Will Adalius Thomas be a Patriot six months from now?

[mayoclinic]

I checked and I did question AD's acquisition it at the time, though I remained optimistic. Not like I don't admit I'm wrong. I said TBC was a scum sucking rodent who would never be anything but a fill in at best. I've been doing the Wayne's World "I am not worthy" on that one for a while, and very happy to.

For the record, I vividly remember 2006 and how well AD played for Baltimore, and thinking that he would be a perfect fit for the Pats. I never thought we had a chance at him, and I was elated when we signed him. Sigh. Be careful for what you want, you may just get it.

I also thought TBC was a JAG when he was first here, and that SF overpaid wildly when he left. I was underwhelmed to say the least when we re-signed him, and hoped we would cut him in TC and keep Vince Redd.

0 for 2 on those 2 signings.

 

[zipster9]

Trade him for a 2nd or 3rd rounder...

 

[mgteich]

And who would give us a 3rd rounder in order to pay Thomas $5M to play in 2010. If he is worth anywhere near this amount, the patriots should keep him.

Trade him for a 2nd or 3rd rounder...

 

[Rob0729]

If next season is uncapped, there is no need for BB to unload him.

The Pats are projected to be over $40 million under the cap next year. Even with having to resign guys like Wilfork, Mankins, and Gostkowski; they could easily afford to keep him if there is a cap next year. The question is why would they want him? If he isn't performing to the level of his base pay, why pay him that (cap or no cap) when that money can be used to a more productive player? Even without a cap, Kraft is going to have his own cap that he won't spend above.

 

[Calciumee]

I think in 6 months (June) he will still be with us, but in 9 months (September) I very much doubt it.

 

[TriplecHamp]

Either get a llate first round pick or an impact player or keep him.

 

[mgteich]

Yup, the question is whether Thomas is worth $5M to play in 2010.

Curiously, if we draft a couple of passrushers, we are MORE likely to keep Thomas, since draftees sometimes take time to develop.

The Pats are projected to be over $40 million under the cap next year. Even with having to resign guys like Wilfork, Mankins, and Gostkowski; they could easily afford to keep him if there is a cap next year. The question is why would they want him? If he isn't performing to the level of his base pay, why pay him that (cap or no cap) when that money can be used to a more productive player? Even without a cap, Kraft is going to have his own cap that he won't spend above.

 

[RayClay]

For the record, I vividly remember 2006 and how well AD played for Baltimore, and thinking that he would be a perfect fit for the Pats. I never thought we had a chance at him, and I was elated when we signed him. Sigh. Be careful for what you want, you may just get it.

I also thought TBC was a JAG when he was first here, and that SF overpaid wildly when he left. I was underwhelmed to say the least when we re-signed him, and hoped we would cut him in TC and keep Vince Redd.

0 for 2 on those 2 signings.

I guess i screwed up the quoting for two posters. I wasn't against Thomas since i didn't have an opinion at the time. I know some people don't like having leadership thrust upon them and maybe that was the case here.

1 guy from another team to replace four vets from ours as the transition figure seemed a pretty big roll of the dice at the time.

 

[DW Toys]

Trade him to the Giants for Osi Umenyiora in a swap of malcontents. The contracts would essentially cancel out. Both guys have underperformed but are talented, and could benefit from a change of scene. The Pats need pass rushers more than the Giants, and the Giants desperately need LBs. Thomas is much more talented than anyone the Giants have at LB, and could do well playing behind their killer DL. Each team would get rid of an underperforming problem player and fill a need.

I love the idea!
Superb post!

I would rather see Keith Bullock here if that idea doesn't work for plan "B". He brings energy. He is smart and he wants to make tackles. He would help Mayo and Guyton more than anyone I can think of to play the position right. I don't see Thomas as any sort of a teacher her now except on what not to do. KB is the type of veteran presence that BB loves.
DW Toys

 

[RobertWeathers]

I checked and I did question AD's acquisition it at the time, though I remained optimistic. Not like I don't admit I'm wrong. I said TBC was a scum sucking rodent who would never be anything but a fill in at best. I've been doing the Wayne's World "I am not worthy" on that one for a while, and very happy to.

Nothing wrong with looking at things in hindsight if history proves that a mistake was or could have been made. BB saw that an impact LB was needed and available, knew he had a championship-caliber team and made a decision.

I applaud him for trying. In hindsight, maybe BB questions the move too.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I also thought TBC was a JAG when he was first here, and that SF overpaid wildly when he left. I was underwhelmed to say the least when we re-signed him, and hoped we would cut him in TC and keep Vince Redd.

0 for 2 on those 2 signings.

I loved the TBC signing by the Pats. I knew that instant he was going to be out best pass rusher....

 

[MassPats38]

I join the "to early to tell" crowd. The media loves to pump up the Seymour deal as payback for someone who did not toe the line for Belichick, and Thomas will likely be presented as a similar case. As Bruschi noted when commenting on the Thomas situation, Belichick has a dog house and Thomas may well be in it. But Belichick will not hurt the team if there are no better options (Thomas is under contract - Seymour was in his final year and likely looking for a bigger deal than the team could offer given other free agents).

