Peter King MMQB - Fantastic Read

[Scott37]

First two pages about Thomas signing and why he took less to come to New England.

"One guy might have been underpaid in Lunatic 2007 Market Dollars: Adalius Thomas. He signed with New England for five years and $35.04 million."

"I don't expect people to understand the contract,'' Adalius Thomas said over the phone from Logan Airport in Boston on Saturday night in the hoarse, scratchy voice that is his trademark. "It doesn't matter what people think of the contract. I know what the contract is. It's a real contract, not a paper contract, and I'm going to earn all of it.''

Thomas sounds like a great character guy to have around.

Also had good things to say about Wes Welker:

"This looming Wes Welker offer sheet could bring a hidden gem to New England -- a punt-returner and possession receiver. When's the last time a player led his team in receptions (Welker led Miami with 67 this year), punt returns (9.2-yard average) and kickoff returns (22.2-yard average)? Welker reminds me of a more versatile Steve Tasker."


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/peter_king/03/04/thomas/index.html

 

[PatsMyBoyz!]

That's a definite must-read,thanks for posting it.
**I love this one: "We all have brains,'' Thomas told me one night in October. "We should use them.''

 

[bosfan]

Great read and insight into AD, the SF competion for his services was from his former DC - even more confirmation about what this guy brings.

 

[shmessy]

I'm blown away by the evident quality of this MAN.

Usually, when the Patriots pick up a new player I ask (after wondering about his football ability) whether he is a quality enough person to be a Patriot. After learning more about Adalius Thomas, the question should be whether the Patriots (and the NFL) are the ultimate level for him.

This is someone (like Ben Watson and Tom Brady) who is going to do great things when he retires from playing this (mere) game. I really look forward to following this guy.

 

[homerpatsfan]

sounds like hes our kind of guy! exellant read thanx

 

[ChoWZa]

I like how Nolan said he would have outbid the Pats if $$ was the issue but conceded that he wanted to go to a winning organization.

 

[PatsMyBoyz!]

I'm blown away by the evident quality of this MAN.

Usually, when the Patriots pick up a new player I ask (after wondering about his football ability) whether he is a quality enough person to be a Patriot. After learning more about Adalius Thomas, the question should be whether the Patriots (and the NFL) are the ultimate level for him.

This is someone (like Ben Watson and Tom Brady) who is going to do great things when he retires from playing this (mere) game. I really look forward to following this guy.

My thoughts exactly shmess. I'm trying to think of someone to compare him to (skillsets notwithstanding)...off the top, Bru comes to mind?

 

[Bella*chick]

I am so happy I didn't know this stuff about AD before we got him. Because I would have been positively sick to my stomach if the deal had somehow fallen through. This guy was BORN to be a Patriot!

 

[Scott37]

I am so happy I didn't know this stuff about AD before we got him. Because I would have been positively sick to my stomach if the deal had somehow fallen through. This guy was BORN to be a Patriot!

Well said...

 

[Fencer]

Brady -- less than top dollar
Thomas -- less than top dollar
Seymour -- almost top dollar, but perhaps less so when one considers salary inflation
Samuel -- ???

I hope his new teammate and he hit it off and have a few heart-to-hearts, but what with that tattoo and the whiny interview and the mouthy agent and so on, I'm not wildly optimistic.

 

[LloydBraun]

I was happy to see that this deal was cap friendly.

I happened to buy ESPN the mag at Christmas, and it had a great article on AD. For instance, he studies everything in football. Also, the huge scar on his forehead is from a car accident as a teen. He had a huge chunk of windshield in his head, took 400 stitches to close.

He appears to be a well-grounded, great guy. A typical Pats player.

Could Moss be a reclamation project next?????

 

[BelichickFan]

Reading that is an example of why I've gone from being intrigued by getting Randy Moss in the middle of last year to having no interest now. Thomas - great player, great person from the sounds of it. I wish he were 5 years younger but we'll just take as many years of him as we can get.

 

[upstater1]

I think Thomas is explaining to people what a NFL contract is really about. It's about earning ALL the dollars. Not tacking on phony dollars at the end. People always wonder how the Redskins do it. Well, the players never see the dollars on those contracts. Those contracts are there to pump up the egos of agents.

Thomas realizes that, with a bigger signing bonus and a market friendly salary, he is almost uncuttable.

$20 mill bonus and $35 mill contract. What, you're going to cut this guy? I don't think so. That doesn't mean he's underpaid. It means he's going to see the 5th year of the contract as a 35 year old.

