Is Anyone Concerned About Thomas' Age?

[RobertWeathers]

This boosts the D like no one could have hoped for. YEAAAA!

However, he will be 30 bout the same time Little Brady is born. Is that a concern? I know it won't be in 2007 or 2008, but 32 in 2009 does scare me a bit. Especially a guy who looks to clear 28m in the 1st 3 years of the deal.

Thoughts?

 

[ayjackson]

no...nobody

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

This boosts the D like no one could have hoped for. YEAAAA!

However, he will be 30 bout the same time Little Brady is born. Is that a concern? I know it won't be in 2007 or 2008, but 32 in 2009 does scare me a bit. Especially a guy who looks to clear 28m in the 1st 3 years of the deal.

Thoughts?

I wonder if he'll lose a step after the third year. Six years does seem a bit, but maybe he's a freak of nature. Look at how productive Seau was at his age when palced in the right situation with the Pats.

thomas will make players around him better and players around him will make him better.

it's kind of not fair to have ty warren lined up next to thomas. teams will have trouble stopping that pass rush.

 

[Hok]

He's only been getting full-time snaps since 2004. I'd guess he's got more in the tank than a typical 30-year-old.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I didn't think so....

 

[Fabolous.]

It is a concern, yes. The Pats have thrived with older linebackers though. Experience is such a huge part of the posistion given the way the Pats play it. As for Thomas himself, he doesn't have the wear and tear of most 30 year old linebackers. He sat alot in his early years with the Ravens.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Agreed. The guy can move inside like Pheiffer did or go all out on 40-50 snaps a game like Wille Mac did.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Im only concerned if he shatters his hip, like Rosie Colivin did in the second game of the season in 2003... But no he should give us 4 solid yrs, and we will be competitive for the next 4 to 5 yrs still.. :rocker:

 

[signbabybrady]

I am assuming BB and SP are not concerned so that is good enough for me.

 

[brdmaverick]

well, I guess the good thing to consider is the fact that we have had many linebackers succeed in Belicheck's system late in their careers, including.....

Willie McGinest
Roman Phifer
Tedy Bruschi
Ted Johnson
Mike Vrabel

Junior Seau was effective for the short time we had him too.

all of these guys have played key roles. Of course, this does not mean that Thomas is a given to continue to be a great player later in his career but at least we have seen that it has been done before.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I am assuming BB and SP are not concerned so that is good enough for me.

I keep forgetting that BeliPioli do know what they are doing :bricks:

 

[Fencer]

I'm guessing that well before the end of his contract he won't be regarded as a shutdown CB.

No worries of that kind. I'm more worried that there could be a Colvin situation, in which the biggest FA of the year happens to get badly hurt.

Of course, that turned out pretty well anyway.

 

[patsgo]

This boosts the D like no one could have hoped for. YEAAAA!

However, he will be 30 bout the same time Little Brady is born. Is that a concern? I know it won't be in 2007 or 2008, but 32 in 2009 does scare me a bit. Especially a guy who looks to clear 28m in the 1st 3 years of the deal.

Thoughts?

you have to be a red sox fan , we just got the best free agent and your worrying about his age? go watch manny

 

[tombonneau]

I'm actually delighted at his age. That's the Belichick sweet spot for LBs IMO. 28-32. As I stated in my post the other week about why did people think we would draft a LB early when, BB clearly shows a preference for experienced LBs.

As others stated, he is 30 but a bit fresh as he has only been fulltime a few years. I think they get 3-4 years of high production, and I'd be fine with 1-3 of solid part-time duty.

 

[patsfan55]

well by the time hes at the end of his ALLEGED contract it will prob either be restructured or hell get cut anyway, jus like most his age

 

[LiveShot]

The ink is not dry on the contract and you are worried about his AGE. You must be a "the glass is always empty" guy. This is the greatest free agent signing by the Patriots EVER. Beware Colts................

 

[salty]

I personally guarantee at least four highly productive years.

 

[RobertWeathers]

you have to be a red sox fan , we just got the best free agent and your worrying about his age? go watch manny

how did you guess??

 

[Water Boy]

I am a little concerned. I hope that the Pats can structure the deal so that they can pay down his SB aggressively early on in the deal so that they are not left with a a huge cap hit should his skills diminish down the road.

Paul Perillo mentioned on NEST last night that the knock on Thomas comming out of college was that he was lazy. Its a little concerning to me that we don't know if he'll have the same intensity/dedication now that he has gotten his big pay day. I think if we find out that he took slightly less money to come to the Pats than SF or some other team that would be a good sign that he's dedicated to winning.

 

[dtbrks]

Yep, I am concerned with his age, but I hope the pats get 3-4 great years out of him, then deal with the remaining years when he declines.