Adalius Thomas News: Pro Sports Daily

Scott calls for Thomas to roll down I-95

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March 3

Boston Globe

"See those two guys pictured? You aren't the only one assuming they'll be teammates before too long. As you know, the guy on the right is Adalius Thomas, and on the left is Jets safety Kerry Rhodes. And Rhodes' teammate Bart Scott -- a close friend and ex-teammate of Thomas' -- went on "Mike and Mike" on ESPN Radio this morning and showed no fear is explaining how he believes that a Baltimore Reunion with Rex Ryan is a fait accompli for his boy."

If cut, Adalius Thomas may take a Jet ride

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March 3

Boston Herald

"If Jets linebacker Bart Scott is to be believed, Adalius Thomas not only thinks he's going to be released by the Patriots, but he also has his eyes set on joining Rex Ryan and Gang Green the minute that happens. Scott, who was a guest on ESPN's "Mike & Mike" morning show yesterday, said he spoke with the Pats linebacker about reuniting on the Jets when they were taking in Super Bowl festivities last month in Miami. "It's funny," Scott said. "I was hanging with Adalius Thomas for Super Bowl weekend. We're buddies from back in the day. He made it public that he's expressed an interest in joining Rex. I think some of his better years of his career have been a part of the Ravens defense and ..."

Team's hands tied on Adalius Thomas

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February 18

Boston Herald

"If the Patriots want to make any high-profile, big-money cuts, they'll have to wait until the 2009 salary cap year expires to do so. According to a source with knowledge of the team's cap situation, the Pats are slightly more than $3 million under the cap. The restrictions will likely ease on March 5 when the expected uncapped year officially begins. That means the potential - or probable - cutting of disgruntled linebacker Adalius Thomas won't come until after that date. Neither could any other move that would generate a cap hit of more than $3 million. The Pats could also trade Thomas after March 5."

Thomas: 'It was definitely a frustrating year'

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February 5

Boston Globe

"Patriots LB Adalius Thomas appeared this afternoon on "Felger and Massarotti" on 98.5 the Sports Hub, making his first public comments since the season ended. And while he was somewhat vague on the details, he explained where the disconnect between he and the team began. Specifically, Thomas pointed to a meeting he had with Bill Belichick after the season opener against Buffalo. "I had a meeting and I really didn't understand some of the stuff I was told," Thomas said. "So I knew at that point, it was bigger than what was on the surface. It was bigger than that. You guys watch the games. I was used totally different this year than I was last year before I broke my arm. And even last year, ..."

Patriots' Thomas says where it went wrong

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February 5

Boston Globe

"The Patriots and linebacker Adalius Thomas have not been in contact since the end of the season, and after yesterday, that seems certain not to change. In an interview with 98.5 The Sports Hub, Thomas reiterated that he does not believe he will remain with the Patriots and disclosed the source of tension that disintegrated his relationship with coach Bill Belichick. Thomas, who has two years remaining on a five-year, $35 million contract, said the tumult began in the first week of the regular season. Against the Bills, Thomas played his first game at outside linebacker, a new position, after a broken arm ended his 2008 season early. Thomas and Belichick met the day after the game, and that ..."

Adalius Thomas speaks out again

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February 5

Boston Herald

"Adalius Thomas arrived at Super Bowl XLIV's Radio Row yesterday, intent on hawking his marinade, A.D. Licious. The linebacker may also have hastened his already likely exit from the Patriots. Speaking on the "Felger and Massarotti Show" on 98.5 The Sports Hub, Thomas revealed that his rift with coach Bill Belichick began following the narrow-escape win against the Bills in Week 1. Belichick was apparently upset with Thomas' effort that saw him record five tackles and a sack. "It was the play of the Buffalo game, whether or not it was sufficient," Thomas told the show. "I really didn't understand it. It was the first game back, the way some stuff went down. I knew at that point, it was ..."

