Patriots reportedly land LB Adalius Thomas

[Nick]

News is just breaking over the 'net, more details likely to come soon.

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/patriots/?p=1012

[Warner Pride]

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.

[Brain Daddy]

That was really the guy I wanted most. [insert profanity]

[Nick]

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.

[Rampage39]

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.

[Brain Daddy]

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.

[BigDaddyPace]

At least he is not in the division.

[Nick]

Contract terms: five-years, $37.5 million total, $24 million in the first three years