Bryan Thomas ‘Too Complacent’ in 2007
Yesterday, Bryan Thomas spoke to the press candidy about his self-assessment of his 2007 season, saying that he slacked off substantially after getting his big contract.
“It’s not hard to realize my numbers were off. My practice habits weren’t good last year and those things carried over to Sunday. Maybe I got too complacent. In this league, you can’t do that. You have to stay on your toes all the time. And now you have competition in here, so you know you can’t do it. You have to go out and work hard every day. If not, I’ll have my (butt) on the sidelines watching and I don’t want that to happen. That hurt me, seeing that my numbers were down. I don’t want (people to say), ‘Okay, you did good one year.’ I don’t want to be analyzed as that. It’s a matter of pride. I can’t let my numbers be like that again. We have too many good players on this defense to let one guy be the weak link.”
It’s his own admission, and I do think that it affected his play in 2007. I still think that part of Thomas’ failures in 2007 were OCs learning to scheme against the Jets, and neutralizing Victor Hobson on the other side causing Thomas to consistently face more doubles.
Reality check time, Mr. Thomas. Maybe signing him to such a lucrative long-term deal was a mistake, but with Calvin Pace and Vernon Gholston now waiting in the wings, the Jets aren’t wasting any time trying to fill such a crucial role in the 3-4. If Thomas isn’t ready to do what it takes to win, the team is more than willing to find someone else who will.
36 Responses to Bryan Thomas ‘Too Complacent’ in 2007
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Maybe moving him to the inside, create a pass-rushing front with him, Gholston and Pace (with Harris as the 4th). Thomas is actually pretty decent as a run-stuffer, so it might be the best option for him.
andaplayertobenamedlater.blogspot.com
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Butch says:
I Pace and Gholston play well, a motivated Thomas will be great to have to hit Brady more while the others take a break.
Brady should be concerned after the way the Giants beat his goat-boy ass.
I can imagine Gholston sacking him into the turf right now. They will be calling Gholston Chupacabra after the way he jacks up goat-boy Brady game after game.
lol
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You gotta give props to BT for this statement. He didn’t blame the media, or the system, or his contract, instead he took responsibility for his play.
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lou says:
I think if Thomas plays up to his potential this year there should be no reason why he sits on the bench even with Pace and Gholston playing which I think he will.
It would just add another dimension to our defense…
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rsmithline says:
I agree Joe.
I have much more respect for BT now. It is hard making an admission like that and bodes well for his effort level this year.
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ramble914 says:
I’m really impressed by the way BT was able to figure that out. Wow, and it only took five yeras in the league to do so.
What a joke.
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ramble914, I think you are forgetting that BT was one of our best defensive players in 06.
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Joe,
That, in itself, is a sad commentary.
But, what does that have to do with anything. Here is a 5 year veteran who just got a lucrative contract and he forgets he has to play the following year. BT has had one good year, 2006, other than that he has been nothing.
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Furthermore…
The organization takes a chance on him and rewards him for the one good year he has, and he gets complacent when he should be grateful and play his butt off in 2007? I don’t get it.
Like I said…what a joke.
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SackDance99 says:
The Jets’ best LB set up for this season is: LOLB-Pace; LILB-Barton; RILB-Harris; ROLB-BT. Gholston will not be ready to take over at ROLB and, at best, will be a situational pass rusher, who might come in and put his hand down for a 4-3 look or come in for Barton or BT and line up all over. If BT wants to keep his job, he’ll have to step up. It’s an interesting idea to project BT as the LILB, but he’ll have to show a lot more in the run defense to prove that he can make the switch. In any event, he’s on the hot seat because Gholston was not drafted to be a situational sub forever.
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vbsiena24 says:
Said what you want. At least Hobson tried on the field and it showed last season. He was out of position but still WAY BETTER than BT.
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Hopefully Calvin Pace doesn’t act this way after getting HIS big contract!
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Bent says: Hobson’s pass rushing last year was a huge weakness. He did have a decent year in 2006 though and you are probably correct in saying that he outplayed BT, although that isn’t saying much.
However, I’m glad he has admitted to this, as it will make it pretty impossible for him to dog it again this year and at least it explains why he was less effective than in the past. At least he wasn’t trying as hard as he possibly could only to put up bad numbers because ’06 was just a fluke.
I guess it’s better to be a one-year wonder than a zero-year wonder, huh? Play like you did in 2006 and all will be forgiven.
It’s nice that he admitted it, but it would be preferable if he just played hard the whole time, like the rest of the team, instead of having to make an admission like this.
I wonder if Chris Baker (who believes he has earned more money than his contract provided for by playing hard) thinks that BT should pay the Jets back some of last year’s salary.
Let’s hope Pace has a different attitude having earned his big money deal last year.
I agree with Sack’s alignment. That does make the most sense. Again, I am not much of a fan of crowbarring guys into the ILB position just to get them all on the field at once, but it’s not unheard of for a 3-4 OLB to make the move inside. Vrabel did it for a while. I’d imagine we might see some of that, but not much, unless Barton or (heaven forbid) the DH got hurt.
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Ramble, I see your point that BT (or any vet) should instinctively know that they have to put out every year, but Bassett made a great point that the other team’s OCs really game planned to double BT as Hobson wasn’t much of a factor, which was different than in 06. I respect BT for taking the heat but I also believe that lack of talent around him (and better game planning against us) hurt him alot. It also says something that our DC couldn’t help BT out by better game planning against those double teams. Obviously, it’s in our best interest that BT play well this year so I’m pulling for him. It’s certainly do or die for him – another bad year and BT is toast. I don’t like the idea of trading another highly paid vet for a 6th round pick or more if he performs well, but if that happens next year, so be it. It’s up to BT.