Adalius Thomas in doubt

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January 11

Boston Herald

"Adalius Thomas draped the fur coat over his shoulders, put on his sunglasses and began to head out the door of the Patriots locker room. Was it for the last time? "I mean, it wouldn't be a surprise if it was," Thomas told the Herald following his team's 33-14 loss to the Ravens yesterday. "If I'm not (a Patriot), it wouldn't be a surprise. I'll leave that up to the people that (make) the decision." It was a trying season for the linebacker, still the franchise's highest paid free agent signing. He was benched twice - once for his play against the Titans and another time for speaking out against coach Bill Belichick after Thomas was one of four players sent home for being late. Owed $4.9 ..."

Thomas eyes happy ending

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January 10

Boston Globe

"Adalius Thomas chuckled at the thought. What if his life, like that of Michael Oher, the rookie tackle he will face Sunday, was made into a movie? "My story will sell, believe me,'' Thomas said, smiling. "I got a lot to say. 'If You Only Knew.' That's the name of my story.'' Someday, Thomas may share his uncut thoughts on his season and tenure with the Patriots. Not now. Not with his team preparing to start the playoffs Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, the team with which he spent the first seven years of his career."

Tardy Adalius Thomas benched today

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December 13

Boston Herald

"Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas doesn't have to worry about being on time to today's game. He won't be asked to show up. Thomas, an outspoken critic of coach Bill Belichick's decision to send him home after he was late to Wednesday's 8 a.m. meeting, will be inactive against the Panthers, the Herald has learned. It will be Thomas' second healthy scratch this season. Meanwhile, linebacker Rob Ninkovich, who could replace Thomas in the lineup, signed a contract extension that pays him $650,000 in 2010 and 2011. Thomas, the former prized free agent acquisition, inked a five-year, $35 million contract in 2007. But he has failed to live up to expectations, making just 28 tackles in 11 games ..."

Act 2: No apology from Thomas

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December 12

Boston Globe

"Linebacker Adalius Thomas expressed confusion in place of contrition while explaining his tardiness to a Wednesday morning meeting, underscoring the tension simmering between some veterans and coach Bill Belichick as the reeling Patriots prepare for Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers. "I can't figure out what Bill thinks or knows,'' Thomas said. "I don't know. I promise you I don't. I'm dumbfounded. I really don't try to figure it out. Whatever I'm told to do, that's what I do.'' Thomas, one of four players Belichick sent home Wednesday for arriving late, said he believes he acted appropriately and "there's nothing to really apologize about.''"

Thomas discusses being sent home

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December 10

ESPN.com

"Of the four New England Patriots players that according to a league source were sent home from Gillette Stadium for being late for an 8 a.m. meeting Wednesday, three were spotted in the locker room Thursday. Randy Moss, Gary Guyton and Adalius Thomas were spotted during media availability. Derrick Burgess was not seen while the media was present. Thomas addressed the media in a lengthy discussion about the incident. "I got sent home. That's pretty much it, for being late. "I think everyone woke up to the snow yesterday. I didn't know it was going to snow. There was traffic. I can't run people over getting to work. I don't do that. I actually almost had a car accident. It is what it is. He ..."

Randy Moss among 4 Patriots sent home from practice

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December 9

Providence Journal

"The Patriots have sent home four players who were late for today's 8 a.m. team meeting because of the traffic issues the weather has caused. Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas, Gary Guyton and Derrick Burgess were told to go home and cannot participate in team meetings or practice today. It is unclear if there will be further punishment or fines."

Jed Hoyer in Peyton's place

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November 14

Boston Herald

"If the Patriots defense is prepared for Colts quarterback Peyton Manning tomorrow, the unit may want to thank Brian Hoyer. The Pats backup QB has been playing the role of Manning for the scout team, a job Hoyer admitted was fairly fun. Along the way, he has impressed his teammates. "No one can really come in and mimic Peyton Manning, but he did do a good job of (trying) to do it," linebacker Adalius Thomas said yesterday. "(Manning) is so demonstrative, and you don't know what some of the things he's doing mean. But Hoyer did a good job." Coach Bill Belichick went out of his way to praise the undrafted free agent from Michigan State, saying he's done more than simply run the plays that ..."

