OT: Am I the only one surprised that Adalius Thomas still is without a job?

[LetsGoPats36]

Didn't one of the Boston reports have an interview from an "Unnamed Player" who said it was all New England's fault AD played so poorly, and that he would sign with the Jets and be a superstar again?

I don't really remember any more details than you but I too remember reading that this offseason. Pretty sure there was a thread on here about it.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Vet min. is chump change for him. Not worth getting out of bed for.

I don't disagree with most of your points, but it's kindof tough to showcase the fact that you can still be a talented starter when you're not even on the 53 man roster and only one team in the NFL has acknowledged they even have an interest in you.

When some vets join a team for the Veteran Minimum it's acknowledged that they're worth more, but are willing to play for less to earn a more lucrative long-term contract. Moss and others have played for far less than market value and more than made it up the following year as a free agent.

Do you really think AD will earn MORE in 2011 by sulking at home than he would showcasing his remaining talents on the field for the veteran minimum?

(maybe he will if indeed he has no skills and showcasing his play would actually hurt his chances in free agency)

Still, IF Thomas gets picked up by a team between now and the end of the season I'd be shocked if he got $800,000 in "chump change" veteran minimum guaranteed. I'd guess he could have gotten that from plenty of teams before the season but now he'll be looking at that pro-rated.

Didn't one of the Boston reports have an interview from an "Unnamed Player" who said it was all New England's fault AD played so poorly, and that he would sign with the Jets and be a superstar again?

perhaps that unnamed player was Adalius Thomas!

 

[captain stone]

Can he rush the passer?

 

[resdubwhite]

Can he rush the passer?

I think the answer is an unequivocal NO.

 

[VJCPatriot]

To tell you the truth, very few of us in Baltimore were disappointed to see AD leave. We knew he had a certain amount of talent, but by and large was simply a product of the system in Baltimore. No offense, but we all kinda did one of those collective snickers when we saw how much $ NE gave him.
As for being surprised at his employment status, I'm not overly surprised at that either. He probably wants a lot of money, more than he is worth.

I bet you felt the same way about Bart Scott. Seriously what fans don't say 'that guys a bum' as soon as he leaves the team roster? I've seen it happen way too often not to think there wasn't some bias coloring those opinions.

In any case, I think AD's desire to be great took a nosedive once he got PAID. He just didn't show the motivation that he wanted to be the best and master the Pats system. Instead he fought against it and became frustarted at 'how he was used'. The snowstorm incident I think was just the straw that broke the camel's back. I'm glad he's not with the Pats anywhere as obviously he wasn't showing the desire or the performance to be worth his contract.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Color me surprised he didn't become a Jet, although the odds for that went down when they signed Jason Taylor. He must figure that with his 10s of millions, a vet min year is not worth the toll on his body. Not an unreasonable life decision.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Color me surprised he didn't become a Jet, although the odds for that went down when they signed Jason Taylor. He must figure that with his 10s of millions, a vet min year is not worth the toll on his body. Not an unreasonable life decision.

Don't remind me. God I hate JT. He just loves to stick it to the Pats.

 

[SanAngeloState]

I don't disagree with most of your points, but it's kindof tough to showcase the fact that you can still be a talented starter when you're not even on the 53 man roster and only one team in the NFL has acknowledged they even have an interest in you.

When some vets join a team for the Veteran Minimum it's acknowledged that they're worth more, but are willing to play for less to earn a more lucrative long-term contract. Moss and others have played for far less than market value and more than made it up the following year as a free agent.

Do you really think AD will earn MORE in 2011 by sulking at home than he would showcasing his remaining talents on the field for the veteran minimum?

(maybe he will if indeed he has no skills and showcasing his play would actually hurt his chances in free agency)

Still, IF Thomas gets picked up by a team between now and the end of the season I'd be shocked if he got $800,000 in "chump change" veteran minimum guaranteed. I'd guess he could have gotten that from plenty of teams before the season but now he'll be looking at that pro-rated.



perhaps that unnamed player was Adalius Thomas!

