This is why I love Ron Borges. He covers the Patriots for a living, but he absolutely HATES the Patriots, the Krafts, and Bill Belichick. It drives Patriots fans nuts, and makes for great, great drama. Here, he gives us his free agent evaluations on msnbc.com on Friday: Two days later, after the Patriots sign the guy, he writes a review of the signing for Patriots fans everywhere: Now THAT's great sportswriting!!
A Thomas was a huge defensive pick up for the patsies. The guy is 29 years old. He has just entered his prime, and can play 5 defensive positions. Belichick used to coach LT when he was dc of the Giants. I think he might know how to use a guy with Thomas's abilities.
I dont know if he has just ENTERED his prime considering he had a number of quality years before end. You also have to take into account the arguments that the writer makes. No defensive players from the ravens that have hit free agency have turned out to be worth what they are getting. And, the fact that they keep the players that are very quality players, (Ray Lewis, Ed Reed). Plus, correct if i am wrong, don't the ravens have a decent amount of cap room? so if this guy really is this great player wouldn't they have re-signed him or AT LEAST franchised tagged him?
The ravens did not have enough cap room to keep Adalius. They begged him to stay, and he declined. Check out his stats on nfl.com, and you will see what I was talking about with the "prime" comment. Adalius did not just enter his prime, he is in the early stages of it imo. As for Ron Borges he is not credible.This is the same guy who ripped them when they took Richard Seymour in the draft. He is proven to flip flop with most all his articles. My brother ( lives in Boston) actually told me about a big scandel with this Ron guy I guess he was caught writing different opinions on the same topics and flip flopping all over the place. not a good thing if you write for a credible news paper. My brother is a jets fan, dont worry. Lets look at his sacks alone. Starting three years ago they went 8, 9 and 11. Thomas is 29 so lets give him his best year next year, then assume he declines. Looking at his stats there is no reason to think these numbers would not be at least in the ball park. For the next 5 years. Of course this is speculation but most everything is when discussing the future of any player. 12 , 11, 9, 8, 7 He is going to be very effective no matter how you slice it. Thomas can play 5 defesnive positions WELL at 270 lbs. He was a great pickup. I wish we could have grabbed him. His true value is the flexibilty he gives them. For ex vrable can move back outside Thomas can play any defensive position etc etc.
I disagree w/ what he orignally wrote and agree w/ his most recent article. I am not sold on Thomas, I am wary of raven defenders that they allow to leave as they never have success elsewhere and to give a guy who really was a slightly better version of bryan Thomas last year around a $20 mil bonus that's crazy.
They didn't allow him to leave they have no money, zip, nadda they couldn't sign him and have a draft. They have 18 Million in cap tied up in McCalister and Lewis.
This post is crazy. If Thomas signed with this team you would be going crazy. The guy is 270 lbs and can play every position on defense. What more does he have to do to "sell" you. Your theorys are incorrect, imo. The ravens begged Thomas not to leave. They had zero cap space to retain him. Another thing, how do you know what the bonus number is? It is undisclosed. My guess is you are going on rumors. Until you see official contract numbers from the team, numbers mean shit.You are going on rumors. The Boston media has it lower then that. For a team with a glaring weakness at Linebacker, and 29.5 million in cap space this was a great move. Although people on here are claiming Joey Porter is better then Thomas so I cannot say I am shocked. If the patriots use one of there two draft picks on a de or linebacker, they will have totally reloaded the lb position. Wifork and Warren are 26 Seymour is 28, Thomas is 30 and if they draft a Patrick Willis he is 22. I am not sold on Payton Manning he is 30! All down hill from here at that age!!!
Incorrect, I said last week I didn't want Thomas unless he came at a reasonable price. The peyton manning comparison is a valid one, yep Adalius Thomas i the defensive version of peyton manning
My point was that manning is over 30.Thomas is a fanstastic player.You have no idea what his "price" was. Media in Boston has him signing for less then what you said. That team has 29.5 million bucks. They needed a lb right now, they went out and got a great one. But since it is the pats, now he "sucks". The pats got him cheaper then he would have been had he been on the market long. He took less then he could have gotten to play there, stop being a hater. With the salery cap they had he was "at the right price" If they draft a young lb they totally retooled the position in one swipe. Love how Mangini comes here and everyone has the 2001 pats philosophy they made fun off. You are right tho, a 270 lb linebacker who can play every defensive position WELL in the 3-4 is not that great! Oh by the way 30 aint old. The ravens begged him to stay btw, they did not have the cash to make it happen. If the jets got this guy, I am 100 percent certain there would be a circle jerk going on right now about how great Thomas is. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6619100303747361776&q=adalius+thomas
I am not jealous at all, I am happy the Pats have abandoned their proven formula of success. Bryan Thomas put up nearly the same #s as Adalius Thomas, I think people are overrating AT. he was surrouned by HOF players in Baltimore, a few years ago everyone went gaga for Edgarton hartwell and he was a bust in Atlanta. The Pats haven't won buying expensive FAs.
I wouldn't be involved. Check out my posts on AT from the last couple of weeks. I didn't want him and I am glad we didn't get him.
