oh i'm not saying to cut him now, or even bench him just because of last year. i think everybody should start TC on the same foot and earn their spots. if he earns a starting spot (which i think he will) more power to him. i just think he'll get that spot due to the learning curve of gholston, and not so much because he's the best player. if he performs this year and puts up monster numbers especially in the playoffs like manning did, then yeah absolutely keep him for 09. i just don't see it happening and i think he'll be cut. (god i hope i'm not sounding like jeaux and making predictions)
Nope. You sound like you're taking a rational approach to the situation, which is all that I've been advocating.
Very fair analyst. The two things you left out was the physical confrontation he had with his girlfriend in the airport his rookie year, and the fact that he said basically the same thing around week 10 last season. Players like this are just so frustrating to fans, and the coaching staff. They have all the talent in the world, when they want to. They just don't want to until they have to. He can play OLB very well. He proved that in 06 with 8.5 sacks. My prediction is, if he wants to collect the remaining millions on his contract he will be very motivated, 10-12 sacks. he now has serious competition. The problem is, Gholson, and Miller have been accused of the same type mind set. We'll see
We’re not talking about a dog peeing on a carpet here, my friend. We’re talking about a 6 year veteran who decided to take a year off because he finally got paid. I must say I am amazed about how forgiveable we are w/our own players when every other free agent was considered damaged goods because they reaked of being the 1 year paycheck season player. Granted, we’ll be using different fronts & looks on the D this year, but it seems to me that the CS & FO has already begun the process of phasing him out of the future plans --- evident by Calvin Pace in FA + Vernon Gholston in the draft. Everyone wants to blame the CS & FO for this, but I say the opposite --- appears to me they are going out & getting the players who are dedicated. If this was HERM & BRADWAY, they would have stuck w/B. Thomas unconditionally.
I am pretty sure the CS are going to be working him mard this preseason. I like the fact that he admitted to it and sees the problem. competition will make him try harder and I am sure the CS will too. I hope he bounces back and works his ass off, either way no big deal Gholston and Pace are going to be good together.
i think thats the exact problem. Thomas came in under Herm and Bradway and thought the NFL was college. Now hes under a real coach who doesnt have BBQ's on the weekend. and realizes what it takes to be an NFL player. another plausible explanation. either way its this simple. He performs or he doesnt see the field. He couldve just as easy said well last yr we were 4-12. the guy literally admits "i better shape up or my ass is gone" doesnt get any more black and white than that. i know the main argument is, hey this guy is a professional making millions no excuse. well you play football that long practice will lose meaning unless you have a coach willing to remind you. plain and simple.
next to drob he is bradway's biggest bust--it is not his fault-he didn't tell boobway to pick him so high--I remember reading that boobway and herm where SHOCKED at Thomas' first practice when greybeard jumbo elliot threw thomas around like a rag doll. when that idiot first contract finally about expired Mangini stupidly inked Thomas to a long term extension--who says Boobway doesn't still have some clout? They'd never admit he and Drob were bad picks.
Thomas's struggles were largely due to the CS taking him out of a position he played very well at in 2006 (WOLB) to one he was new at (SOLB) in 2007. With the addition of Pace and Gholston, both SOLBs, Thomas should be allowed to simply plug the hole and return to form, maybe not as the elite player he was in 2006, but at least as competent a run-stuffer as he was in 2006. I mean, the guy had 77 tackles and 9 sacks 2 years ago. He's shown flashes of tremendous talent. He's finally in a system where he can excel (the opposite of what happened with Robertson) and I expect a big bounceback campaign from Bryan.
Great post, man. I guarantee you if this was any other player(aside from maybe D rob) there wouldnt be this much backlash. This all goes back to people hating BT b/c of where he was selected in the draft. He actually wasnt that bad last season. He was just moved to a different position that didnt allow him to make quite as many plays. But no one wants to hear that...all they wanna hear is that he got lazy after getting his big contract and that he is a bust.
The last part is correct. He went to the other side, dropped back in coverage a lot more, and he didn't put the extra work in when needed. But I think if he was in the position last season, he would've had 6 sacks and the critics wouldn't be as angry as they are.
