LOLB speculation.

[3irty1]

As weird as it is for me to say out loud, I'd rather start Brad Jones than Merriman at this time. Merriman is not the same player he was on the juice. I would expect Aaron Kampman type production out of him. At least Jones can cover.

[The Leaper]

i'm not sure merriman is the same player he was before he got busted for roids

at least he sure didn't look like the same player last season

I agree.

Stay far away from Merriman.

[steve823]

So AT will be 33 and had some friction with the Hooded Cheater. He has never been a huge sack guy but has fallen off from that even as of late. He only eclipsed 10 sacks once.

BT will be 31 this year. I know very little about him just because I rarely watched the Jets on the Ticket. His numbers look about right for being solid. He is an every other year guy.

Merriman 26 this year, shares a Bday with the ex wife maybe thats why he is crazy, Has had two years basically off...how intense was the steroid use? I think he would be amazing in this offense...not a stop gap guy but a guy that will compliment CMIII or vice versa and meet at the QB all day long...I mean it has to keep Capers up at night if this is a possibility. Merriman would have to sit with TT and basically say, "hey I am going to keep my head down and play football." Then bring him in...no tila tiquila or whatever her name is, no beating anyone up outside the field...keep your damn nose clean here for 4 years and then sign another large contract somewhere else if you want to.

I would LOVE Merriman for a 3rd or less. AT would be second because then it would give Jones another year to develop and BT last...just my opinion

[Tony Oday]

So AT will be 33 and had some friction with the Hooded Cheater. He has never been a huge sack guy but has fallen off from that even as of late. He only eclipsed 10 sacks once.

BT will be 31 this year. I know very little about him just because I rarely watched the Jets on the Ticket. His numbers look about right for being solid. He is an every other year guy.

Merriman 26 this year, shares a Bday with the ex wife maybe thats why he is crazy, Has had two years basically off...how intense was the steroid use? I think he would be amazing in this offense...not a stop gap guy but a guy that will compliment CMIII or vice versa and meet at the QB all day long...I mean it has to keep Capers up at night if this is a possibility. Merriman would have to sit with TT and basically say, "hey I am going to keep my head down and play football." Then bring him in...no tila tiquila or whatever her name is, no beating anyone up outside the field...keep your damn nose clean here for 4 years and then sign another large contract somewhere else if you want to.

I would LOVE Merriman for a 3rd or less. AT would be second because then it would give Jones another year to develop and BT last...just my opinion

I couldn't help but put that!

[Fritz]

After us getting all pumped over these "big" names, isn't it more likely that TT will bring in someone of Chillar-esque stature?

[pbmax]

I was just going to say if its not his undrafted free agents, then I expect someone more like a special teams demon (perhaps overpaid like Bush) rather than a name like Merriman.

[Lurker64]

Adalius Thomas was cut today. I believe he has experience playing for Capers on the 2008 Patriots, so Dom probably has a good sense about whether this guy is a player still.

[packers11]

Adalius Thomas was cut today. I believe he has experience playing for Capers on the 2008 Patriots, so Dom probably has a good sense about whether this guy is a player still.

Even if he lost a step, he would defiantly add some pass rush / experience to this team....

[rbaloha1]

Adalius Thomas was cut today. I believe he has experience playing for Capers on the 2008 Patriots, so Dom probably has a good sense about whether this guy is a player still.

Maybe its more of personality conflict with Belichek. Assuming this dude can still play elevates the d to another level.

[twoseven]

was thomas growing invisible in the stats dept because he just doesn't have it anymore or because he didn't want to be in NE? i know a busted arm kept him out of some games, but he really took a nosedive in the sack dept from his BALT days.

[pittstang5]

I'm of the thinking that TT has something up his sleeve. He, as well as all of us, saw what happened when you couldn't pressure the quarterback.

I really think he's gonna make a move, I just can't figure out what or who he's going to go after.

[Lurker64]

was thomas growing invisible in the stats dept because he just doesn't have it anymore or because he didn't want to be in NE? i know a busted arm kept him out of some games, but he really took a nosedive in the sack dept from his BALT days.

Well, part of it may be age, but part of it may be that they do very different things with their OLBs in New England than they do in Baltimore.

But Dom coached on defense in NE recently, so he should have a good idea about whether Thomas has anything left in the tank and whether of not he would be a good fit for his system (even though Capers was a defensive coach for the Patriots recently, they were still running a defense in the Bellichick-Fairbanks-Bullough tree, which is distinct from the Capers-LeBeau tree (which is in turn distinct from the Phillips 3-4, and the various hybrid 3-4s employed by the Ryan Boys, the Dolphins, the Cardinals, and the 49ers)).

[Joemailman]

Thomas is in decline. 26 tackles and 3 sacks last year. He wouldn't be an upgrade, but he could provide depth. I wouldn't give up anything for him, but might consider picking him up if released.

Which one? I think both Thomas' are declining.

I was referring to Adalius.

[ThunderDan]

No to Merriman. Dropped off after caught juicing and played poorly this year after the knee injury to end his 2008 season.

You will never see him put up numbers like 2005, 2006 and 2007 again.

[Tony Oday]

No to Merriman. Dropped off after caught juicing and played poorly this year after the knee injury to end his 2008 season.

You will never see him put up numbers like 2005, 2006 and 2007 again.

Or is it like Tommy John surgery for a pitcher...takes a year back in the game to regain his game?