We suggested in the wake of the unrepentant comments of linebacker Adalius Thomas after being sent home for showing up for work late that the Patriots should simply cut him.
Such a move would have exposed Thomas to waivers, and it possibly would have resulted in Thomas being claimed by a crappy team.
But as we pointed out at SportingNews.com on Friday, the Pats probably are stuck with him, based on an $8.8 million salary cap acceleration that would apply if he were to be dumped during the 2009 season.
So they’ve apparently settled on deactivating him on game days. Jason La Canfora of NFL.com reported last night that Thomas won’t be on the 45-man game-day roster against the Panthers, and Tom Curran of Comcast has confirmed it.
It remains to be seen whether it’s a one-week thing, or whether he’ll be shut down every Sunday for the rest of the year.
And the team still has in its back pocket the nuclear option: suspension without pay for conduct detrimental to the team.
Even if the Pats aren’t certain that they have enough evidence to support such a move through the inevitable grievance process, the only downside is that they’d ultimately have to pay him the salary that they’ll pay him over the rest of the year, regardless of whether he’s on the team or not.
Isn’t Adalius the one who came up with the “Humble Pie” t-shirts in 2007? I guess he’s having a tough time swallowing the humble pie this year…
That was a brilliant decision by Adalius to publicly call out Bill Belichick. It’s not like Belichick has any credibility in the organization and league. I’m sure he doesn’t have any power either…
Adalius, man just clean out your locker, take your football, go home, and find a new team when you get released in the off-season.
Bite the hand that feeds you, smart move knucklehead.
Remember when the Patriots were supposedly the team that magically turned disgruntled players with attitude problems into focused, team guys? I got so sick of hearing that load of bull from pats fans.
It’s crazy that AT’s situation in New England has come to this. People will think that it started with being late to work this week, but he seems to have been a problem all year. Almost no production at all… I hate to say it, but I guess Ray Lewis was right. He ain’t all that.
# last starfighter says: December 13, 2009 8:15 AM
Remember when the Patriots were supposedly the team that magically turned disgruntled players with attitude problems into focused, team guys? I got so sick of hearing that load of bull from pats fans.
Not to mention the nonstop huggin’ and kissin’ from ESPN. Is Bilichek the greatest coach EVER? Is Brady the best quarterback EVER? Are the Pats the best EVER at turning guys around? Is Teddy Bruschi the most courageous player EVER? Blah, blah, blah.
AT well done
Enjoy your seat on the bench if they even let you on the sidelines
If BB is smart he will tell him just stay home we will send you your check
BYE BYE shit head
“That was a brilliant decision by Adalius to publicly call out Bill Belichick. It’s not like Belichick has any credibility in the organization and league. I’m sure he doesn’t have any power either…”
How true…not like BB is going to be in the HOF some day, you know, with three SB rings this decade. Not like every player who comes here talks about him being brilliant and how much they respect him. Thomas is a player that doesn’t like to be coached, thinks he knows better, and thinks he’s better than he is.
Come out of your cave, fool. Belichick may not have credibility with moron fans like you who still think the videotaping was what games, but he sure as hell does with coaches, players, and league officials.
“last starfighter says:
December 13, 2009 8:15 AM
Remember when the Patriots were supposedly the team that magically turned disgruntled players with attitude problems into focused, team guys? I got so sick of hearing that load of bull from pats fans.”
Umm Adalius was not a disgruntled player. He came to the team as a player that was supposed to be a stand-out and the Pats broke the bank for him at the time. He NEVER lived up to the expectations or the pay and it has for the most part been due to a lack of effort. Get paid, give-up. He may have caught that attitude from Seymour or maybe its just a side effect of being paid. But man, know what you are talking about before you make such stupid comments.
Yeah, it was a great decision to
1. send him home
2. have him react to the press, and they crack up
3. bench him
4. give your young secondary struggling one less pass rusher
brilliant. On the plus side, your facing a beatable opponent. Lets not go Pittsburgh, please
and this is coming from Raider Nation
patsfanlisa
Come out of your cave, fool. Belichick may not have credibility with moron fans like you who still think the videotaping was what games, but he sure as hell does with coaches, players, and league officials.
Wow patsfanlisa… maybe you should read my post again… it’s called sarcasm…
haha very true Bearsrule.
“Umm Adalius was not a disgruntled player. He came to the team as a player that was supposed to be a stand-out and the Pats broke the bank for him at the time. He NEVER lived up to the expectations or the pay and it has for the most part been due to a lack of effort. Get paid, give-up. He may have caught that attitude from Seymour or maybe its just a side effect of being paid. But man, know what you are talking about before you make such stupid comments.”
How is my point not valid? Does Thomas not have an attitude problem? Are the patriots not supposedly the team that cures attitude problems magically? So what if thomas came in without a reputation, he sure has one now. I’m sorry your team is on the decline, deal with it.
