Packers want Adalius Thomas

[HarveyWallbangers]

My guess is that the Pats will be all over him.

That's a good bet. What other 3-4 teams have money and need a LB? Cleveland? Pittsburgh?

[RashanGary]

Thomas could play every down in GB or damn near. ON run downs he's a LB. On pass downs he's a DE and because DE's use so much enerty he should sit 5 - 10 % of the plays. I wouldn't rule him out of GB because of that.

[Bretsky]

Barnett wants to get paid like the best in the biz. That is the biggest difference IMO.

From the way it sounds he wants about the same as LBs that have signed recently with similar credentials. Slightly more than E.J. Henderson. Sounds fair.

If that is true it's completely fair; Barnett is a better player than EJ Henderson

[Joemailman]

I think Patrick Kerney of Atlanta would be a more natural fit for the Packers. However, I know he missed half the season with Atlanta. Anybody know what his injury status is? I've always thought he was a great player.

[Partial]

I think you keep your own. Pay Jenkins and Barnett. They're young, hard workers. Keep 'em in the G and G. Above average vets are priceless on a good team. New England won a super bowl with an all-pro and a slew of above average vets.

[TennesseePackerBacker]

Anyone else see the rumor about trading KGB for Tatum Bell? Saw it on nfldraftcountdown, think someone on packerchatters started it, wonder if it's even a thought.

[vince]

I'd be all for the Pack going after Thomas, but this reaks of smokescreen, which TT has proven to be perfectly capable of.

Thomas will be the #1 target of a host of teams who play a 3-4 defense -that have ample room under the cap.

TT isn't the type that runs such a loose ship that someone "in the know" would let the media in on free agent targets two weeks before signing season, thereby upping the ante required to get the guy signed. Thankfully, TT's the type that would do just the opposite...

My guess is that we are targeting a DE, but it ain't Thomas. This is a planned leak to get the focus off someone else who the Pack wants to sign.

Thomas would be great, but I'm not holding any hope on this one.

[wist43]

Like a lot of you guys, I don't know that Thomas would be a good fit for Green Bay's scheme...

He's a monster in the Baltimore's 3-4, but would be miscast as either a full time end, or a full time LB... which is all the Packers can offer.

Patrick Kearney would be a better fit as a full time end, but that would only make sense if he checked out medically...

At this point, as far as an upgrade at DE, I'd throw a low/mid level contact at Jenkins.

Someone mentioned Tatum Bell for KGB??? Don't know why Denver would even consider doing that deal...

[KYPack]

I can't say if Thomas fits our scheme or not.

I can say the guy is an amazing player. On one series, Thomas played 3 positions. 1st down, DE with his hand down. 2nd Down, SLB standing up. 3rd down, Strong safety.

When most DC's scheme this way, they use the big guy at SS and just blitz him for the mis-match. Not Rex Ryan, he had Thomas go into coverage. The big guy can really play all these different spots.

I don't think you sign Thomas as a RDE. You sign him AND Jenkins and use the big guy's versatility. Thomas creates a lot of mismatches.

Bart Scott wasn't the best player on the Ravens defense last season. Terrell Suggs and Trevor Pryce had career years for the birds last season.

[prsnfoto]

If Barnett only wants similar money to Henderson 5 years 25 mil. I will eat your hat Harvey and I would also sign him I think he wants 6 and 40-45 then you let him walk into the sunset and never look back he hasn't even made a fricking ProBowl. Thomas is a beast and I don't care if we play 4-3,3-4 2-6,6-2 whatever he would be a huge pickup.

[wist43]

Thomas offers a defensive coordinator like Rex Ryan opportunities to create mismatches b/c they play a very flexible, multi-faceted defense that utilizes a lot of presnap audibles and movement... and Rex Ryan designs his game plans in such a way to take advantage of the talents of a guy like Thomas.

Green Bay offers none of that... Thomas would be asked to defeat the LT, down in and down out, with no subterfuge, no presnap confusion... just line up and beat the guy.

At 6'2", 270lbs, Thomas can't do that down in and down out... Does anyone really think that Bob Sanders would have the ability, let alone the inclination, to use Thomas to the max of his ability???

Thomas is a perfect example of the type of player that would be disqualified from playing in the scheme the Packers run... if a defensive scheme can't use a guy like Thomas, then the scheme is junk.

Unless Green Bay made changes to their scheme, signing Thomas would be a waste.

[motife]

Adalius Thomas went to the Pro Bowl 3 years ago as a Special Teams headhunter. Anybody that can do that has a huge level of intensity.

I think if anything, that's what would intrigue any team.

Sizewise, as I said before, most DE's are not much over 270 nowadays, except Richard Seymour maybe. A typical DE is 6-3, 6-4 and 270.

If you want a pressure defense, he'd definitely be a piece of the puzzle.

Moneywise, don't DE's make more than OLB's? It's at least a wash.

[PackerPro42]

As good as Thomas is, if he's going to play DE I don't want him. I think that the DE position is pretty well set for next year and I don't think there is a need to pick up a high profile DE in FA in order to fill a non-need. If he's willing to fill the OLB position then by all means. The only thing I question is his ability to adapt to a 4-3 defense as a OLB or DE. I just don't think that picking up Thomas is a wise way to spend our money.

[Partial]

If Barnett only wants similar money to Henderson 5 years 25 mil. I will eat your hat Harvey and I would also sign him I think he wants 6 and 40-45 then you let him walk into the sunset and never look back he hasn't even made a fricking ProBowl. Thomas is a beast and I don't care if we play 4-3,3-4 2-6,6-2 whatever he would be a huge pickup.

Why does everyone think he wants top dollar? Nothing has led me to believe he wants anything more than fair market value, but in a longer contract.

I see no reason not to resign Barnett. He seems like the type of guy who would step his game up with a contract, ala Kampman.

[Partial]

As good as Thomas is, if he's going to play DE I don't want him. I think that the DE position is pretty well set for next year and I don't think there is a need to pick up a high profile DE in FA in order to fill a non-need. If he's willing to fill the OLB position then by all means. The only thing I question is his ability to adapt to a 4-3 defense as a OLB or DE. I just don't think that picking up Thomas is a wise way to spend our money.

They need playmakers period. Perhaps they'll play him at OLB and have the best linebacking corps in the league. Remember, in this scheme the WLB and SLB play almost the identical position.