Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5M a year?

[bradtor]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

Patriots close with Adalius Thomas
Friday Mar 2nd, 2007

The New England Patriots are very close to signing Ravens OLB Adalius Thomas, the deal could still be announced today. While not completed the number will be basically be $7.5 million per year and $17 million guaranteed. The 49ers are the only real compeition at this point, but the Patriots have his ear and shortly probably his signature to go with it

http://www.pfinsider.net/Content/Patriots-close-with-Adalius-Thomas.php

He'd be a great addition to the team, but I'm not counting on it being true until I see it reported as a done deal on AP, Reuters, or ESPN. Too many qualifiers are in the above paragraph, words such as "very close, "while not completed," and "probably," and there's no attribution to a source.

For all we know, the report could be planted to get another team into the bidding or to get the 49ers to increase their offer. I'm not saying that's the case, but I am taking a wait-and-see attitude.

 

[pats1]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

Sounds great.

Let's hope this isn't the high point of the offseason.

I would be delighted with a day gaining a starting OLB while losing a starting TE.

The ripple effect of a Thomas deal on the defense would be terrific. Get Vrabel and Colvin in a three-man OLB rotation. Hopefully they can find a new ILB as well, in Edwards, Napolean Harris, Peter Sirmon, or a draftee like Beason or Harris. Then it could be back to the days of Vrabel-Bruschi-Johnson-Phifer-McGinest.

I think Thomas actually starts at ILB (or, less likely, Vrabel).

There's no way they're paying this type of money to either of the three to be part-time players.

They'll add depth to the OLB position through the draft, as well as ILB (DeOssie?)

 

[Urgent]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

So presumably he has been in New England today?
We didn't get any official sightings before this.
Reiss isn't camped out at the airport?

 

[Aldogg]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

Oh my god. Wow wow wow wow wow. This might send a message to the league we are pissed about the way we ended the season, and we are going to take it out on everybody we face this year.

 

[Urgent]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

I think Thomas actually starts at ILB (or, less likely, Vrabel).

There's no way they're paying this type of money to either of the three to be part-time players.

When Colvin was signed, the Pats had McGinest and Vrabel outside and Bruschi, Phifer, and Johnson inside. They paid big money for a sixth starting linebacker. At that time, McGinest was the third highest-paid player on the team (behind Law and Brady) and Vrabel and Bruschi were in the top five or ten.

 

[BradyManny]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

When Colvin was signed, the Pats had McGinest and Vrabel outside and Bruschi, Phifer, and Johnson inside. They paid big money for a sixth starting linebacker. At that time, McGinest was the third highest-paid player on the team (behind Law and Brady) and Vrabel and Bruschi were in the top five or ten.

IMO, Vrabel and Thomas combine to be 3 LBs in a way as they can both play inside or out...I don't know if that makes sense on paper, but it does in my head.

 

[pats1]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

When Colvin was signed, the Pats had McGinest and Vrabel outside and Bruschi, Phifer, and Johnson inside. They paid big money for a sixth starting linebacker. At that time, McGinest was the third highest-paid player on the team (behind Law and Brady) and Vrabel and Bruschi were in the top five or ten.

The differences being:

(A) Bruschi isn't the same player he was in 2004.

and

(B) Mays and Alexander are NOT Phifer and Johnson.

If the Pats sign a Donnie Edwards or Harris, then sure, Thomas will rotate outside. But they aren't going to start Alexander inside and have Thomas or Colvin or Vrabel on the bench.

 

[BradyManny]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

If the Pats sign a Donnie Edwards or Harris, then sure, Thomas will rotate outside. But they aren't going to start Alexander inside and have Thomas or Colvin or Vrabel on the bench.

Thomas, Colvin and Vrabel will all be starters and every down players, no doubt. But can't you see BB swapping Vrabel and Thomas around based on the down/situation/just to f**k with the other team?

 

[Urgent]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

It would be sort of appropriate to sign of the jewel of the NFL offseason on the night the jewel of the MLB offseason makes his debut.

 

[SWelker]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

I had a feeling we would make a big splash this offseason and here it is, the best player on the market is now playing in Foxboro!!!

 

[pats1]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

Thomas, Colvin and Vrabel will all be starters and every down players, no doubt. But can't you see BB swapping Vrabel and Thomas around based on the down/situation/just to f**k with the other team?

I can, only if they find somebody better than Alexander to play inside.

 

[NE_PATS_FAN_54]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

i love this move.......is this the biggest signing in patriots history???


p.s. looks like my prediction on my sig cam true:rocker:

 

[solman]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

I think Thomas actually starts at ILB (or, less likely, Vrabel).

There's no way they're paying this type of money to either of the three to be part-time players.

They'll add depth to the OLB position through the draft, as well as ILB (DeOssie?)

Thomas starts ALL OVER THE PLACE. He is arguably the most flexible LB in the league.

BB is the master of complex multiple look defenses that move players all over the place. With his LB veterans getting old, he's had to scale back. Not any more.

I'm sure BB will give AD some of the same tips he used to give LT.

But, in addition to further realizing AD's potential as a monster pass rusher, BB is going to move him all over the field.

AD will play as ILB, OLB and DE... often in the same game.

Opposing QBs will often be squished before they have any clue what the hell is going on.

 

[Worthy2637]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&id=2251

From the Boston Herald

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

I think Thomas actually starts at ILB (or, less likely, Vrabel).

There's no way they're paying this type of money to either of the three to be part-time players.

They'll add depth to the OLB position through the draft, as well as ILB (DeOssie?)

I expect alot, I mean ALOT of movement on device. Goodluck to qbs and linemen trying to identify who the outside lb and inside lb is.

 

[Brady to Brown]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

Thomas starts ALL OVER THE PLACE. He is arguably the most flexible LB in the league.

BB is the master of complex multiple look defenses that move players all over the place. With his LB veterans getting old, he's had to scale back. Not any more.

I'm sure BB will give AD some of the same tips he used to give LT.

But, in addition to further realizing AD's potential as a monster pass rusher, BB is going to move him all over the field.

AD will play as ILB, OLB and DE... often in the same game.

Opposing QBs will often be squished before they have any clue what the hell is going on.

Great post. I can't believe the Patriots signed Thomas. This is huge.

 

[A.C Vegas]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&id=2251

From the Boston Herald

now thats what i like to see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[yopats]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

Here is a Tomasi new link http://news.bostonherald.com/blogs/patriots/

 

[maverick4]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

Thomas starts ALL OVER THE PLACE. He is arguably the most flexible LB in the league.

BB is the master of complex multiple look defenses that move players all over the place. With his LB veterans getting old, he's had to scale back. Not any more.

I'm sure BB will give AD some of the same tips he used to give LT.

But, in addition to further realizing AD's potential as a monster pass rusher, BB is going to move him all over the field.

AD will play as ILB, OLB and DE... often in the same game.

Opposing QBs will often be squished before they have any clue what the hell is going on.

This is an UNDERSTATEMENT.
The Pats can now play defenses where they completely confuse the QB because linebackers are lining up all over the place with seemingly no rhyme or reason.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Pats, Thomas deal almost done for $7.5 m a year?

While I agree with the everyone everywhere concept, the base defense, IMO, will have Covin back to SOLB, Vrabel back to WOLB with Bruschi and Thomas in the middle.