LB Thomas expected to start for Patriots

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October 25

Boston Herald

"Adalius Thomas is out on the field at Wembley Stadium, throwing a football around. He’s dressed in sweat clothes, and he’s flashing plenty of smiles. The veteran linebacker, whose benching last week became a huge topic of discussion, played catch with practice squad member Kyle Arrington He also practiced some pooch punts."

Thomas: It's just a scratch

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October 22

Boston Globe

"Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas didn't have all the answers, but he knew just where to send the media for a better source. Was he given a reason for being inactive on Sunday? "Ask Bill, he has all the answers,'' Thomas replied. Was it done to motivate him? "Motivate me? Ask Bill. He's the only person that can answer that.''"

Adalius Thomas benching gamble by Bill Belichick

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October 22

Boston Herald

"Let's get the obvious out of the way. Adalius Thomas is not a happy man. The anger just dripped from the six different "Ask Bill" replies he gave yesterday when asked to explain his benching in the Patriots' 59-0 win over the Titans Sunday. The more important issue is what that anger means. Will it serve as motivation, as Bill Belichick likely hoped by sitting the starting linebacker in a stunning move, or will it go in the other direction? Has the Pats coach lost the 10-year veteran, who was informed by position coach Matt Patricia that he wasn't needed for the first time in his career? Thomas took offense to the notion that he required this kind of dramatic nudge to produce on the field ..."

Thomas is active - for walkthrough, anyway

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October 21

Boston Globe

"Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas was present for the team's walkthrough practice yesterday, two days after being a healthy scratch for the first time since his rookie season in 2000. Coach Bill Belichick was asked how things will proceed with Thomas this week. "Everything's the same for every player,'' Belichick said. "They've all got the same job: come in, learn the game plan, be ready to go. Substitutions and playing time are all coaches' decisions; they're not players' decisions."

Patriots doubting Thomas?

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October 20

Boston Globe

"The mystery behind Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas and his being on the inactive list for Sunday's game didn't get any clearer yesterday. Thomas was a healthy scratch for the first time since his rookie season with the Ravens in 2000, missing the 59-0 beating of the Titans at Gillette Stadium. He wasn’t on the injury report all week leading to the game and was not at the stadium Sunday, according to a league source."

Adalius Thomas sits out

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October 19

Boston Herald

"An hour before kickoff, the Patriots dropped a bombshell. Linebacker Adalius Thomas, a two-time Pro Bowler, was inactive for the Patriots' 59-0 rout of the Titans yesterday. It was the first time Thomas has been a healthy scratch since his rookie season with the Ravens. Coach Bill Belichick confirmed there were no personal or health issues. "We just went with the players we felt would have a bigger role in the game," he said. Without Thomas, who was not even at the stadium for the game, the defense pitched its first shutout since the 2008 finale. Veteran receiver Joey Galloway also was inactive for the third consecutive week. Left tackle Matt Light (knee) missed the game and was replaced ..."

Adalius Thomas fined $5,000 by NFL

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September 19

Boston Globe

"Linebacker Adalius Thomas isn't sure what he could have done to avoid the roughing-the-passer penalty that resulted in a $5,000 fine issued by the NFL yesterday. In the fourth quarter of the Patriots' 25-24 victory Monday over Buffalo, Thomas wrapped Bills quarterback Trent Edwards before bringing him to the ground. Thomas was flagged for roughing the passer, and yesterday he received a letter from the league citing he had been fined for slamming Edwards to the ground after the whistle was blown."

Adalius Thomas out to make bigger impact

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August 2

Boston Herald

"Running back Sammy Morris broke through the line and was met by a thunderous hit, the force of which sent him flying, literally, off the ground, before he came crashing down. The blow, which inspired the training camp crowd on the upper field behind Gillette Stadium to erupt, was delivered by Adalius Thomas. In the past, most of those devastating hits were authored by Rodney Harrison, who stood as an intimidating presence in the defensive backfield. But the safety has retired. The Pats could use an intimidator, or two, to keep opposing offenses a bit uncomfortable. They could also use some playmakers on a defense which finished 26th last season among the 32 teams on third downs, with ..."

