Link: AD Still in Patriot Limbo
Right now, Adalius Thomas is in a sort of football limbo, still with a contract with the Patriots, but seemingly not likely to be retained for the 2010 season, especially after some famous back-and-forths with this coaching staff.
Shalise Manza-Young of the Boston Globe travels to Hattiesburg, (heard that town before?) home of AD to find out what his deal is.
Last summer, Thomas got more news: In his words, he was told he was “not a good pass rusher” and that his role would be changing. He had not yet returned to the field from his arm injury, though at the time he was hurt, he had five sacks in 10 games.
“I look at it like this: There are only six [active] outside linebackers with 50-plus sacks. I’m one of them. To say after the injury that, ‘OK, you’re not a good enough pass rusher,’ I just can’t . . . I can’t buy that. I’m not saying I’m the best in the world or anything like that, but . . .”
It’s a sound strategy by the Pats. Not only are they blocking opponents (like the Jets) from picking up the player, but with no salary cap, there’s no reason to cut the like player unnecessarily. The Pats will wait to see what they do in the draft, (which will include a DE/OLB of the future) and then go from there in terms of their status with Adalius Thomas.
It’s this blocking move, I believe, that has made Ryan so antsy to get a player like Taylor, who is available here and now. Waiting for the Patriots to release Thomas would be a test of patience he’s willing to try. He’s got to increase his pass-rush, and rookie 3-4 DE/OLBs are notoriously unproductive in year one.
(via ESPN AFC East Blog)
10 Responses to Link: AD Still in Patriot Limbo
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rusty sanchez says:
it sounds like adalius is going to be cut…so the jets should take the offer from taylor off the table and tell him to go and scissor with marc anthony in miami…while we wait for thomas to get cut
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Eddie DiGio says:
scissor me timbers!!!!!!!!!!
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Go ahead and take AD. The Jets have signed enough headaches, it will come back to haunt them. Here’s why… http://bit.ly/8XFAvz
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Green Lantern says:
Saversports –
Go Away Troll. -
Green goblin says:
I’d give Jason Taylor a draft deadline. If he doesn’t choose the Jets then I’d wait for Thomas to get cut by the Patriots. If by some chance he’s not cut , there will be some decent pass rush specialist that will be available in June…
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Xtina says:
Why does the headline say “AD” in limbo? who is AD
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Bent says: AD has been Adalius Thomas’ nickname since school.
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SackDance99 says:
Bassett,
Hmmmm, not sure the statement “rookie 3-4 DE/OLBs are notoriously unproductive in year one” is all that accurate. The following DEs/OLBs drafted since 1999 were very productive as rookies: Merriman, Ware, Orakpo, Freeney, Peppers, Castillo, Warren, Seymour, Ellis, Abraham, Kearse, Matthews, Cushing, Suggs, Peterson and several others. Sure, some aren’t 3-4 DEs/OLBs or weren’t as rookies, but Rex plays 4-3 a lot and often has his OLBs put their hand on the ground. Yes, there have been a fair number of busts (see Gholston, Vernon) but the percentage of 1st round DE’s and OLBs who were productive as rookies is somewhere around 40% (and many, like Mario Williams or Kerney, developed nicely thereafter).
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BTW that Saver Sports guy’s explanation of “why” the Jets will be snakebitten this season is one of the worst, totally one sided, pitiful excuse for an objective football post that Ive ever read…
Its should be called “How Pats can lie to themselves so they can sleep at night”…
Just a putrid job by Saver sports
I don’t get how his agent isn’t freaking out over this. If I’m that agent I’m telling the Patriots make a decision or you’re going to have difficulty signing my other clients. Its just a really jerky move by the Patriots, not that thats surprising.