DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Adalius Thomas

I know he has been talked about a few times since the season ended already....but damn we would be set for few years if we get this guy!! i don't even know if we will...but it b sweet if we do....

What do you guys think? should we go after him? can he be our one player this offseason that we "break the bank" for? I would rather break the bank for a legit guard but i don't think we will get any....
Looks like a real possibility that he might not stay in baltiwhore next season according to this article.....where do you stand? would u want AT on this team?

web page
Touting Thomas

By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports
February 10, 2007
HONOLULU – Memo to the Baltimore Ravens: Linebacker Adalius Thomas' latest free agent audition tape is in the mail. And safety Ed Reed is sending it.

Reed expressed some dismay toward the Ravens Saturday, after watching Thomas return a fumble for a 70-yard touchdown in the AFC's 31-28 win. Thomas, who becomes an unrestricted free agent on March 2, finished the game with three tackles and the fumble return. But the game was a bittersweet highlight for Reed, who expects the cap-strapped Ravens to let Thomas go in the offseason.

"You hate to see the Ravens even put him in this kind of predicament," Reed said. "That goes to show you how shady and how bad the business is and how bad certain organizations are. I really think he should have been signed a long time ago. It should have never gotten to this point. He has been nothing but loyal to them. Not only the city, but the organization. If he gets away, it's a terrible decision on their part. It was a terrible decision to even let it get this far."

As it stands, Thomas is only one of several decisions Baltimore faces. The Ravens would like to pick up another marquee wideout this offseason, and may need to find a replacement for left tackle Jonathan Ogden, who spent the Pro Bowl this week contemplating retirement. And a Ravens team source told Yahoo! Sports last month that the team will be looking for an upgrade over running back Jamal Lewis this offseason.

According to the source, the Ravens feel Lewis has lost his ability to be an explosive player and can only operate behind a fullback. The decision is expected to come to a head before March 3, when the franchise owes him a $5 million roster bonus. Baltimore is expected to cut him before that date, clearing another $1.66 million in cap space, based on the difference between his $5 million base salary next season, and an accelerated cap hit of roughly $3.33 million.

With the cap set at $109 million next season, Thomas is expected to be the next to go, unless the Ravens can restructure several deals and get far enough under the cap to slap the franchise tag on him (at a robust $7.2 million for one season), or compete with what is expected to be a lucrative long-term deal from another team. After finishing this season with a career-high 11 sacks and being considered by some scouts to be Baltimore's best athlete on defense, both of those scenarios seem highly unlikely.

Particularly considering Baltimore will have to outbid several linebacker-needy teams that have ample cap dollars to spend. One likely suitor, the San Francisco 49ers, is expected to be about $35 million under next year's cap. Another, the New England Patriots, should have more than a $25 million surplus.

It will help Thomas' cause that Patriots coach Bill Belichick got a good look at him all week in practice, and left Saturday's game particularly impressed with the fumble return. On that particular play, the ball slipped out of the hand of St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger in the second quarter, took a bounce and landed right in the hands of Thomas, who not only outran everyone on his way to the endzone and a 14-7 AFC edge, but opened his lead along the way.

"He's a terrific athlete," Belichick said. "He really is. And that was a head's up play."

"That's been A.T. all year," added Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs. "Johnny-on-the-spot. Ball rolls right to him and he takes it to the crib. There wasn't anybody that was going to catch him. That's a big part of our defense right there. I hope we do everything we can to get him back, man."

Thomas said afterward that he was open to anything, whether it was getting slapped with the franchise tag, re-signing for a long-term deal, or leaving Baltimore. But clearly he knows a breaking point has arrived – something he thought about as Baltimore's defensive players starred on Saturday, with Reed intercepting two passes and Suggs notching a sack and four tackles.

"It could be my last game with some of these Ravens guys," Thomas said. "If it is, it's been a great run – a great seven years. But it's the business side. They have to do what's best for them and I have to do what's best for me."

Asked whether the fumble return was just a taste of what the free agent suitors will be paying for, Thomas grinned.

"Oh, yeah," he said. "That will cost you a little bit."

I was under the impression that they were talking about putting the franchise tag on Thomas,,, maybe I'm wrong,,,,

Heck of a player,, ton of ability and talent...