Adalius Thomas laments arm injury

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April 4

Boston Herald

"Adalius Thomas didn't just rant about new rules and the notion of added regular season games. There were some Patriots items on the table yesterday, including his health and his thoughts on potentially adding either Julius Peppers or Jason Taylor to the mix. With regard to the former, Thomas revealed that he may have possibly prevented having such a severe break to his right forearm had he stopped playing when he initially felt the pain during that Nov. 9 game against Buffalo. "I didn't know it was cracked. I just knew it was hurt," Thomas said. "I think you get so used to pain and there's a difference playing in pain and playing hurt. Playing in pain is what you're expected to do. But ..."

Adalius Thomas rips schedule plan

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April 4

Boston Herald

"Adalius Thomas slammed the NFL as well as its owners yesterday, taking them on for considering the addition of more regular-season games, especially if it doesn't come with commensurate pay for the players. The Patriots linebacker also wasn't too pleased with some of the rules changes just passed by the league, especially the so-called "Brady rule," as well as several other past policy items. Thomas' ire was especially stoked by discussion of the proposed expansion of the 16-game regular season to 17 or 18 games, and converting one or two of the current preseason games into regular-season contests. "My idea of it? It (stinks)," Thomas said. He didn't want to hear about the added revenue ..."

Thomas May Not Be Done For Season

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November 13

Boston Globe

"Adalius Thomas is definitely out for tonight's game against the Jets, but he's not definitely out for the season - at least not yet. According to an NFL source with knowledge of Thomas's injury, the Patriots outside linebacker had surgery yesterday to repair a broken right forearm. Several reports had said Thomas broke his left forearm last Sunday during the Patriots' 20-10 loss to the Bills, but the source said the injury was to Thomas's right arm. Two sources said doctors have not told Thomas he is out for the season. The decision may ultimately come down to what the prognosis is for his recovery time and whether the Patriots think it's worth sacrificing a spot on the 53-man roster for ..."

Thomas sidelined, probably for season

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November 11

Boston Globe

"The rash of injuries that has ravaged the Patriots this season has spread to the linebacking corps, as the team lost yet another key player, outside linebacker Adalius Thomas, for the foreseeable future. According to an NFL source, Thomas suffered a broken forearm during Sunday's 20-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills and will have surgery tomorrow. Thomas will not play Thursday night against the New York Jets and is likely done for the season, according to the source. If so, he would join quarterback Tom Brady (left knee), safety Rodney Harrison (right quadriceps), and running back Laurence Maroney (shoulder) as Patriots starters who have been lost for the season. "It's extremely tough," ..."

Sources: Adalius Thomas breaks arm

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November 10

Boston Herald

"The Patriots are going to have to deal with yet another significant injury to a key player, as linebacker Adalius Thomas has a broken arm, according to sources. Thomas left the field in the second quarter of yesterday’s 20-10 win over the Buffalo Bills, walking off with members of the team’s medical staff. He did not return and later was seen leaving the locker room with his arm in a sling. It’s not clear how long the injury will keep Thomas out of the lineup. ESPN.com reported that Thomas had a broken left forearm and was likely done for the year. Several other reports said he had a broken right arm and would be having surgery sometime this week. As it is, the Pats already have placed ..."

Patriots’ Adalius Thomas in the mix

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October 28

Boston Herald

"When Adalius Thomas received the game plan for last season’s Colts matchup, he could have been forgiven for thinking, “They paid me $35 million to do this?” His name practically was nowhere to be seen. The coaching staff instead designed its defense around the use of safety Rodney Harrison at linebacker, so he could neutralize tight end Dallas Clark. The plan worked. The Pats won, 24-20, and Thomas watched most of it from the bench. The move was not a reflection on the player, but on matchups. A year later, it’s fair to say the Colts should not expect a repeat performance. Thomas will be on the field. A lot. Seven games into the season, Thomas has emerged as a legitimate game-changer. He ..."