No, I think he won't come back in 2011 either. He's done. Retired. Living the easy life, thanks to BB and co.

I hope BB has learned not to pay huge money for unproven commodities. Develop rookies, they play cheap.

 

[WelshPat]

I bet you felt the same way about Bart Scott. Seriously what fans don't say 'that guys a bum' as soon as he leaves the team roster? I've seen it happen way too often not to think there wasn't some bias coloring those opinions.

Hey, it happens all the time on this board.

I think we just signed AD at the exact wrong time, he was just a step slower, and never an elite pass rusher to begin with. I actually think we should have moved him back inside in 08, but we had Mayo then.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

I don't disagree with most of your points, but it's kindof tough to showcase the fact that you can still be a talented starter when you're not even on the 53 man roster and only one team in the NFL has acknowledged they even have an interest in you.

When some vets join a team for the Veteran Minimum it's acknowledged that they're worth more, but are willing to play for less to earn a more lucrative long-term contract. Moss and others have played for far less than market value and more than made it up the following year as a free agent.

Do you really think AD will earn MORE in 2011 by sulking at home than he would showcasing his remaining talents on the field for the veteran minimum?

(maybe he will if indeed he has no skills and showcasing his play would actually hurt his chances in free agency)

Still, IF Thomas gets picked up by a team between now and the end of the season I'd be shocked if he got $800,000 in "chump change" veteran minimum guaranteed. I'd guess he could have gotten that from plenty of teams before the season but now he'll be looking at that pro-rated.

That's assuming you have something to show off that would make you worth a lucrative contract. Moss and AD had different situations.

Look at it this way. After being a starter and having a fat bank account why risk getting an injury that might mean you never walk again for less money than you are collecting in interest on your bank account? I would just enjoy my retirement.

 

[stinkypete]

I see a couple of possibilities:

As many have previously stated, millionaire Thomas isn't willing to play for vet minimum. He clearly has fewer mouths to feed than others. Some guys stick around for the long of the game. I don't see Thomas as one of those guys.

His skills have declined sharply. In early 2008 he was on pace for 10+ sacks before going on IR. Perhaps he never fully recovered. Don't forget that Thomas is already a 10 year vet. He's been around a while, and he maybe hit the age/injury wall where he lost a permanent step.

 

[The Boston Patriot]

Not really. Declined skills, poor attitude and problem child, misjudged his value right after he got cut. Most players with bad reps disapear quickly when their skills deteriorate. Thomas might have gotten a job if he accepted reality when he was cut and admitted to himself he was only going to get a veteran minimum prove it deal, but once Calvin Pace went down and Rex Ryan wouldn't touch him I figured his career was just about over.

This...

.....

 

[RobertWeathers]

Hey, it happens all the time on this board.

I think we just signed AD at the exact wrong time, he was just a step slower, and never an elite pass rusher to begin with. I actually think we should have moved him back inside in 08, but we had Mayo then.

AD was never a stack and shed guy. He was out of position on the inside.

All things considered, overall I thought in 07 he was pretty decent and before he got hurt, in 08 he was doing well.

 

[SuperPatsFan]

Well, on a positive note, at least now he has plenty of time to put his toes in the air and watch film.

 

[Ring 6]

One of the things I like about Belichick is that when he makes a mistake on personnel, he doesn't make the problem worse by letting his ego stop him from cutting a guy. No matter where someone was drafted - no matter how much they were signed for in free agency, as long as the cap economics aren't totally prohibitive, he'll cut guys who don't belong and give their jobs to those who earn a spot on the team.

... so we all recognize that he struck out with Adalius Thomas... but I'm still a bit shocked by how badly he struck out with AD. Obviously there were plenty of flashes of greatness with AD... I'll never forget the sack of Favre against the Jets... that was Epic

But damn!... I would have thought that SOME team would be able to find a place for AD on their team... either late in camp... or following Week 1 when salaries are non-guaranteed... or now as we're approaching the midway point of the season.