By no means am I saying that I'm thrilled w/ his production, nor am i saying that i was ever thrilled on his draft day selection... I just get tired of Jet fans ROOTING against players b/c they secretly want to label them a bust. The fact is...just b/c a guy isn't the star he was pegged to be...or just b/c he didnt live up to his draft status..doesnt mean he cant contribute and help the jets win football games. That's all that matters to me. Players helping the jets win games. I dont care if they were taken first overall or if they were mr. irrelevant. All that matters is...can they help the team? Jet fans lose sight of that though. It's gotten to the point where unless you're the next Brady/LT/Montana/Tomlinson.... being the jets 1st round pick is a death sentence b/c the fans expect you to be a hall of famer, and if you're not...you're nothing but a bust. Case in point: i've actually heard post day jet fans COMPLAINING about the selections of Marty Lyons and Freeman McNeil way back when.
You know I think we're getting a little off track here. I was very happy for this guy when he finally seemed to be put into the WOLB position in 2006. In no way was the DE position (even in a 4-3 D) the proper place for him. I could understand him feeling like a square peg being constantly pushed into a round hole. The guy truly thrived in that new position & it seemed like the 3-4 on the outside was a perfect fit for his athleticism. What bothers me is that after 6 seasons, this guy needs to constantly have a fire under his a$$. And then we pony up the $$ for him to keep him & by his own admission he says he slacked off??? S--t, if he said he found the switch from weak side to strong side to be something he had trouble adjusting to, then I could understand the dropoff in production. But to hear him say that he didnt practice hard after we signed him to an extension????? Sorry, but if Asante Samuel comes up w/a lame season like B. Thomas did, and you guys were Philly fans, you should be asking for his head on a platter. And we all want to turn around & hug & hold this guy because he admitted his mistake. Tannenbaum is probably furious feeling like he got hoodwinked. No wonder the FO went out agressively to get his replacement. Think about what happens to you guys when you slack off at your job, you usually end up making a trip to the Department of Labor.
OH my god, people! I am so disgusted with some of you. This prick freeloads on our sacred team for three years and then pulls out a mediocre (Yes, mediocre) year during a contract year so he can get paid and stay in the good graces of a new regime. Then, while being PAID MILLIONS (fucking plural!) OF DOLLARS he phones in an entire year of football?! And you guys are saying, "give him a second chance?!" WTF?! HE HAD 16 CHANCES LAST SEASON!!!!!! Did you watch any of those games?! Bryan Thomas was a total non-factor!!!! I was personally insulted watching Bryan Thomas play football last year. It was as if he was saying, "Fuck you, Dan, I'm eating sushi off a stripper's titty tonight: enjoy the loss, punk." Here's how we handle this prick. He's motivated now that we've drafted his replacement? Aww, that's swell. I hope he does great in training camp and really tears it up in the preseason. Then, I hope Tannenbaum pulls him into his office and says "Bryan, you've been great but we need to trade you; we want to make you happy, so just let us know where you DON'T want to go and we'll work it out." Then, when that douchebag says "Detroit," we get Matt Millen on the phone and dump his ass for peanuts. I hate Bryan Thomas. All of you should too. He's the weakest goddamn starter on our entire team. I hope Vernon Gholston eats his soul in training camp.
Dude, you are deluded. I hate Tom Brady, but if you don't think LaDainian Tomlinson, Brady and Peyton Manning are working round-the-clock all year long to become better players you seriously underestimate the nature of the NFL. The Lawrence Taylor days are long gone. The greats these days work hard, period. Even the assholes, like Chad Johnson, TO, Shawn Merriman- they work there asses off all week. You don't last too long when you start phoning it in. (see "Alexander, Shaun")
Why do people make such a big thing about contracts anymore? It's not like this is baseball where Thomas would be guaranteed all the money. And it's not like the money is/was absurd. This guy better play better, but like all our players I think he will...
You can never have too many pass rushing specialists, especially those who are also solid against the run like Thomas. The Giants have guys like Tuck, Strahan, Umeniyiora, Wilkinson and Kiwanuka, all of who are good at getting after the passer. I'm hoping that the combination of Bowens, Pace, Gholston, Harris, Ellis and Thomas will be able deliver about 45-50 sacks this season with another 5-10 more coming from Coleman, Rhodes, Revis and Jenkins.