A rush for Thomas, Seymour

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October 27

Boston Globe

"Adalius Thomas didn't know the specifics of the injury situation in the Patriots secondary, but the collection of new faces in the huddle spoke volumes. And what Thomas did know for certain was that there is one surefire way a team can help its defensive backs: Put pressure on the quarterback. Thomas (seven tackles, four solo) spearheaded a persistent rush by registering two sacks, while defensive end Richard Seymour added a team-high seven solo tackles, including a sack, as New England and its Band-Aid secondary emerged with a 23-16 triumph over the Rams yesterday at Gillette Stadium. "I guess the injury bug's got a cloud over the top of us here," said Thomas. The Patriots defense was ..."

Thomas throws flag at Jets

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September 19

Boston Globe

"Linebacker Adalius Thomas turned in one of the highlight-reel plays of Week 2 of the NFL season with his "double sack" of Jets quarterback Brett Favre and running back Leon Washington. The sack that helped seal the Patriots' 19-10 win has been replayed over and over, but yesterday Thomas was talking about the play after the sack, expressing his thoughts over what he felt was an illegal block by Washington. On the play, Thomas rushed off the left side. Replays showed Washington dive at his legs, while right tackle Damien Woody dropped into his pass set to block. Thomas felt that it was a chop block. "I think it was an illegal play, as far as one player setting you up and another comes to ..."

Adalius Thomas has shared roots with Brett Favre

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September 12

Boston Herald

"During his conference call with the New England media Wednesday, Jets quarterback Brett Favre made a point of singling out Patriots defensive end Adalius Thomas for kudos. “A.D. is friend of mine,” said Favre, “a Southern Miss guy and a hell of a player.” That was good for a chuckle yesterday from Thomas, who graduated in 1999 from Southern Mississippi - the same place where Favre was a star from 1987-90. Favre still lives in Hattiesburg, Miss., where Thomas hosts a football camp each April. “We went to the same school, had the same agent (James ‘Bus’ Cook), yeah, I know Brett pretty good,” said Thomas. “I saw him in the offseason a couple of times. We were actually at Disney World with ..."

No doubting Thomas

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August 7

Boston Globe

"Adalius Thomas was stunned. Here the Patriots were, two days from playing their exhibition opener against his former team, the Baltimore Ravens, and he had only been asked a handful of questions by the media swarm, which had now descended on fellow linebacker Mike Vrabel. "That's it?" Thomas asked with a grin. Thomas is enjoying the relative anonymity that has come in his second season with the Patriots. The highest-priced free agent acquisition of the Bill Belichick era, Thomas was inundated with questions and expectations at this time last year, after the team backed up the Brinks truck to bring him to New England, dropping off a five-year, $35 million deal with $20 million in bonuses. ..."

In second year with Patriots, Adalius Thomas gets up to speed

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July 26

Boston Herald

"The Patriots defense has always been a challenge for rookies to grasp. They’re not alone. Don’t think for a minute it’s a snap for veterans to pick up. Sure, it may be a bit easier for the experienced players to work with, but it’s certainly no picnic. Here’s the one constant: The more time spent learning all the intricacies and nuances of coach Bill Belichick’s 3-4 alignment, and the more time spent playing in the system, the more comfortable the players become. That’s why most experts are predicting bigger and better things from linebacker Adalius Thomas this season. After a year learning the defense from the inside, then the outside after Rosevelt Colvin suffered a broken foot, Thomas ..."

Adalius Thomas knows ins and outs at linebacker

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June 9

Boston Herald

"Last season, Adalius Thomas was the hot-shot newcomer, signed to a pricy $35 million free agent contract with a $20 million signing bonus. While Randy Moss was going to bring some excitement to the offense, Thomas was slated to put some punch back in the defense. He was going to plug some of the holes at the linebacker position and all eyes were on him, especially during the early stages of minicamp and training camp. A year later, Thomas has blended into the crowd. He no longer is the focal point of interest with the defense. That distinction belongs to rookie first-round draft pick Jerod Mayo"