Oct. 23, 2006 Home > The Way We Hear It ~ ~ ~ NY Jets While there has been much discussion about the players struggling to fit into the Jets? 3-4 defense, OLB-DE Bryan Thomas has fit in extremely well in the new system and is emerging as a playmaker, leading the team in tackles in Weeks Five and Six. The 2002 first-round draft pick has impressed the coaches by being hardworking and coachable, and he?s having his best season in a contract year. We hear he?s ecstatic about his emerging role on the team and finally believes he?s being used properly after biding his time as a backup for most of his first four years behind John Abraham and Shaun Ellis. Jets head coach Eric Mangini has sung Thomas? praises in recent weeks, and word is the 27-year-old is playing his way into the Jets? long-term plans > http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/The+Way+We+Hear+It/default.htm?mode=afceast
If there's one thing I WOULDN'T call Thomas at this point in his career, it's "Playmaker." When you think of playmaker, guys like Ed Reed, Vilma, Ray Lewis, Kerry Rhodes, Merriman (even with the drugs in his system) come into your head- Thomas isn't in that group. I wonder if the author was being felated by Thomas before, during or after he wrote this article. I like Thomas, don't get me wrong- but he's not there yet.....
I agree Koz, and am also bothered by this line "he?s having his best season in a contract year" How often have we seen this before....
that killed us with James Farrior. if something similar happened again with Thomas, I'd feel like a little kid whos ice cream fell off his cone.
Well, he's also having his best year not playing DE, but LB, and that is where I contribute his success. Contract year doesn't hurt though......
Contract year or not, he's not putting up an equivalent season to Farrior, and whatever money we offer him should be reasonable. He's not in line for a big payday. Thomas is showing that he can start in this system, but he's not showing anything extraordinary, and he shouldn't be paid above a certain value. -X-
Thomas played very well for 1/2 the year filling in for Abe in 2004. He recieved much praise for his play down the strectch in 2004. I would not just say its the 3-4 but more of a chance to play regularly. With Abe and Ellis he really did not have much of an oppurtunity to play regularly. Outside of 2004 this is his first chance to start for a long strecth. Practice is great but playing in real games can often help a player make a lot more progress. But I do agree he seems betetr suited for the 3-4. I am glad to see him do well he seems to have had a lot of adversity since coming into the league.