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dakar says:
ramble
im with you…i dont care to respect a guy who admits to being lazy and wasn’t dedicated to winning…who was being outplayed by bowens…his backup…heres a guy who’s going into his 7th year with tthe jets and every year i hear excuses to why we should keep him or why he played horribly…
gholston was chewed up and spit out by alot of you guys in here and he hasn’t even played a down for us to prove what he can do but yet you all respect a guy who has admitted to having a losers mentality…i just dont understand it…even though my thoughts run alot deeper on this matter im just gonna add…BT= BUST…
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Bent says:
I agree, but if he plays hard from now on, all is forgiven. Of course, then he’ll probably think he’s underpaid and ask for more money!
I’d say I respect him more than John Abraham who mailed in a season when we were in contention and blamed everyone but himself, but nowhere near as much as someone who just plays hard so they never have a reason to own up to their own deficiencies.
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neauonw says:
Pay me millions of dollars and short of killing someone, I will play my heart out. This is a sad commentary on his character, this is a player with no motivation.
Trade this guy or cut him, one year in 5 he plays well and we reward him with 25 million dollars, than “he says” he slacked off? Give me a break! Hey Mangini I need a job, could you spare an extra say 100,000.00 per year, I’ll go scout for you from 9am -9pm, 365. I’ll give it my all, I’ll eat, sleep, etc. football. -
nyr2k2 says:
We can all piss and moan that BT is overpaid, lacks motivation, etc, but in the end, who the hell cares as long as he produces? He’s a member of our team so I’m going to root for him to succeed and help us out any way possible.
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Agreed, if he turns it around, all is forgiven. But show me first.
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Reprocity says:
I agree with ramble… An athletes first priority when being interviewed is to tell people what they want to hear. If Ryan Leaf knew that, he’d still be in the NFL. If BT knew he wasnt working hard enuogh dont you think he would have finished up the year on a strong note? His idea was to work harder? Why didn’t I think of that?
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We’re killing BT for being honest? The guy said what we all thought, he didn’t work hard enough and regressed. He could have made a bunch of lame excuses, but manned up. I don’t think he’ll have a long tenure at ROLB because the Jets just drafted (and will be paying a ton of money) to his eventual replacement, VG. But, admitting a mistake, pledging to do better and then actually doing it shows maturity and character. I’m pulling for BT because, even if the Jets decide to part ways, he could be a valuable trade asset. Let’s face it, coming off last season, BT was facing the Turk and all the Jets would’ve gotten out of that is a bad cap hit. Plus, although I doubt it, he could end up replacing Barton.
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The Chad says:
I honestly don’t give BT any points for honesty. we invested a 1st rounder in the guy and he essentially did nothing for the first few years of his career. switching to the 3-4 was a blessing for a guy who cannot take on a OT directly. he had a good, not great, season and made out with a big payday. when did he ever earn the right to slack? he’s not forgiven. if he plays his behind off, i would think about taking him off my “complete bust” board. that’s about it.
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the chad
i agree…let me add…it has to be for the remainder of his contract and not just for the 08 season…he already fooled us once…
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Bent says:
Maybe it is not about the money. Where he says he (maybe) was complacent, perhaps this is because he thought he had “arrived” and had finally “figured out” the NFL, but has learned a stark lesson that you need to practice hard and continually work at your craft otherwise teams will “figure YOU out” or you’ll lose that 5% of fitness that is the difference between stuffing a runner on the edge and letting him get to the corner or sacking the QB and arriving half a second after he makes an uncontested throw on a big play.
Just trying to interpret these comments without the obvious media emphasis of the big “BT admits he was lazy, was presumably laughing at the organisation (sic) and fans behind their backs” story. Actually, his comments are pretty encouraging.
But, yes, he needs to deliver on the field before he can earn our forgiveness (not that our forgiveness is probably any concern of his).
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Harvlis says:
Whether BT was complacent or double teamed — bottom line is, he stunk. The pre-season is where we can find out if he can play or not. He has to come out looking like a rookie with something to prove. I might try him at inside backer, as you need big, run-stopping players at that position. If he shows nothing in pre-season — see ya.
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RayD (CWPOST) says:
Well Mr. BT .. now get your butt in gear and start producing or watch from sidelines. No more excuses !!
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JoeMustGo says:
Who cares whether he confesses his sins to the press and the fans? As long as it wasn’t news to the coaching staff. I assume he was put on notice during his end of the year meeting with Mangini and Sutton.
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Broadway12 says:
Listen !!! I don’t want to hear this from him ! He took the money and just said “The Hell With It” I am tired of this guy he cares nothing about the FANS! The TEAM! I don’t commend him on this admittance We went 4-12 and you did’nt care?????????? This guy does’nt know how fortunate he is because he never should have gotten drafted that high in the 1st place I could care less if he got cut immiediately!
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let he (or she) who has never taken the pedal off the metal in terms of their own job cast the first stone …
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Hey Bassett,
Why do you think I’m posting so much at 10:30am on a Tuesday? LOL!
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pat d says:
Bryan Thomas will produce this year, He got a wake up call when the Jets drafted VG.
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but it may be too little too late
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basset
were not making millions a year…
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Fonzie/Naples says:
Bassett:
One thing is taking the pedal off the metal and we’ve all been guilty of that. Another thing altogether is falling asleep at the wheel. BT is guilty of that and those of us would probably have been fired!!!!
Competition brings out the best in players and for Thomas the competition last year was, lets say…none. This year if Pace or Gholston playes crapy, Thomas will be right there, in ’06 manner.