There proven forumla did not work these last two years. They where exposed in the linebacking position in the afc title game. I have no idea why you think spending a chunk of there 29.5 million is going against there formula.The forumla has changed a bit since 2001. but picking up versitle multi talented "football players" with high charector has not. They have established team with holes to fill. The 2001 patriots where not an established team. They had holes to fill all over the place, not select spots that needed improvement. You know they where up against the cap for many of those first years right? Getting Thomas is in there formula. A versitile multi talented guy. Bellichick spent a week with him at the pro bowl working with him. Obvioulsy he felt he was worth picking up. If they draft a young linebacker they will be building through the draft and free agency. A luxery they have for playing the cap game smart. Take a look at the salery cap charts, all the other contenders are at the bottom while they are at the top. They are going to have cap space left over after these signings, people need to wake up.
It's been proven that signing expensive FAs never works and NE had a formula that was working. They still got to the AFC Title Game last year. the dynasty is fading away and they are getting desperate and I love it. Thye have been cheap w/ their core Chmpionship players and now they are doling out huge SB's, how do you think that will go over in the LR? Show me the teams that have won SBs by signing big $ FAs.
They signed one big money free agent! He has a smaller cap number then Richard Seymour by the way. How would you have liked them to fill the lb hole? They are not building a team to make a run. they signed a hell of a replacement to sure up that lb spot. They are already there! So if they where good enough to ge to the title game last year, and now they improved where they where exposed since this guy cost some cash they all the sudden will suck. Hmmmm ok, lol.
The #s haven't come out in regards to the guaranteed money so how do you know his cap # is less than Seymour? They didn't just overpay for Thomas, they signed wes Welker to a ridiculous offer sheet for a 3rd WR/medicore return man. They are making un-Patriot like moves and it's good to see.
The truth about A Thomas is somewhere in the middle of those 2 posts... ALthough he is not a true star and is not dominant, he can be a great complimentary player around the right personell who can add alot of athleticism, speed and versatility to a defense. Why I'm not overly concerned about the Pats signing him, is for one, obviously the heavy contract he recieved, and secondly, i don't think he makes the Pats that much better.
What it does is make them a little better and a little more diverse on D. It also takes away a glaring need heading into a draft where they are sitting on two No. 1's and have an opportunity to move up and add a legit playmaker to their O.
Where are the stars he is complimenting on the NE D? They don't have a Ray lewis, they don't have an Ed Reed. he is going to be relied upon alot and I think Pat fans will be disappointed. I am not saying he's a bad player but he's not a star and they are paying him like he is and Jet fans are running for the hills like he is.
My brother lives and Boston and had major media reporting his cap hit is 7.5 million. The patriots are obviously using a backloaded pill approach to the Welker sheet. He will never see a fraction of that money. If you think he is gonig to make anywhere near 35 million you are high.The best part about it is the walker deal is pure speculation. No one has any idea the true nature of the offer. Seems to me the only people calling walker mediocere are people on this site. By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com Already more active than usual in the early stages of free agency, as evidenced by their agreement with standout unrestricted linebacker Adalius Thomas, the New England Patriots are poised to make another bold move. A team source told ESPN.com on Saturday that the Patriots plan to sign Miami wide receiver Wes Welker, a three-year veteran and an explosive all-around performer, to a restricted free agent offer sheet in an attempt to pirate him away from the Dolphins. The Dolphins earlier this week made Welker a qualifying offer of $1.3 million. When the Patriots officially execute the offer sheet to Welker, the Dolphins will have seven days to either match it or pass on it. If Miami matches the offer sheet, it will retain Welker at the terms of the deal New England negotiated with him. If the Dolphins do not match the offer sheet, they will receive a second-round pick in the 2007 draft from the Patriots as compensation. Surrendering a second-round choice for a player of Welker's abilities would be viewed in most quarters, but especially in New England, as a steal. Welker would dramatically upgrade the New England wide receiver corps and the Pats would also benefit by taking him away from a division opponent. Plus, the Patriots own a pair of first-round choices in the 2007 draft, and can afford to part with a second-round selection for a player of Welker's skills. Welker, 25, is a terrific, if unheralded playmaker who has earned a spot on the ESPN.com "all unsung" team each of the past two seasons. Used principally as a return specialist in his first two seasons in the league, Welker emerged as a viable receiving threat in 2006, with 67 catches for 687 yards and a touchdown. The former Texas Tech standout originally entered the NFL with San Diego in 2004 as an undrafted college free agent. He was waived by the Chargers early in the 2004 season and signed with the Dolphins shortly thereafter. In 47 appearances, including three starts, Welker has 96 receptions for 1,121 yards and one touchdown. He has returned 170 kickoffs for an average of 22.7 yards and one touchdown and has 127 punt returns for a 9.7-yard average and one score. Securing the services of restricted free agents historically has proved to be a difficult undertaking with the current system. In the 14 previous years of free agency, only 55 restricted free agents changed teams. Four restricted free agents changed teams in 2006. In another move aimed at bolstering their offense, the Patriots on Saturday reached agreement with unrestricted free agent tailback Sammy Morris, who played the last three seasons for the Miami Dolphins. Morris will provide an experienced backup to youngster Laurence Maroney and could compensate for the release of Corey Dillon earlier this week. A seven-year veteran, Morris has carried 374 times for 1,469 yards and 14 touchdowns and has 112 catches for 792 yards and one score. Morris, 29, also is an excellent special teams performer.
