Packers want Adalius Thomas

[red]

from pft.com

PACK ANGLING FOR ADALIUS

Regardless of whether the Green Bay Packers eventually make an effort to trade for Raiders receiver Randy Moss, the more immediate objective for the Favre Franchise is to land Ravens linebacker Adalius Thomas.

Thomas, a sixth-round pick in 2000, will hit the open market unless the Ravens slap the franchise tag on him. And, as we're told, one of the first teams to ring his phone will be the Packers. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Thomas is the clear-cut top target for the Packers in free agency.

The Pack plan to make Thomas, a hybrid linebacker/defensive end in the Baltimore defense, into a full-time defensive end. And that could be very bad news for current Packers defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, whose star has faded in the years since he was regarded as an up-and-coming sack master. KGB fell behind Cullen Jenkins on the depth chart in 2006, and Gbaja-Biamila's $5 million salary for 2007 could cause him to fall off of the roster entirely.

If the Ravens plan to use the franchise tag on Thomas, they'll need to have the cap room to do it. And that could ensure the release of running back Jamal Lewis, who re-signed with the team as an unrestricted free agent in 2006 and who is owed a $5 million roster bonus next month, and a $5 million salary in 2007.

----------------------------

i'm not sure what i think of this. he'd be a small de, just like the guy he would be replacing. plus the guys is suppose to be very good in coverage.

why not nab him for the SAM?

first i've heard of this though

it would be interesting, and an upgrade somewhere, i think

edit: ok i just saw in another thread that he's 6'2, 276. i guess he's not small at all

[Partial]

Load of crap. No way.

[Bossman641]

Thomas is a beast. He plays about 5 positions. I like it.

[PlantPage55]

They sound pretty sure of themselves...hmmm...

I hope it happens - he is a B-E-A-S-T

[SD GB fan]

i dont buy it. the ravens use him in so many ways that i dont think adalius thomas will "fit" on other teams. i havent seen enough of him to tell if he can be successful in a particular position but i know he has success because the other talents in BAL makes thomas the X factor.

[SD GB fan]

but if we do somehow get him without overspending, i wont complain. he is a great talent but id rather take a shot with the cheaper cullen jenkins

[packers11]

but if we do somehow get him without overspending, i wont complain. he is a great talent but id rather take a shot with the cheaper cullen jenkins

Thomas mainly plays lb right next to Ray Lewis...

[Joemailman]

I think right now Thomas may be a better player than Lewis. Ray ain't what he used to be. I don't know if TT would make this move given the money involved. If he does, does that mean the Jenkins is back at DT, and KGB is gone?

[packers11]

I think right now Thomas may be a better player than Lewis. Ray ain't what he used to be. I don't know if TT would make this move given the money involved. If he does, does that mean the Jenkins is back at DT, and KGB is gone?

# 96 Adalius Thomas
Position: OLB
Height: 6-2
Weight: 270

I know ive seen him at the end some times, BUT am i missing something??? HE mainly PLAYS LB... Am I wrong???

[red]

well, he might fit in great for us. last year we did have a lot of times where our d-linemen were trying to cover wr's. he can actually do that

[PlantPage55]

No, but he can play ANYWHERE. I'm sure if we got him, we would utilize him in many ways. We would be foolish not to.

[motife]

he scored a TD in the Pro Bowl, running back a Marc Bulger fumble :

Adalius Donquail Thomas (born July 18, 1977 in Equality, Alabama) is a starting Outside Linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens.

College career
Adalius Thomas attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where he was a prolific defensive player. In college he wore #97. In the 1998-99 season, Thomas was a First Team All-American and tied for Defensive Player of the Year. Thomas was also the MVP of the 1999 Liberty Bowl. The 2000 Senior Bowl was Thomas's final college game.

Professional career
Adalius Thomas was predicted as a third round draft pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. However, Thomas was not drafted until the sixth round (pick 186) by the Baltimore Ravens, for whom he wears #96. Many NFL scouts were shocked by his late drafting.

Nonetheless, Thomas was slow to make an impact for the Ravens great defense. Competing with two outstanding defenders in Peter Boulware and Michael McCrary, he made 89 tackles in his first three years.

However, in the 2003 season Thomas' superb special teams play was noticed and he received his first Pro Bowl nod as a starter on special teams. He registered 34 tackles (23 of them on special teams) 8 passes defended, 4 sacks and a forced fumble.

Until the 2004 season, he remained a back-up linebacker. Beside that fact, he began to shine despite the adversity and was put into games more frequently. In that season, he amassed 72 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, 5 passes defended, an interception and 8 sacks.

Thomas's finest year to date came in the 2005 season. With Peter Boulware relegated to a strict pass-rusher, Thomas was named the starting Left Outside Linebacker. He accumulated 84 total tackles and 9 sacks, his prowess on the field was soon felt. In the absence of Ray Lewis, Thomas had to step up as the leader of the Ravens Squad. In the '05 season, Thomas became the first ever player to play 5 defensive positions (DE, OLB, MLB, Safety, and CB) in not one game, but three.

Despite leading the league in defensive touchdowns (3), Thomas did not receive any votes for defensive player of the year in 2005, as well as not being voted for the Pro Bowl. Thomas finally got recognition in 2006, where he helped a Ravens defense that was ranked #1 overall, and finished 13-3 getting the #2 seed in the playoffs (ultimately losing to the Colts). He also earned his 2nd Pro Bowl bid to the 2007 Pro Bowl. In the game he returned a Marc Bulger fumble for a touchdown.

Player Stats
Thomas is 6'2", 276 lbs. A 6 year pro, Adalius has recorded 288 tackles and 27.5 sacks.

[PackerPro42]

Don't get me wrong, Thomas is a great player. But if the Packers are planning to use him as a DE then I don't want him. As and OLB then I absolutely want him. However, I would much rather see them get Briggs if they're going to get an OLB.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I doubt Briggs will be available. Chicago has plenty of cap room to franchise him. I'm not sure how Baltimore is sitting in regards to the cap.

[motife]

the 3 Pro Bowl AFC OLB's were Terrell Suggs (Balt), Shawn Merriman (SD), and Adalius Thomas (Balt) all 3-4 pass rush type LB's.

could Adalius Thomas make it to the Pro Bowl as a 4-3 DE?

is he an upgrade over KGB or Cullen Jenkins? Jenkins said he prefers to play DT.

is he better than Aaron Kampman?

size wise, you don't find many DE's much over 270 lbs. nowadays. Most are 6-3, 6-4, but Dwight Freeney is 6-1.