Patriots Sign Demaryius Thomas

[patman52]

That clip is certainly encouraging.....BUT he's clearly not at the point where he can make a full speed cut, or even do a quick start and stop. He's got 3.5 months to get there though, PLUS learn the offense and get in sync with Brady.

I wish the doctor had given us more, like given what he's seen in the clip, what would be a reasonable expectation for him to be back on the field practicing 2month's, 3month, 5 months, when

BTW- better than I expected at this stage. now is all about breaking down scar tissue to get back to full flexibility of the tendon.....or not

To me he has till November to get ready. Him and Gordon can both join the team after the bye.

 

[patfanken]

To me he has till November to get ready. Him and Gordon can both join the team after the bye.

Actually the more I think on it the more I doubt he's coming back.

Let's look at the reality of it. It's not like he can take the next 5 months off and then decide he wants to play, take 30 days to get in professional football shape, and return. Even if he were working out on a regular basis, it would a workout MUCH different from what it takes to get into "professional football shape". He would need a MINIMUM of 90 days to get his body ready to play the game, then ANOTHER 30-60 days to practice football. To work on routes, blocking techniques, etc. That figures out to 4-5 months AFTER he's committed to playing another season.

So if you're hoping that come September Gronk starts to get the itch to play again, it will already too late for him to make it back for this season.

I think the best case scenario is that come September he realizes he still wants to play, and returns for the 2020 season

 

[supafly]

To me he has till November to get ready. Him and Gordon can both join the team after the bye.

So if you're hoping that come September Gronk starts to get the itch to play again, it will already too late for him to make it back for this season.

Bummer, because for a second there, it looked like we were going to be rooting for one hell of a team post-November.

 

[SBLIII]

If DT is a designated PUP candidate that means he cannot practice with the Team. Missing all of TC with Brady is not a possibility I'm entertaining. Really hope DT is a quick healer because timing with Brady matters. I was kinda excited about this signing at first but now I'm not so sure. Glad they Drafted the Rook - signed Inman and others.

I have significantly more hope that Gordon contributes than Thomas.

In fact I would be surprised if he contributes at all.

 

[signbabybrady]

Let's look at the reality of it. It's not like he can take the next 5 months off and then decide he wants to play, take 30 days to get in professional...

Isn't that basically what happened last year? He hadn't played in forever got reinstated at the end of camp and was traded to us and playing within a month (give or take a few days).

 

[farn]

Seems unlikely Gordon returns based on the past being an indicator of future behavior. Having said that : why would NE resign him unless they felt he could contribute ?

 

[Urgent]

Seems unlikely Gordon returns based on the past being an indicator of future behavior. Having said that : why would NE resign him unless they felt he could contribute ?

Costs nothing during suspension. Zero risk, some potential upside.

 

[Urgent]

Relative to Demaryius Thomas - seems like the best outcome is that he doesn't make the team.
Since the Thomas signing, the Patriots have signed a first round and two undrafted rookies with the same X receiver profile in Harry, Meyers, and Ubosi, and then a late free agent signing in Inman.
Thomas 6-3 229
Harry 6-2 228
Meyers 6-2 203
Ubosi 6-3 215
Inman 6-3 198

Thomas would count about $3mm against the cap if kept, and carries only a $150K dead cap fee. While he offers a lot of experience, he's coming back from an Achilles injury and seemed to be slowing down before that. At the time, the Patriots clearly were targeting an upgrade from Hogan at the X position - the large split end outside receiver role. Adding six new options at this role is strong evidence that this was considered a need. However, now they have six options, and Thomas is the most expensive.

The Patriots have struggled integrating rookie receivers, but many veterans have struggled just as much.

Harry is a lock. There's probably a role for the X backup - and Thomas is competing with Meyers, Ubosi, and Inman. Thomas has no special teams value at this point - the others might.

While he will likely start training camp on PUP, the question is whether he will recover in time to play in the preseason. Assuming that happens, it's a four-way competition for one role, and Thomas has to hope his experience overcomes the cost and age.

