas has said and done.

 

[Patspsycho]

Nothing ground-breaking there, just everything we've been talking about.

I used that as a context to ask the question of what do the Patriots do with him now that he is no longer part of the team. Even though they can't cut him, there must be a way to avoid having him around as a negative influence without inciting a clash with the union.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I think the cap ramifications have been covered here extensively even if a couple of posters are in denial about that.

As for sending him home, I believe the current CBA precludes that. You can't preclude a player under contract from accessing the facility because it impacts his ability to play and potentially earn contract compensation going forward. I think that was what Tennessee was ultimately told when they tried to lock McNair out prior to trading him. And I think Philly dealt with a similar situation with TO and had to suspend him and there are limits and criteria involved. You can't just send a guy home and tell him to stay there even with pay. Have to suspend him and open up the team to the grievance procedure.

 

[jmt57]

I'm trying to remember and compare to the Terry Glenn situation in 2001, or the Keyshawn Johnson situation with Tampa Bay a few years ago. I thought there was a certain point late in the season where the team could just pay the player, tell him he's going to be inactive the rest of the way, and clear out his locker. Then again, that was before the McNair case, so that may no longer be applicable.

 

[CrazyDave]

I'm guessing that people smarter than us are working these things out even as we speak.
Can you say "Team of legal experts"?

 

[PatriotsInGA]

ESPN's saying that he has overstayed his welcome the most out of any players in the league. So what does this mean? Thomas is obviously staying....

 

[RhodyPatriot]

I don't think BB will cut him outright. Never did! BB will deactivate him from the team and allow him access to the facilities when the team is not there. There are ways to surgically remove this tumor from this team and still stay within the rules. AD will be more than welcome to use the facilities at Gillette, just not when the rest of the team is there.

 

[alamo]

I'm trying to remember and compare to the Terry Glenn situation in 2001, or the Keyshawn Johnson situation with Tampa Bay a few years ago. I thought there was a certain point late in the season where the team could just pay the player, tell him he's going to be inactive the rest of the way, and clear out his locker. Then again, that was before the McNair case, so that may no longer be applicable.

Those cases were superceded after TO's problems in Philadelphia. As a result of TO the union got language put into the 2006 CBA extension which prohibits just sending the player home. Can't do that anymore without suspending for cause.

 

[WhiZa]

But if you never play him, does it really matter? Cut him now and get him out of the locker room. I would hate for them to never play him and keep that negativity there. Even if you play him does he even try that hard knowing that he's going to be cut? I'm not saying he'll give up, but instead of giving 110% like we need all players to be doing, he'd just be going through the motions.

 

[muzz]

I just hope they do whatever is legal to keep him away from the rest of the team.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

But if you never play him, does it really matter? Cut him now and get him out of the locker room. I would hate for them to never play him and keep that negativity there. Even if you play him does he even try that hard knowing that he's going to be cut? I'm not saying he'll give up, but instead of giving 110% like we need all players to be doing, he'd just be going through the motions.

Did you read the article or any of the 100 threads the past week? He cant be cut because theyt would take an 8.8 mil cap hit and we dont have the room. Im sure BB is keeping his influence from negatively affecting the team.

 

[SoCal Pmen]

Thomas may be the first ex-Patriot player to bad mouth BB if and when he gets released. I can't recall of any other with the exception of Cobbs who was a basic nobody.