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The New England Patriots have released two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Adalius Thomas just about one day after the 2010 NFL Draft.
The Pats and Thomas were had some good times, but mostly bad times.
Thomas never panned out to become the caliber of pass rusher on Bill Belichick’s defense that he wanted him to be after acquiring Thomas for the 2007 season.
In three years, Thomas never had no more than 6.5 sacks and that was in his first year with the Pats.
Last year, Thomas was late for two meetings and he blamed the weather for his tardiness both times, but Belichick didn’t see it that way and benched him for the game that week against the Panthers.
Thomas was back in the starting lineup the following week, but the disciplinary action left a bad taste in his mouth, and obviously the tardiness left the Pats with a mutual feeling hence the cut.
Now Thomas is one of, if not, the biggest free agent names on the market and he could easily land with the Jets, Ravens, Dolphins, Chiefs, and even the Cleveland Browns.
Why the Browns do you ask?
Because the defensive coordinator is Rob Ryan, who is the twin brother of Jet head coach, and former Ravens defensive coordinator who coached Thomas, Rex Ryan.
If the price is right for Thomas the Browns would use a veteran pass rusher on the edge of their 3-4 defense, which Ryan sometimes runs as a 4-6 and 4-3 defense as well depending on the situation.
Ryan may use many formations that are similar to his twin brother since they are both sons of defensive guru Buddy Ryan.
Thomas could step into the Browns’ defense already knowing many of the formations since he played for Rex.
Yeah, this is all speculation and blind hope, but there could also be a slim chance that the Browns land Thomas as a dark horse only if the price is right and not too expensive.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
The 2010 NFL Draft is barely over and teams are already cutting players who have been replaced by rookies that were drafted.
One of the first casualties is Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas.
Thomas had an interesting two week span in 2009, when he was late for two meeting and got benched for the following game as disciplinary action by head coach Bill Belichick.
Now that he is on the market, there will be several teams that could be highly interested in picking up the Pro Bowler.
As the countdown begins until draft day 2010, there are still several players who are trade bait for teams to gain last second picks before the first round begins on April 22.
Of these players, some are names that have been flung around the trade grapevine multiple times this offseason, and other names are newer to the list due to recent wheeling and dealing by NFL teams.
The following (in no particular order) are the top players who may end up getting traded right before the first pick of the 2010 NFL Draft is named by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
The last time the Baltimore Ravens met the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs, Adalius Thomas was wearing a purple jersey.
That was the 2006 AFC Divisional Playoffs. This is now.
Almost three years removed from agreeing to a $35 million contract with the New England Patriots in the spring of 2007, Thomas has not been anything close to the All-Pro caliber player that Bill Belichick thought he had acquired.
In the three seasons he started for the Ravens’ defense, Thomas averaged nearly 80 tackles and over nine sacks each season, including a Pro-Bowl campaign in 2006 and a league-leading three non-offensive touchdowns in 2005. Thomas saw time at linebacker, cornerback, defensive end and special teams, maximizing the rare speed and strength he possessed in his 6’2,” 270-pound frame. He was a smart player that grew to be a fan favorite in Baltimore, a face of Rex Ryan’s vaunted defensive unit.
When he signed with the Patriots on March 3 following the 2006 season, the Ravens were sad to let him go, knowing they had lost a good player to higher pay. Since that time, however, the phrase “I wish we had Adalius back” has not been common refrain. Role players and stars alike, including Jarret Johnson, Jameel McClain, Trevor Pryce, Brendon Ayanbadejo, and Terrell Suggs, have taken over different parts of Thomas’ former duties and have played well in those areas.
Thomas, on the other hand, has suffered in the painfully cold New England weather and similarly frigid playing environment that is Bill Belichick’s locker room. After being elected a defensive captain at the start of the season, Thomas has been frozen out twice, deactivated from the 45-man game roster against Tennessee and Carolina despite being healthy. The second time was the result of being one of four players late to an 8 AM meeting on a morning when traffic was congested due to a morning snowfall.
Said Thomas: “Sending somebody home, that’s like, ‘You’re expelled until you come back and make good grades.’ Get that [expletive] out of here. It’s ridiculous.“
In his three years with the Patriots, Thomas’ numbers have been significantly less than billed.
He hasn’t had an interception or scored a touchdown since 2007, and his sack total in that time has been 14.5, barely half of his production level in Baltimore. Much of Thomas’ decreased stat totals may have had to do with his progressively diminishing playing time (he played just over 50 percent of New England’s defensive snaps this season), but that’s also a chicken-or-egg rationale that might suggest he wasn’t playing as well in the first place.
Thomas will probably not survive the offseason in New England (even if he wants to) unless a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. Under the present salary cap terms, the Patriots would owe Thomas a figure north of four million dollars for the next two seasons if they were to release him at this time.
At 32, he still has a few good years left in the tank and could be an attractive free agent pickup (if he is released) for teams looking to shore up their pass rush, but his disgruntled public behavior and recent under-performance won’t help him in that regard.
So much for the grass being greener in New England.
Sources: Boston Globe, ESPN
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