It says they might not be able to....if they want to do that they would have to restructure several palyers contracts....just to be under cap....even after the cap increase

Quote:

---

but damn we would be set for few years if we get this guy!!

---

IMO, this would be a short sighted signing that only a contender willing to overpay would make. We aren't talking about a guy 3 years out of college whos contract has run out and still has 4 -8 mroe years in him.

Seven year pro, making him already "aged", and we CERTAINLY would have to overpay. No, no, no

JMHO

I would rather spend the money on Asaunte Samuels

Well in this thread/article:
https://www.dawgtalkers.net/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=106991&an=0&page=0#Post106991

The article gives the impression that he may not be franchised

if any raven is taken.. it will be the one who has killed us most.. Jamal Lewis... Droughns will be traded for a pick come draft day...

Quote:

---

Thomas was a late bloomer and is already close to 30. Nuh uh.

---

That's probably the reason, if any, why the Browns are thinking about taking him.

i'd be willing to sign him for like 3 years or something. Thomas is a great athlete and perfect to put on the otherside of Wimbley. I'm not banking on this Leon Williams OLB thing working, at least not right away. The way i see it, we got a hole in the opposite OLB spot of Wimbley and we could use a stud OLB almost as much as a stud DE. I want him for sure, he'd make our team much better. Let Davis, Williams, and Jackson battle for ILB spots. Thomas and Wimbley will finally provide a great pass rush

Thats what i'm thinking....he isn't a long term solution...i guess i kind of sounded that way whe ni said "we would be set for a while" i guess i should have been more specific.....i meant we would be set for now....willie should back up AT.....that would mean we would have Dra, AT n willie as the vets @ LB...i would love that....and since our young LBs have so much potential it's even better for them to achieve their peaks faster and help the team quicker...

AT would def be a better solution at OLB than Willie...

With that said...LB is NOT our need on D right now.....we need DL and CB help bad....which is why i'm asking where everyone stands on this?

I learned something in one of my business classes.....there are 2 ways of improving a "team" or even one person.......
1) Try and work on the weakness and make it better
2) Work on the good things to make them GREAT....

Well if we did sign him as a FA we would have to release Willie McG that is for sure...Willie will cost close to 2 mil against our Cap in 07.

As for age...Thomas is 6 years younger than Willie McG...basically picture McGinest in 2001 for the Patriots on up till 2004...4 seasons of premium play before tailing off.

So I guess a premium player the next 3 seasons could be expected.

Not bad...time enough for Savage to get us a 6th rounder of Thomas' caliber on the team and tutored!!!

JMHO - it all come down to cost and how much we are willing to pay. We aren't SB bound for him to make the sacrifice...he's going to want to get paid to come here.

Quote:

---

Well if we did sign him as a FA we would have to release Willie McG that is for sure...Willie will cost close to 2 mil against our Cap in 07.

As for age...Thomas is 6 years younger than Willie McG...basically picture McGinest in 2001 for the Patriots on up till 2004...4 seasons of premium play before tailing off.

---

Probably right,,,there wouldn't be a place for Willie McGinest if we signed Thomas..

As for those that are against signing him,,, Eo if the second part of what you said is true, and I think it is, someone tell me what would be wrong with adding a guy that could do for us, what Willie McGinest did for the Pats from 2001 to 2004... Someone find fault with that logic,,,,,go aheaad,,, I dares ya!

30-35??? thats a lot....no way in hell that will happen...

I think it will be closer to 20mill and a 7-8 mill SB...

even a franchince tag would make it 7.6mill per year which means thats the avg of the top 5 at LBs in the NFL..... 7.6x3=22.8mill
A 3 year deal on the higest possible(should be anyway) # is around 22 no way in hell he will get close to that kind of money if he isn't tagged by baltiwhore...

What was Arrington's contract before he got cut?

I can't think of any other comparable linebackers...what about Takeo Spikes? Anyone know?

well all we can do is speculate at this point...

I hope you are wrong in that he will need a 30 some mill contract to go to a team...that would suck....hope he isn't that expensive...but who knows...

Grass is always greener.....



Though, at the time that folks were harping on Courtney, Arington was doing A LOT better. Brown has thus far been drastically outproduced by Arrington across the board in every single category.

