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Thomas is a free agent after this season, and unless the Broncos franchise him, it doesn't look like they are going to reach a contract extension. It is possible, but usually those things happen sooner in the season/preseason.
Although it is often repeated that the Patriots rarely go after big name WRs, they have gone after some fairly big name guys who, while not in their primes, were still considered to be impact players. These include Reggie Wayne, Anquan Boldin, Donte Stallworth (we forget that at the time they signed him, he was the #1 FA WR), and Steve Smith.
I think that Thomas is a unique case for several reasons:
1. He isn't a one trick pony, ala Mike Wallace or Vincent Jackson with speed only. Thomas has shown in Denver that he can run every route well; he also likely has the intelligence to play in this offense, since he has done so well with Manning.
2. Josh McDaniels drafted Thomas, and we've seen the lengths the Patriots go to in order to get Josh's guys, (Amendola, Salas) or are not a good fit (Lloyd.) I'm guessing the Patriots would view this as a lower risk factor, given McDaniels connection.
3. You know that, although Belichick is as cold and rational as they come, there's nothing more that he likes than serving revenge on a cold platter. Something tells me he would love to pry away Thomas, a true game changer, from Denver after the moves they pulled with Welker and Talib.
All that said, I'm guessing Thomas ends up back in Denver because Manning always gets what he wants and despite having the greatest player in any sport in the history of western civilization, Mannuing's teams still find the need to surround Manning with more talent than any other quarterback who has ever lived. If he gets through Denver somehow, the market will obviously be very high- I could see Thomas getting somewhere north of $14M per year. Do you think the Patriots would consider him at that price?
Although it is often repeated that the Patriots rarely go after big name WRs, they have gone after some fairly big name guys who, while not in their primes, were still considered to be impact players. These include Reggie Wayne, Anquan Boldin, Donte Stallworth (we forget that at the time they signed him, he was the #1 FA WR), and Steve Smith.
I think that Thomas is a unique case for several reasons:
1. He isn't a one trick pony, ala Mike Wallace or Vincent Jackson with speed only. Thomas has shown in Denver that he can run every route well; he also likely has the intelligence to play in this offense, since he has done so well with Manning.
2. Josh McDaniels drafted Thomas, and we've seen the lengths the Patriots go to in order to get Josh's guys, (Amendola, Salas) or are not a good fit (Lloyd.) I'm guessing the Patriots would view this as a lower risk factor, given McDaniels connection.
3. You know that, although Belichick is as cold and rational as they come, there's nothing more that he likes than serving revenge on a cold platter. Something tells me he would love to pry away Thomas, a true game changer, from Denver after the moves they pulled with Welker and Talib.
All that said, I'm guessing Thomas ends up back in Denver because Manning always gets what he wants and despite having the greatest player in any sport in the history of western civilization, Mannuing's teams still find the need to surround Manning with more talent than any other quarterback who has ever lived. If he gets through Denver somehow, the market will obviously be very high- I could see Thomas getting somewhere north of $14M per year. Do you think the Patriots would consider him at that price?
