Zach Thomas

[john h]

The first team on Zach Thomas team to visit is New England. I just do not understand how one of the best teams in the NFL can be looking at Thomas and apparently have the CAP money to sign him and our 8/8 team who could use a LB has to sit on the side lines.

 

[Sandan]

Maybe because they were a few plays away from winning a SB and maybe because he knows that and wants to try for a ring.

 

[Stout]

Maybe because our team is too damn conservative. I'm not going to go cukoo over Zach Thomas, but I do not like our mouse-like approach to the offseason. Well, at least, what appears to be a mouse-like approach. If it's a smokescreen, I'll tip my hat to the FO as a job well done.

 

[cardsfanmd]

Maybe because they were a few plays away from winning a SB and maybe because he knows that and wants to try for a ring.

Exactly. Success breeds success. The only really good players on that team that are getting fair market value right now are Samuels (though he will get more next year) Thomas and recent early round draft picks. When you are paying the best reciever in the game $400,000 per you know there are other factors.

 

[joeshmo]

Exactly. Success breeds success. The only really good players on that team that are getting fair market value right now are Samuels (though he will get more next year) Thomas and recent early round draft picks. When you are paying the best reciever in the game $400,000 per you know there are other factors.

Not true. If it were true the Pats wouldnt be in the top 5 of total salaries the last 5 years running. There are a lot of players on that team making a lot of money. Only team that spent more is the Redskins this year.

 

[Southpaw]

The Larry Izzo factor.

http://dolphinsindepth.blogspot.com/2008/02/zach-thomas-free-agent-tour-starts-in.html

Dolphins In Depth

Everything Dolphin: No subject is taboo, no deadlines, no space crunch.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Zach Thomas free agent tour starts in New England

Ready for the nightmare? Well, close your eyes and imagine Zach Thomas in a Patriots uniform.

Now open your eyes. Voila!!! Your nightmare is close to coming true.

The Boston Herald and Boston Globe are reporting that Thomas will be in New England today to visit with the Patriots brass. The meeting will take place at Gillette Stadium.

It is no secret that Thomas has cast his eyes on playing for a winner and I can tell you that former Dolphins linebacker Larry Izzo, who is friends with Thomas and has played for the Patriots since 2001, has often told Thomas how great it is to be in Boston.

Thomas will probably have a physical and if that goes well -- meaning Thomas is indeed as healthy as he states -- I would not be suprised if this signing happens before the visit is over. The Patriots have a history of acting quickly on such matters and the fact they have moved ahead of New Orleans and Dallas on Thomas's itinerary speaks volumes.

Thomas was to meet with New Orleans on Tuesday and his agent was to speak with the Cowboys on Wednesday.

posted by Armando Salguero at 12:11 PM

Monday, February 18, 2008
The Zach Thomas blog offers the latest on Zach
OK, here's the scoop on Zach Thomas and his visit to New England today.

It was a "great" visit according to agent Drew Rosenhaus and that cannot really be argued considering the Patriots offered the linebacker a contract.

He has not taken it and will visit the New Orleans Saints tomorrow as scheduled.

Meanwhile, the more I think about this, the harder it is to get my brain around the fact that the 1-15 Dolphins can simply discard Thomas but half a dozen other teams think enough of the player to try to sign him.

And ALL of those teams -- particularly New England -- have been a lot more proficient at making personnel decisions in recent years than the Dolphins. So what did the Dolphins know that New England, Buffalo, the New York Jets, New Orleans and Dallas not know?

I would say nothing.

posted by Armando Salguero at 6:35 PM

 

[cardsfanmd]

Exactly. Success breeds success. The only really good players on that team that are getting fair market value right now are Samuels (though he will get more next year) Thomas and recent early round draft picks. When you are paying the best reciever in the game $400,000 per you know there are other factors.

Not true. If it were true the Pats wouldnt be in the top 5 of total salaries the last 5 years running. There are a lot of players on that team making a lot of money. Only team that spent more is the Redskins this year.

I wasn't saying that they dont spend money, just that they are getting more bang for their buck than most other teams. The Redskins are traditionally great at getting the least value for their dollars.

 

[Skkorpion]

Interesting. The Pats offered a contract and Zack did not accept it. Chose to move on to the next stop.

Remember, the Pats lost their player personnel guy. Was it to Atlanta?

 

[moklerman]

I too feel that although the Pat's spend a lot of money, they are getting a lot more for what they spend. Credit is due there. But it also explains their incredible depth overall and is a flaw in the salary cap in my opinion. There needs to be a salary scale, not a salary cap.

Randy Moss is a perfect example. The league is all about parity but it allows a player of Moss' caliber to play for essentially nothing? If they can put a value on draft positions then they can figure out a some kind of checks and balances for this kind of thing.

 

[joeshmo]

I too feel that although the Pat's spend a lot of money, they are getting a lot more for what they spend. Credit is due there. But it also explains their incredible depth overall and is a flaw in the salary cap in my opinion. There needs to be a salary scale, not a salary cap.

Randy Moss is a perfect example. The league is all about parity but it allows a player of Moss' caliber to play for essentially nothing? If they can put a value on draft positions then they can figure out a some kind of checks and balances for this kind of thing.

