Pats sign Thomas to 53; Tarpinian and Mills to PS

[DaBruinz]

Just saw this tweeted from Reiss:

Donald Thomas to the 53. Thomas Welch Cut (which we knew)

Tarpinian and Mills to the Practice Squad.

I thought the Pats had 7 people on the PS after they promoted Welch.. I must have miscounted.. or there will be another move announced. .

 

[Sciz]

The Tarp sig will remain!

And it says a lot about Hernandez' importance in the offense that they are keeping Mills.

 

[patfanken]

And it says a lot about Hernandez' importance in the offense that they are keeping Mills.

This is a nice insight Sciz. Clearly it means that BB wants to have that "move" TE as an integral part of his offense. Even more interesting is that it probably meant that BB envisioned this role long before we got Hernandez. He probably saw the potential of Mills filling that role, but he wasn't ready yet, and the Pats couldn't get him through waivers and the PS. Now a few years later and BB has BOTH the "move TE" of dreams.....and his back up.

BTW- who is Donald Thomas? What position does he play? And can someone give us a little bio on him

 

[DaBruinz]

This is a nice insight Sciz. Clearly it means that BB wants to have that "move" TE as an integral part of his offense. Even more interesting is that it probably meant that BB envisioned this role long before we got Hernandez. He probably saw the potential of Mills filling that role, but he wasn't ready yet, and the Pats couldn't get him through waivers and the PS. Now a few years later and BB has BOTH the "move TE" of dreams.....and his back up.

BTW- who is Donald Thomas? What position does he play? And can someone give us a little bio on him

Donald Thomas - Guard/Center - Came from UCONN - 2008 Draft. Drafted by Miami. Started several games for them in 2009. Was cut by them. Hooked on with Detroit in 2010. Was inactive with Detroit. Cut by Detroit on 9/3/2011. He's 26.. Supposedly a good trap blocker. Good upper body strength. Not so good lower body strength.. Can play LG/RG/C Possibly some T as well.

 

[Mainefan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Thomas_(American_football)

The psychics at Wikipedia already had it.

Odd--the link won't get you there for some reason. Just google Donald Thomas and you'll get there.

 

[The-Hooded-One]

Thomas seems to be primarily a guard. You would think they'd want someone who could back up Connolly at center. Does this mean Wendell will be ready to go?

 

[patchick]

Thomas seems to be primarily a guard. You would think they'd want someone who could back up Connolly at center. Does this mean Wendell will be ready to go?

That's my reading, too. AFAIK Thomas has no experience at center.

 

[DaBruinz]

Here is some info from NFLDraftscout.com that many people will like:

Has an athletic-looking, muscular upper body frame with a firm midsection, long arms and room to carry at least another 20 pounds of bulk without the added weight impacting his impressive timed speed...Naturally intelligent in the classroom, but needs to continue to work on improving his overall field alertness...A mauler with a mean streak on the field, he works to finish and generates good initial pop on contact when he keeps his hands working inside his frame..

 

[Horace's Ivories]

Lisfranc injury a while back - smart dude without tons of experience - this looks very good.

 

[upstater1]

I've been watching Thomas for years.

A late round pick for Miami, the guy instantly won a starting spot as a rookie over players picked early in the draft and the incumbent veterans. He was a surprise.

Parcells especially liked him. Defensive players were reporting to Parcells and the coaches that Thomas packed a wallop. His initial engagement was like being punched by a boxer.

Thomas was hurt midway through the first year for the Dolphins, and then did not come back into form from the injury (don't know why, rehab was too long, or he didn't come back in shape, just don't know) and he was cut.

He is very physically gifted, but also incredibly raw.

He did not play high school football. He was a regular UConn student. The UConn football players saw him working out in the gym and he looked like the incredible hulk. So they encouraged him to try out. He played at UConn as a walk-on until his final year(s).

He just does not have that much football behind him. Hopefully, he can be a Scarnecchia project.

 

[DaBruinz]

He is very physically gifted, but also incredibly raw.

He did not play high school football. He was a regular UConn student. The UConn football players saw him working out in the gym and he looked like the incredible hulk. So they encouraged him to try out. He played at UConn as a walk-on until his final year(s).

He just does not have that much football behind him. Hopefully, he can be a Scarnecchia project.