Linebackers for this defense are hard to find, so I expect there will be substantial consideration of requirements of the position, Thomas's ability to meet those requirements, Thomas's negative impact on the team (if any) and the availability of cost-effective alternatives in the free agent market. I expect he will also weigh the ability of the IR LB platoon to say if any can do the job as well and be relied on for the majority of the season in making that decision.

 

[captain stone]

Too much water under the bridge at this point in time. Even if AT & Bill play nicey-nice for the rest of the season, my best guess is that Bill trades him on draft weekend for a 2011 pick.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

The Pats were going to dump him regardless of any tirades

Adalius had been a dissapointment for what he is being paid and no way does he waste another season as a starting OLB

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I join the "to early to tell" crowd. The media loves to pump up the Seymour deal as payback for someone who did not toe the line for Belichick, and Thomas will likely be presented as a similar case. As Bruschi noted when commenting on the Thomas situation, Belichick has a dog house and Thomas may well be in it. But Belichick will not hurt the team if there are no better options (Thomas is under contract - Seymour was in his final year and likely looking for a bigger deal than the team could offer given other free agents).

Linebackers for this defense are hard to find, so I expect there will be substantial consideration of requirements of the position, Thomas's ability to meet those requirements, Thomas's negative impact on the team (if any) and the ability of cot-effective alternatives in the free agent market. I expect he will also weigh the ability of the IR LB platoon to say if any can do the job as well and be relied on for the majority of the season in making that decision.

How much of his $20 million in guaranteed money was a signing bonus? If there is any guaranteed money left to be paid out on his contract, would that responsibility be transfered to a trade partner in the event of a trade? If there is any guaranteed money left to be paid out, how much is left? What comes off the cap if he is cut/traded? Barring gross misconduct on AD's part, I think this is a 'value' decision that the bean counters will need to give the OK on.

Essentially all of it. He got $12 in signing bonus when he signed and $8M in option bonus the following season. Plus his salaries for 2007 and 2008 and 2009. He is owed nothing. From a financial standpoint he is eminently tradeable in a capped or uncapped year because his salary, like his performance, is well below elite LB levels.

I think because of his age at the time he was signed and the total value of his deal it was always likely he would not see the end of his career here with double digit cap hits unless he emerged as a HOF defender, which he isn't remotely. The bean counters will have nothing to say in the matter. This is a football decision. They have come to an accommodation to finish out the season because it was in the interest of both sides to do so. AD made his play to divide the clubhouse and it backfired. He is now in spin control because he wants someone to pay him the remaining $11M on his contract.

 

[VJCPatriot]

I want to see where people stand on this now, versus in the immediate aftermath of the snowstorm incident.

Also, I'm not drawing a distinction between being cut or getting traded; either way, he'd no longer be a Patriot.

Not after this season. I don't see anyway he's coming back.

 

[RayClay]

Nothing wrong with looking at things in hindsight if history proves that a mistake was or could have been made. BB saw that an impact LB was needed and available, knew he had a championship-caliber team and made a decision.

I applaud him for trying. In hindsight, maybe BB questions the move too.

Well since we're looking with hindsight, The F.O. put us into the position that we needed a top veteran, so given the circumstances, I approved.

My preference would have been to start replacing the outstanding linebacking crew with young FAs or picks a couple years earlier.

 

[RayClay]

Linebackers for this defense are hard to find, so I expect there will be substantial consideration of requirements of the position, Thomas's ability to meet those requirements, Thomas's negative impact on the team (if any) and the ability of cot-effective alternatives in the free agent market. I expect he will also weigh the ability of the IR LB platoon to say if any can do the job as well and be relied on for the majority of the season in making that decision.

There's no doubt this will hurt talent wise, but bad chemistry says try someone else.

 

[mgteich]

Why should anyone pay Thomas $5M a year and give the patriots a draft chocie for the priviledge.

Essentially all of it. He got $12 in signing bonus when he signed and $8M in option bonus the following season. Plus his salaries for 2007 and 2008 and 2009. He is owed nothing. From a financial standpoint he is eminently tradeable in a capped or uncapped year because his salary, like his performance, is well below elite LB levels.

I think because of his age at the time he was signed and the total value of his deal it was always likely he would not see the end of his career here with double digit cap hits unless he emerged as a HOF defender, which he isn't remotely. The bean counters will have nothing to say in the matter. This is a football decision. They have come to an accommodation to finish out the season because it was in the interest of both sides to do so. AD made his play to divide the clubhouse and it backfired. He is now in spin control because he wants someone to pay him the remaining $11M on his contract.

 

[mayoclinic]

Why should anyone pay Thomas $5M a year and give the patriots a draft chocie for the priviledge.

Thomas is still a solid LB, and could be a good performer for many teams. If someone thinks they could find a use for him, the only sure way to get him it to trade for him. Relying on the Pats to cut him is unreliable, and if they did cut him he would have to clear waivers before a team could sign him and not be liable for his $5M salary. That's a very iffy proposition. So I could see a team that believed that AD still has what it takes and was just in the wrong situation in NE being willing to make some kind of trade. How much and who are the big questions.