I guess when your not cheating to win any more and you’re
losing a lot more than expected and only beating teams with a .500 or below record, your players turn into the same as every player on all the other average teams.
I guess BB just wasn’t as good at keeping Players in line without the cheating as you people thought.
Thomas will be released and quickly signed to the Jets to be reunited with Rex Ryan. Thomas has had several issues with BB and the Pats this year. The lure of his former coach and being able to take it to the Pats twice a year will motivate him, at least in those games. Oh wait, I forget, Thomas thinks motivation is for kindergarteners.
Yeah, it was a great decision to
1. send him home
2. have him react to the press, and they crack up
3. bench him
4. give your young secondary struggling one less pass rusher
brilliant. On the plus side, your facing a beatable opponent. Lets not go Pittsburgh, please
and this is coming from Raider Nation
—-
Adalius would have to have effectively rushed the passer at some point over this season for your statement to have any meaning.
last starfighter says:
Remember when the Patriots were supposedly the team that magically turned disgruntled players with attitude problems into focused, team guys? I got so sick of hearing that load of bull from pats fans.
————————————————
Yeah, load of bull…. guys like Randy Moss, Corey Dillon, and quite a few others came here, stopped their yapping, and became part of a winning organization. Total bull, right? Your team should have such a track record of contented players, moron.
That just points to how big a turd Thomas is that so many others got along with Bill Belichick where he could not. Unfortunately for Thomas, Belichick has one basic cornerstone in his coaching plan: “Give me the best that you can give”. That worked well for so many players in the past, but not for Thomas.
Seriously, everyone tried to make Moss out as a malcontent over being sent home that same day. Has anyone read one word that Moss uttered to a reporter? Guyton? Nope. Proves the point even further.
Goodbye Thomas, you were a huge disappointment in New England. You could have worked hard and really been a huge part of this defense this year, more than any other. Instead of stepping up, you laid down. Why any of you would want this turd on your team after witnessing his behavior with the Patriots is beyond my understanding.
True Colors my friend. ITs all about winning. When you are losing everything gets magnified. And at this point the Steelers and the PAtriots both really dont knw how to lose and there will be tons of problems in both locker rooms. I cant wait. And why dont we talk about Roethilsberger any more? I know the NFL has special rules for both teams but I mean at least talk about him like we talk about the bengals or Tiger or whoever we all decide we dont like.
This guy was as good as gone before the season started anyways. He’s been underachieving ever since he came here in 2007.
AD probably can still play in the NFL…but he just isn’t cut out for the Patriots defensive schemes. Either way…he won;t be in New England next year. He has been a colossal bust for 4 years other than an occasional good game (He is the defensive version of Lawrence Maroney…but Maroney seems (and I stress SEEMS )to have finally turned the corner)
There’s no way of knowing if Thomas would have been benched if he had owned up to his mistake or at least kept his mouth shut…but he chose the combative route…..which will get you benched on 95% of the teams in th eNFL….but in New England…it willalso get you a one way ticket out of town (or to Oakland)
21 tackles, 3 sacks through 12 games. Less than two tackles a game.
Waiting for Deion to proclaim: “Pay the Man!!!”.
He got paid. Then kicked back and put his toes up. 9 to 5er.
“patsfanlisa says:
December 13, 2009 8:37 AM
“That was a brilliant decision by Adalius to publicly call out Bill Belichick. It’s not like Belichick has any credibility in the organization and league. I’m sure he doesn’t have any power either…”
How true…not like BB is going to be in the HOF some day, you know, with three SB rings this decade. Not like every player who comes here talks about him being brilliant and how much they respect him. Thomas is a player that doesn’t like to be coached, thinks he knows better, and thinks he’s better than he is.
Come out of your cave, fool. Belichick may not have credibility with moron fans like you who still think the videotaping was what games, but he sure as hell does with coaches, players, and league officials.”
_____
Dear patsfanlisa, please open a dictionary, turn to the entry for “sarcasm,” and read it. The level of stupidity on this message board never ceases to amaze me.
@last starfighter:
You dont get the difference? Guys like Dillon and Moss wanted to play and give it what they had. Thomas wants sit back and relax and get paid and doesnt like being told that he needs to step it up. You didnt see Moss whining to the press about being sent home. He accepted that it was his responsibility to be at that meeting on time and his failure in being late. Thomas chose to fight the coach instead of getting with the program to work harder and start winning.
The difference is that BB wants players that want to win and are willing to work for it. Thomas isn’t one those players.
That was a brilliant decision by Adalius to publicly call out Bill Belichick. It’s not like Belichick has any credibility in the organization and league. I’m sure he doesn’t have any power either…
————————
Coming from a Philly fan, one of the most highly respected organizations in the league….