 

[SBLIII]

Seems unlikely Gordon returns based on the past being an indicator of future behavior. Having said that : why would NE resign him unless they felt he could contribute ?

No risk.

As to your first part, Gordon contributed to the Pats after playing 11 games in 4 years.

I don't know why he wouldn't contribute if he gets cleared (which seems to be the deciding factor but if I had to guess he will definitely be eligible to play).

 

[PatsFan2]

To me he has till November to get ready. Him and Gordon can both join the team after the bye.

Gordon already have *time served* counting last year so the most he might get is 2 Games if that.

 

[PatsFan2]

Relative to Demaryius Thomas - seems like the best outcome is that he doesn't make the team.
Since the Thomas signing, the Patriots have signed a first round and two undrafted rookies with the same X receiver profile in Harry, Meyers, and Ubosi, and then a late free agent signing in Inman.
Thomas 6-3 229
Harry 6-2 228
Meyers 6-2 203
Ubosi 6-3 215
Inman 6-3 198

Thomas would count about $3mm against the cap if kept, and carries only a $150K dead cap fee. While he offers a lot of experience, he's coming back from an Achilles injury and seemed to be slowing down before that. At the time, the Patriots clearly were targeting an upgrade from Hogan at the X position - the large split end outside receiver role. Adding six new options at this role is strong evidence that this was considered a need. However, now they have six options, and Thomas is the most expensive.

The Patriots have struggled integrating rookie receivers, but many veterans have struggled just as much.

Harry is a lock. There's probably a role for the X backup - and Thomas is competing with Meyers, Ubosi, and Inman. Thomas has no special teams value at this point - the others might.

While he will likely start training camp on PUP, the question is whether he will recover in time to play in the preseason. Assuming that happens, it's a four-way competition for one role, and Thomas has to hope his experience overcomes the cost and age.

And I am confident Thomas could beat those guys out on one leg...if Thomas wasn't injured this wouldn't be an issue. If he's running without a hitch come September I bet he get's a roster spot and be on the opening squad in week 1.

 

[patman52]

Actually the more I think on it the more I doubt he's coming back.

Let's look at the reality of it. It's not like he can take the next 5 months off and then decide he wants to play, take 30 days to get in professional football shape, and return. Even if he were working out on a regular basis, it would a workout MUCH different from what it takes to get into "professional football shape". He would need a MINIMUM of 90 days to get his body ready to play the game, then ANOTHER 30-60 days to practice football. To work on routes, blocking techniques, etc. That figures out to 4-5 months AFTER he's committed to playing another season.

So if you're hoping that come September Gronk starts to get the itch to play again, it will already too late for him to make it back for this season.

I think the best case scenario is that come September he realizes he still wants to play, and returns for the 2020 season

Who said anything about Gronk? The thread is about Thomas. But on that subject I would think Gronk would need 6 weeks to get into football shape then two weeks of practice with the team then two weeks of limited playing time and I think he would be back by december 8 home game vs KC. With his endorsements /off field pursuits I think he may drop 15-20 lbs, but it is not like the weight room is going to be a thing of the past to him. Who knows he may even have roles where they want him big.

 

[patman52]

Costs nothing during suspension. Zero risk, some potential upside.

Gordon already have *time served* counting last year so the most he might get is 2 Games if that.

He has already been suspended before so a 4 game is out of the question. My guess is going to be 8 games with two served last year. so 6 this year.

 

[patman52]

Bummer, because for a second there, it looked like we were going to be rooting for one hell of a team post-November.

Again, my post is Gordon and Thomas- not Gronk.

 

[scott99]

Costs nothing during suspension. Zero risk, some potential upside.

I think we are in uncharted territory with Gordon. Who really knows how long his suspension will be. There has never been an NFL player to be suspended so many times for drug transgressions. So who knows how long Goodell makes him sit. I always thought his next transgression would be his final one, thought he would get a lifelong ban from the NFL. Shockingly, they did not. And the fact they released a statement that they are working with Gordon, gives me some hope that the suspension may be half a season, but really, we can't game plan for that as being a possibility (that he actually plays in 2019).