3.5 Mill they paid Moss was playing for nothing? If you want to blame someone blame the Raiders who footed the bill for Moss remaining bonus money which is what happens when you trade someone.

Giving limits for rookie pools is one thing, giving limits for Veterans is a whole other ball game and would never get passed by the NFLPA, never. All a Salary scale does is give more advantage to the GM's of the league who dont try as hard or just completely suck compared to the good ones. GM's want to start getting winning team discounts, then start winning and stop playing the victim card. As of right now the Salary cap puts every single team on the same level, what seperates those that use the cap best to their advantage is the front office nothing more nothing less.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I too feel that although the Pat's spend a lot of money, they are getting a lot more for what they spend. Credit is due there. But it also explains their incredible depth overall and is a flaw in the salary cap in my opinion. There needs to be a salary scale, not a salary cap.

Randy Moss is a perfect example. The league is all about parity but it allows a player of Moss' caliber to play for essentially nothing? If they can put a value on draft positions then they can figure out a some kind of checks and balances for this kind of thing.

I disagree. IMO that sounds like some sort of welfare or youth developmental league stuff. I applaud and understand these vets who are willing to take a salary cut in order to acheive a championship. You would run into the situation where some players would be just "too good" to be affordable to championship chasing teams. What would stop good players from playing dopwn in order to make less so that they could suit of for a contender(Moss)? Also, based on his play in Oakland, Moss was getting what he had earned.

 

[cardsfanmd]

3.5 Mill they paid Moss was playing for nothing? If you want to blame someone blame the Raiders who footed the bill for Moss remaining bonus money which is what happens when you trade someone.

Giving limits for rookie pools is one thing, giving limits for Veterans is a whole other ball game and would never get passed by the NFLPA, never. All a Salary scale does is give more advantage to the GM's of the league who dont try as hard or just completely suck compared to the good ones. GM's want to start getting winning team discounts, then start winning and stop playing the victim card. As of right now the Salary cap puts every single team on the same level, what seperates those that use the cap best to their advantage is the front office nothing more nothing less.

 

[Assface]

The first team on Zach Thomas team to visit is New England. I just do not understand how one of the best teams in the NFL can be looking at Thomas and apparently have the CAP money to sign him and our 8/8 team who could use a LB has to sit on the side lines.

We're solid in the middle and I don't see how much extra value Zach Thomas would bring. Yes, he has all of those Pro Bowl appearances and Hayes has none but how much more would he really bring here? He sure as hell isn't going to replace Dansby and his unique skill set. Neither Thomas nor Hayes could move to the outside in our defense. I can't recall any games this year where I thought, "wow, Gerald really blew that one."

There are several FAs who could help our team a lot more, I'd rather focus on them than lament not signing a MLB who, while probably a HOFer, wouldn't improve our record by much. Faneca should be free agent #1 to look at, followed by pass rushers and corners.

 

[moklerman]

So, did Moss get paid $400,000 or $3.5 million by the Patriots? I don't really know what he made but I'm pretty sure it was under market value. Although there's a big difference between those numbers my point is that there should be some kind of restrictions for teams getting players who are willing to play for far less than what they should be paid. Salary scale may not work but a salary floor perhaps.

 

[nurnay]

I applaud and understand these vets who are willing to take a salary cut in order to acheive a championship.

Agreed. Most players take the big money knowing it's unlikely they'll win a championship (Edge?), but I don't fault them. Nothing wrong with looking out for you and your family, as long as you play hard and don't just take the money and get lazy. If a guy wants to make less to win a ring, more power to him.

 

[moklerman]

Normally, I'd agree with this sentiment but I don't think it's realistic. All it does is give whatever happens to be the apparent best team an unfair advantage. It's fine for the Patriots of the world but how many other teams are getting that kind of love? How many guys are coming to the Cards that way?

It's nice to think that a player is doing a noble thing but the more I think about it, I think it's the opposite. I think a player(Moss?) is just doing a selfish thing and giving an unfair advantage.

 

[joeshmo]

Signed a pretty realistic deal with Dallas. 1 Mill bonus, 1 Mill base salary, and 1 Mill in incentives.

 

[Stout]

Signed a pretty realistic deal with Dallas. 1 Mill bonus, 1 Mill base salary, and 1 Mill in incentives.

Damn, that sucks. I did not want him with the Cowpukes.

 

[Billy Bob]

I thought, free agents weren't allowed to sign until march 1st.

 

[joeshmo]

I thought, free agents weren't allowed to sign until march 1st.

He was cut so he was already a free agent.

The March 1st date is just the date that 2007 contracts expire thus making them free agents.

 

[Wild Card]

Signed a pretty realistic deal with Dallas. 1 Mill bonus, 1 Mill base salary, and 1 Mill in incentives.

Joe:

Good outcome for a great player and a class guy. Thomas gets to finish (?) his pro career in his home state, where he was a star in high school and college. And nice for Dolfans, who don't have to watch yet another ex-Fin suit up for the Pats and beat the snot outta his old team twice a year for the next few seasons.

WC