"You know whats funny Toad, is that everyone harped on us for taking Courtney Brown (the better player) over Arrington, and laughed when he was "Injury prone". Arrington in my mind hasn't done much better.....at all"

And then we come to the old question of risk factors...our Option #3?

Chris Samuels - he was in the Pro-Bowl this year wasn't he??? That was the last time we had a shot at a top elite LT. 7 years later maybe opportunity #2. You don't get many shots at them...hope we make the right decision this time around
JMHO

Good point......Thomas still has gas in the tank....Willie is on fumes.

If we can sign him and dump Willie.....go for it....you almost can look at it as if we are getting him for 2 mil less than we pay.

Yep...it makes sense? But we don't know what it would take for him to come here. In the past LBs didn't make a killing on the FA market. But in the past there wasn't this Void in Cap Room across the board as a new CBA was made....once teams saturate themselves with contracts and the void fills up - we could see stupid money thrown on a player of Thomas' value for a team on the Cusp of SB.

JMHO - then we should probably keep our modest investment with McG n get a kid in here pronto for him to tutor! One that could give us some reps in 07.

Of course you have to consider the cost.......I would like to see Williams moved outside.

I wouldn't mind finding another tweener type in round 3-4 who might fit the bill if Williams is strictly a ILB..

Yeah I don't really see Leon on the OLB...I know RAC has mentioned it as a possibility but it was more so as in response to the MEDIA asking him of that possibility...and you know RAC if its remotely possible he'll say ITS POSSIBLE.

He could go there as a Sub LB depth thing if that is his future...same as Thompson.

But I would think we would be looking for a DE/Tweener. Mkristo Bruce is my flavor but somebody similar....not Woodley for my taste.

JMHO

What about Williams makes you think he couldn't play outside......he is the same size as Willie isn't he??

Speed...my feeling is his speed is pretty good.

Maybe he supplants Davis in the middle....or maybe Jackson can play outside.

In all honesty, I would rather see Williams play then see Willie play.

I think he's about 25-30 lbs lighter than McG, but he is tons faster and it seems like he has no problem getting into the backfield.

I for one at least wouldn't mind seeing him experiment at the position.

FYI..I heard the Browns were interested in this guy..
Stewart Bradley Nebraska 6-4 250
If ya want to know why...

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/olb/stewartbradley.html
Strengths:
Has good size and a big frame...Has an excellent motor...Terrific instincts...Stout against the run and can take on blockers...Smooth and fluid in coverage...A solid tackler with good technique...Good pass rusher and blitzer...Is smart and a hard worker with great intangibles...Physical and aggressive...Special teams potential.

Weaknesses:
Speed and overall athleticism are only average...Long-term health and durability are major concerns...Lacks top-notch quickness and agility....Does not have great range...Hands and ball skills are sub par...Production was okay, not outstanding.

Notes:
Only played one year of high school football (junior) due to injuries and tore his ACL in 2005...Part of a three-time national champion rugby team as a prep...A very good prospect who does everything well but nothing great...Projects to the strongside as a pro but is versatile and also has some experience in the middle and at defensive end...May get pushed up boards in a weak class of linebackers


http://www.nflfans.com/x/2007/showplayer.php?key=Stewart%20Bradley
The 6-4, 245-pound Bradley provides a physical run-stopping presence at the SAM linebacker spot, while possessing the athleticism to play the perimeter and cover opposing receivers.

i'm not sure how i feel about the idea of Williams moving to the outside. We def need a replacement for Big Willie, but how well would William's pass rush be? if anything we need to put more pressure on the QB and not less. Williams was doing fine from the inside. i'd rather keep him there. He's still young, let's get him a position and used to it.

Well, I looked it up....you may be right.....

Willie.....6'5".....268
Williams....6'2"....238


Funny....I was thinking your middle guys needed to be the bigger ones and the outside the quicker players.....shows what I know or shows how screwed up we really are.

"shows what I know or shows how screwed up we really are."

before you run around after that acorn hits your noggin...go check on the Patriots SB Defense - before analyzing if we are screwed up or not...lol

Actually if I remember their 2nd SB - they played with all 4 LBs as one time DE/Tweeners.

JMHO

Or the Bears.