News is just breaking over the 'net, more details likely to come soon.
http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/patriots/?p=1012
Printable View
News is just breaking over the 'net, more details likely to come soon.
http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/patriots/?p=1012
Damn, I thought we would have had a chance to land him now that the 9ers signed Clements and Lewis. I hope this is false.
That was really the guy I wanted most. [insert profanity]
Pats make splash, land Thomas
By John Tomase/ Breaking News
Boston Herald Sports Writer
Friday, March 2, 2007 - Updated: 08:27 PM EST
Making one of the boldest strikes in franchise history, the Patriots [team stats] tonight have agreed to a preliminary deal with free agent linebacker Adalius Thomas.
According to sources with knowledge of the negotiations, the Patriots beat out the ***** for Thomas, a Pro Bowler and jewel of the free agent class who is considered a prototypical fit for the Patriots’ 3-4 system.
"Thomas is done there,” the source said.
Terms were not immediately available, but it’s worth noting that cornerback Nate Clements has agreed to an eight-year, $80 million deal with the ***** that included more than $20 million in guaranteed money.
Nicknamed “Slash” for his ability to play any linebacker spot as well as defensive end, defensive tackle, safety and even corner, the 6-foot-2, 270-pound Thomas made one Pro Bowl on special teams and another at linebacker with the Ravens. He recorded a career-high 11 sacks in 2006 and gives the Patriots a formidable linebacking corps that also includes Tedy Bruschi [stats], Mike Vrabel and Rosevelt Colvin.
Selected in the sixth round of the 2000 draft, 13 picks ahead of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady [stats], Thomas worked his way from special teams to starter.
He was only available because the Ravens chose not to franchise him for $7.2 million.
“That was not an 11th-hour decision,” said Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome. “We’ve been facing that since the beginning of training camp, knowing that we could have to make that decision. I think it was a fair decision. I think it was fair for the organization and for A.D. I think it was the fair thing to do.”
The Patriots would apparently agree.
I'm still wondering why Baltimore even allowed Thomas to hit the market. I don't know their cap situation but since they're a really good team i figured they would franchise him for one year and give themselves the best opportunity to make a run at the Superbowl.
They didn't have the cap room. They were 5 mil under and needed 7 to franchise Thomas (thereabouts). They might've been able to cut a few players and rework some contracts, but in the end they wouldn't have a whole lot of room to operate, and Ozzie Newsome stated that he wasn't going to mortgage the future one good year.
At least he is not in the division.
Contract terms: five-years, $37.5 million total, $24 million in the first three years