... and still Thomas can't even make it to the bench of an NFL team

Did Thomas really get that bad that quickly? Or does he just have a bad enough reputation now to prevent teams from wasting a roster spot on him as a backup?

What gives? Anyone have any insight into his complete loss of talent or other personal issues that have prevented him from latching on as a veteran backup?

It isnt so much that BB missed on the player, but that he missed on the length of the contract.
Thomas is done. His skills eroded. Everyone seems to think its an attitude thing, but the attitude came AFTER he was removed from pass rushing duties, due to his skill decline.
Thomas was an effective player for the first 3 years of the deal. Becuase he hit the other side of the hill in year 4 doesnt change that.

 

[Ring 6]

I don't disagree with most of your points, but it's kindof tough to showcase the fact that you can still be a talented starter when you're not even on the 53 man roster and only one team in the NFL has acknowledged they even have an interest in you.

When some vets join a team for the Veteran Minimum it's acknowledged that they're worth more, but are willing to play for less to earn a more lucrative long-term contract. Moss and others have played for far less than market value and more than made it up the following year as a free agent.

Do you really think AD will earn MORE in 2011 by sulking at home than he would showcasing his remaining talents on the field for the veteran minimum?

(maybe he will if indeed he has no skills and showcasing his play would actually hurt his chances in free agency)

Still, IF Thomas gets picked up by a team between now and the end of the season I'd be shocked if he got $800,000 in "chump change" veteran minimum guaranteed. I'd guess he could have gotten that from plenty of teams before the season but now he'll be looking at that pro-rated.



perhaps that unnamed player was Adalius Thomas!

I disagree. No one will give him more than the minimum. He is unemployed because no one wants him, not because he is holding out negotiating for a big deal.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I disagree. No one will give him more than the minimum. He is unemployed because no one wants him, not because he is holding out negotiating for a big deal.

No actually you and I agree on this one... that he's not signed because he can't play - not because, as some suggest, he just refuses to play for the veteran minimum...

Because as we've seen time and time again players who CAN play often DO play for the veteran minimum or at far less than market value and springboard that into a lucrative new contract.

The notion that some suggest that because he got a lucrative contract 4 years ago he refuses to play now for fear of injury doesn't mesh with the fact that nearly every player in the NFL does everything they possibly can to extend their career and gain the next big contract - regardless of the fear of injury.

The thought that Thomas isn't playing today even though he can, but chooses not to because he previously signed a big contract is laughable.

As someone else said his fall was "meteoric" - a far quicker decline than I've seen in a long time - which yes, does constitute a degree of "surprise" even though apparently plenty of average fans now say they saw it coming.

 

[SanAngeloState]

No actually you and I agree on this one... that he's not signed because he can't play - not because, as some suggest, he just refuses to play for the veteran minimum...

Because as we've seen time and time again players who CAN play often DO play for the veteran minimum or at far less than market value and springboard that into a lucrative new contract.

The notion that some suggest that because he got a lucrative contract 4 years ago he refuses to play now for fear of injury doesn't mesh with the fact that nearly every player in the NFL does everything they possibly can to extend their career and gain the next big contract - regardless of the fear of injury.

The thought that Thomas isn't playing today even though he can, but chooses not to because he previously signed a big contract is laughable.

As someone else said his fall was "meteoric" - a far quicker decline than I've seen in a long time - which yes, does constitute a degree of "surprise" even though apparently plenty of average fans now say they saw it coming.

it's not inconceivable that he doesn't want to play for vet. minimum. Many vets do, but many is not all. He may have reached a point where the practices and wear and tear just isn't worth it to him. Would you put yourself through playing for a minimal contract when it would increase your net worth by 2%? maybe, but maybe he wouldn't.

 

[shirtsleeve]

Oh Pats, we got hosed...

 

[PatsDeb]

They said on the radio today that he just had a visit with the Bengals. Maybe he will see the field yet...