You have incorrect information. Thomas did play high school football.

At Hill Regional Career Magnet High School, Thomas lettered three times in football, playing as a defensive lineman and a tight end. He recorded six sacks his junior year. The versatile athlete earned a total of 10 varsity letters, including three as a center in basketball and four more as a pitcher and first baseman in baseball. He was an All-Division baseball player and was also named the SEC's Player of the Week once as a senior in basketball. He was also a member of the National Honor Society.

 

[signbabybrady]

This is a nice insight Sciz. Clearly it means that BB wants to have that "move" TE as an integral part of his offense. Even more interesting is that it probably meant that BB envisioned this role long before we got Hernandez. He probably saw the potential of Mills filling that role, but he wasn't ready yet, and the Pats couldn't get him through waivers and the PS. Now a few years later and BB has BOTH the "move TE" of dreams.....and his back up.

My thoughts exactly. And to be honest with the importance of Gronk and Hernandez I am not sure there is anyway to adequately back them up. They might be the most important pieces to this offense after Brady right now.

 

[upstater1]

You have incorrect information. Thomas did play high school football.

I'd love to see a link for your quote, because I grew up in New Haven, and I can give you a lead-pipe guarantee that Career does not even HAVE a football team. Whoever wrote that for Scout is out to lunch.

http://www.cityofwesthaven.com/foundations/store/storepage.asp?page=NFL

Thomas didn’t set foot on the football field until joining UConn as a sophomore, making his ride to the NFL even more improbable.

Thomas graduated from Hill Regional Career Magnet High School in New Haven, a non-football school, where he played baseball and basketball.

Remarkably, in his senior year, the Huskies starting right guard was selected to the first-team All-Big East Conference, capping his collegiate career with 77 knockdowns, including eight touchdown-resulting blocks.

 

[upstater1]

You have incorrect information. Thomas did play high school football.

Check it out: Welcome to Hill Regional Career High School

 

[signbabybrady]

I'd love to see a link for your quote, because I grew up in New Haven, and I can give you a lead-pipe guarantee that Career does not even HAVE a football team. Whoever wrote that for Scout is out to lunch.

hahaha that is hilarious. Some guy just making things up or what?

 

[DaBruinz]

I'd love to see a link for your quote, because I grew up in New Haven, and I can give you a lead-pipe guarantee that Career does not even HAVE a football team. Whoever wrote that for Scout is out to lunch.

Nfldraftscout.com. It's in their members only section..

NFL Draft Scout----Powered By: The Sports Xchange

If you're a member, feel free to check it out.

 

[patchick]

Check it out: Welcome to Hill Regional Career High School

And Wikipedia calls it somewhere in-between, with Thomas playing a whopping 2 games of HS football:

Thomas, as a freshman, played two games with neighboring town West Haven High School JV team because Career Magnet High School does not have a football team. The New Haven Public School addressed Thomas's athletic eligibility and since Career had other varsity sports, they declared Thomas could not play for West Haven High School. Despite this, Thomas excelled at other sports, such as basketball, baseball, and soccer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Thomas_(American_football)

Regardless, he was clearly a raw walk-on at UConn.

 

[upstater1]

And Wikipedia calls it somewhere in-between, with Thomas playing a whopping 2 games of HS football:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Thomas_(American_football)

Regardless, he was clearly a raw walk-on at UConn.

That's interesting. I didn't even know that. Mention by the radio guys at UConn of Thomas was always followed by, "...first stepped onto a football field as a college sophomore."

This was mentioned religiously, almost like any mention of Matthew Slater must be followed by the words, "Son of Jackie Slater, NFL Hall of Famer."

 

[DaBruinz]

Check it out: Welcome to Hill Regional Career High School

The only thing I can think of is that Thomas was allowed to play football at another school.. Which is not against the rules of the Magnet school..

 

[patchick]

That's interesting. I didn't even know that. Mention by the radio guys at UConn of Thomas was always followed by, "...first stepped onto a football field as a college sophomore."

Well, that's a lot closer to the truth than NFLDraftScout's version, anyway! The 2 freshman games only report is supported by this old New Haven Register article:

Thomas? path to NFL a remarkable one- The New Haven Register - Serving New Haven, Connecticut