Bruschi is the same way. He seemed to have signed for less, only look at him now. Earning a good payday when not many other teams in the league would have kept him for his current salary. Compare Bruschi to Donnie Edwards. Who's going to make more $$ this year? I bet it's Bruschi, and it's because he didn't price himself out of the market. That's the argument I think Thomas is making.

 

[Boston Jay]

Patriot player all round.

 

[patchick]

I think Thomas is explaining to people what a NFL contract is really about. It's about earning ALL the dollars. Not tacking on phony dollars at the end. People always wonder how the Redskins do it. Well, the players never see the dollars on those contracts. Those contracts are there to pump up the egos of agents.

Thomas realizes that, with a bigger signing bonus and a market friendly salary, he is almost uncuttable.

$20 mill bonus and $35 mill contract. What, you're going to cut this guy? I don't think so. That doesn't mean he's underpaid. It means he's going to see the 5th year of the contract as a 35 year old.

Bruschi is the same way. He seemed to have signed for less, only look at him now. Earning a good payday when not many other teams in the league would have kept him for his current salary. Compare Bruschi to Donnie Edwards. Who's going to make more $$ this year? I bet it's Bruschi, and it's because he didn't price himself out of the market. That's the argument I think Thomas is making.

Terrific points. It shows a great head on your shoulders to say "forget about the headline-grabbing fake $$." This contract will take Thomas close to retirement in a stable situation where he can be part of the team and the community and let his family put down some roots. And a $20 million bonus is nothing to sniff at. Let's see six years from now whether Clements really comes out far ahead.

 

[Bella*chick]

Terrific points. It shows a great head on your shoulders to say "forget about the headline-grabbing fake $$." This contract will take Thomas close to retirement in a stable situation where he can be part of the team and the community and let his family put down some roots. And a $20 million bonus is nothing to sniff at. Let's see six years from now whether Clements really comes out far ahead.

Adalius is obviously very smart....lifesmart and football smart. Learning as many different positions as he can for "fun"? The guy is so up BB's alley, it seems ludicrous now that we thought the Pats didn't have a great chance of getting him.

 

[captain stone]

I've been saying, for over six years, that the patsies should have drafted AT with one of their 5th-rounders back in 2000.

Just as long as he talks only football while at the Razor, and saves the politics for a more appropriate forum, then this signing is graded A+.

Sammy Morris, on the other hand... We deserve better, like: Kevin Barlow, Chris Brown, TJ Duckett, Justin Griffith, Verron Haynes, Musa Smith, Anthony Thomas or LaBrandon Toefield. All are 215 lbs.+, have fewer years (and less wear), and may, for the right price, be willing to share carries.

And as for Kyle Brady being "the best blocking TE in the AFC South", so what? What about the other 7 divisions? I would have first tried a younger option, like: Will Heller, Reggie Kelly, David Martin, Mike Seidman or Tony Stewart.

I did like, however, the comparison P King made between the '06 Welker and the '01 D Mason. I feel better about this potential acquisition than I did last night, when I voted No in the poll. But for the $$, should we not be able to do better than a younger Tim Dwight?
Edit: I would have signed Drew Bennett ahead of either Curtis or Welker. The deal he made with the Rams sounded very affordable. Pity.

Be all that as it may, it's now time to go hunting for ILBs and DBs.

 

[Kontradiction]

Am I the only one that suspects if we win a Super Bowl this year, then Thomas will be gone by next year?

 

[Bella*chick]

Am I the only one that suspects if we win a Super Bowl this year, then Thomas will be gone by next year?

Why do you say that?

 

[SaCaCh]

I love this too.

Versatile linebacker Rosevelt Colvin signed with New England in 2003, and his deal was a precursor to the one New England finalized with Thomas on Saturday. How Colvin's deal four years ago compared with the Thomas contract, with their ages at the time of each signing:

Player Age Years Total Avg./Year Guaranteed money
Colvin 25 5 $25 million $5.0 million $6.5 million
Thomas 29 5 $35 million $7.0 million $22 million

The Colvin signing was widely hailed for its value, and he has given the Patriots versatile production, though not greatness, at outside linebacker. What makes the size of the Thomas signing significant: It's actually a lower percentage of the salary cap than the deal Colvin signed. Colvin's $5 million average on the cap was 6.7 percent of the NFL's $75 million salary cap in 2003. The $7 million average of Thomas' deal is 6.4 percent of the league's $109 million cap.

Puts it all into perspective.