 

[SBLIII]

I think we are in uncharted territory with Gordon. Who really knows how long his suspension will be. There has never been an NFL player to be suspended so many times for drug transgressions. So who knows how long Goodell makes him sit. I always thought his next transgression would be his final one, thought he would get a lifelong ban from the NFL. Shockingly, they did not. And the fact they released a statement that they are working with Gordon, gives me some hope that the suspension may be half a season, but really, we can't game plan for that as being a possibility (that he actually plays in 2019).

Agreed. I think WR still needs a trade to be complete.

 

[luuked]

Actually the more I think on it the more I doubt he's coming back.

Let's look at the reality of it. It's not like he can take the next 5 months off and then decide he wants to play, take 30 days to get in professional football shape, and return. Even if he were working out on a regular basis, it would a workout MUCH different from what it takes to get into "professional football shape". He would need a MINIMUM of 90 days to get his body ready to play the game, then ANOTHER 30-60 days to practice football. To work on routes, blocking techniques, etc. That figures out to 4-5 months AFTER he's committed to playing another season.

So if you're hoping that come September Gronk starts to get the itch to play again, it will already too late for him to make it back for this season.

I think the best case scenario is that come September he realizes he still wants to play, and returns for the 2020 season

Agree with everything. The one thought to leave here is that Gronk has always been known as addicted to fitness and he gym. As you say he will not be in NFL shape but in a decent enough place that 2-3 weeks could put him back into a condition to play increasingly more snaps.

I mean you have people that come back from some kind of injury situation midseason where they could not fully workout for a while as well.

Personally I dont expect him to be back but dont think conditioning alone would be an insurmountable thing. That is unless he ends up on a similar trajectory as Thor did in Endgame.

 

[supafly]

Again, my post is Gordon and Thomas- not Gronk.

I know. I’m just keeping it light.

 

[patfanken]

Agree with everything. The one thought to leave here is that Gronk has always been known as addicted to fitness and he gym. As you say he will not be in NFL shape but in a decent enough place that 2-3 weeks could put him back into a condition to play increasingly more snaps.

I mean you have people that come back from some kind of injury situation midseason where they could not fully workout for a while as well.

Personally I dont expect him to be back but dont think conditioning alone would be an insurmountable thing. That is unless he ends up on a similar trajectory as Thor did in Endgame.

Yeah I thought of that too, but "working out" for fitness and fun (thought I don't find it fun) is a lot different that working out to be ready to play professional football.

It was a LOT different when I still played. I think were tougher and played a tougher game, but we didn't come CLOSE to maximizing our bodies in preparation. In those days, players had off season job and the camps were a lot longer specifically because THAT was where you started to get in shape.

Then by the 90's when money started really getting big for players (relative to those times) players started year round training, and playing trainers to get them ready.
Now days the last guy at the end of the bench, in his first year of work, at close to $600K, will make what it takes 10 years for a teacher to make after he's been working at it for about a decade. But that's a rant for another time

Given the size and speed ratio, the collisions of today's game are more damaging, but neither do you see guys putting their faces into the chests of ball carrier. but that's a rant for another time too.

Getting back on point, suffice it to say, "getting in football shape" has a whole new meaning in today's game. I will take a lot for Gronk to get there, and should be want to be back for a November push, he'd likely have to start getting ready to do that by the middle of July.

But you are right he's not going to be back this year. However a 2020 return is more likely than one this year. A full year of healing. A full year of finding that his competitive juices aren't being filled by what he's doing this year. The chance of being one of the top NFL stories of the 2020 season. Brady and Gronk - ONE LAST DANCE. I love it.

 

[Uptown]

I’d really like for DT to stick on the 53, but I keep forgetting that Thomas is now 31 and coming off the second torn Achilles' tendon of his career. Hope he continues to progress enough to be effective.