Zach Thomas Released

[ChampBailey24]

Anyone interested? If he is healthy and comes reasonably cheap, i don't think it would be a bad signing.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3245927

[SpringStein]

I thinks this would have been a slam dunk if Bates were still the DC. Now there isn't a coaching connection that I'm aware of.

I would think Parcells would keep him if he were healthy enough to play.

[Doggcow]

If he's healthy/er than Al Wilson, yes.

[ICON]

yes!

[DarkHorse]

So we move DJ yet again? How many times before the dude gets disgruntled and wants to leave? Why would he want to stay in Denver once his contract is up? Money is one thing but if he lacks the desire to stay here, it's going to cost us.

[Rocket 7]

Jimmy Johnson cut Jack Del Rio in favor of rookie Zach Thomas back in the day.

[broncocalijohn]

He has over 1500 tackles and that is more than any LB in the HOF. BTW: What was Randy Gradishar's total?

[Connecticut Bronco Fan]

He has over 1500 tackles and that is more than any LB in the HOF. BTW: What was Randy Gradishar's total?

http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=272

The all-time leader in tackles (2,049) for the Broncos, Gradishar never missed a game, playing in 145 consecutive matches.

[Bronco LB 59]

It seemed like the other day he came into the league. I recall a SI story about Zach Thomas that was published during his rookie season of 1996. Zach was at a local South Florida barber getting his hair cut. One of the waiting customers sitting down overheard both the barber and Zach talking about football. Zach was such a small guy, this patron underestimated him on the eye ball test.

The waiting gentleman asked, "What high school do you play for?"

The barber reponded, "He doesn't play high school"

Waiting gentleman in amazement said, "He plays for the Canes?"

Barber said, "No, he plays for the Dolphins"

[cmhargrove]

Backwards thinking. This got us into trouble over the past few years. Get some new blood - guys that can grow up here and not spend all their time on the trainer's table.

I love Thomas, but not now, not for the Broncos. He could just be like Lynch was when he came to Denver. That was a great signing, but we need youth. We need development of young players.

Our LB's will look much better if we get a top tier DT. We need at least one who can break through the line regularly (although that wasn't really their job last year). If we get that, then Elvis and Jarvis will be singled up, and a lot more effective for us.

I love Zach, but it just feels like "backwards thinking" to a team that is learning to make the draft more of a priority.

[bronco_diesel]

i think he'd be good in a backup role.

[cmhargrove]

i think he'd be good in a backup role.

He won't be a backup..

He'll beat most guys out of their job in training camp. I think he'll have an incredible start to the season. I just think he will go down injured, and his new team (that built around him) will sorely miss him. He's a great guy, and a terrific player, but he won't be a backup.

[GoHAM]

I wouldn't mind bringing him in on two conditions:

1. He comes very cheap, like vet minimum with incentives for playing time.

2. We draft our future MLB in the first two rounds in April. That way when Thomas goes down the rookie can step in after having 5-6 weeks to get adjusted to the pro game and learn his assingments. And DJ can man the Will all season long.

[Merlin]

Old, concussion prone, recent long term injury...all the kiss of death. He was great, would not touch him today...pass

[boltaneer]

I think the Patriots will be very interested in him.

[broncocalijohn]

I think the Patriots will be very interested in him.

Too young.

[55CrushEm]

Too young.

Ha!

[broncosteven]

I got an idea!

Switch to 3-4 and bring both Zach and Al in and move DJ to rush end. Bring in Rod Coleman to play NT and Crumpler to be our Wing T end.

/sarcasm

[Popps]

Of course you bring this guy in. Let me make this as simple as possible...

1. DJ Williams is marginal, at best. He's slightly better on the outside.

2. Our LBs are garbage.

3. We have no one who can find their ass with both hands in our front 7.

Thomas is a hard worker, a team-leader and highly talented.

Will he get injured? Maybe. Does he do more for us in 8 games than any other LB we have in 16? Probably.

And quit with the "we need youth," already. We have plenty of young, clueless players running around out there without adding a few more. Good lord, when Lynch was out... guys couldn't even figure out where to line up. ****, we couldn't even get the right number of guys on the field!

Someone mentioned the Patriots... and you can laugh, but they squeezed a lot of life out of Harrison and Seau when people thought they were done. They did it by mixing talent, experience and youth.

Right now, we have two guys (Bailey/Lynch) with both... and a bunch of guys who might have trouble starting on other NFL teams.

We're GOING to draft young players, folks. It's not as if when we sign Thomas, we're suddenly forbidden from drafting any LBs.

[NFLBRONCO]

I heard him say he does not want to go to team that is rebuilding

[Atlas]

I got an idea!

Switch to 3-4 and bring both Zach and Al in and move DJ to rush end. Bring in Rod Coleman to play NT and Crumpler to be our Wing T end.

/sarcasm

I think Denver has the personal to be a 3-4 now more so than they were a couple of years ago. Moss and Crowder would be great OLB in that scheme. I also think DJ would be better suited for a 3-4 because he is pretty big and physical.

That being said Slowick doesn't teach the 3-4 so it's pretty much mute anyway.

[kappys]

Of course you bring this guy in. Let me make this as simple as possible...

1. DJ Williams is marginal, at best. He's slightly better on the outside.

2. Our LBs are garbage.

3. We have no one who can find their ass with both hands in our front 7.

Thomas is a hard worker, a team-leader and highly talented.

Will he get injured? Maybe. Does he do more for us in 8 games than any other LB we have in 16? Probably.

And quit with the "we need youth," already. We have plenty of young, clueless players running around out there without adding a few more. Good lord, when Lynch was out... guys couldn't even figure out where to line up. ****, we couldn't even get the right number of guys on the field!

Someone mentioned the Patriots... and you can laugh, but they squeezed a lot of life out of Harrison and Seau when people thought they were done. They did it by mixing talent, experience and youth.

Right now, we have two guys (Bailey/Lynch) with both... and a bunch of guys who might have trouble starting on other NFL teams.

We're GOING to draft young players, folks. It's not as if when we sign Thomas, we're suddenly forbidden from drafting any LBs.


QFT. Get Thomas, he immediately shores up the weakest portion of our defense - run stopping. Obviously there are a lot of other pieces missing to accomplih this goal, but he would be a huge asset.

I wouldn't say DJ is exactly marginal, but perhaps only average to slightly above average. Will do better at the Will, and I won't really have any major regrets if we didn't resign him after his stint with the Broncos

We need someone who can organize this defense. DJ simply doesn't make the right calls/reads, which was something that Al Wilson gave us and is sorely missed. Lynch did his best to step into that role last year, and I for one thought our defense was much much better when Lynch was in than out(not just from his play but from his leadership and direction).

[dsmoot]

Of course you bring this guy in. Let me make this as simple as possible...

1. DJ Williams is marginal, at best. He's slightly better on the outside.

2. Our LBs are garbage.

3. We have no one who can find their ass with both hands in our front 7.

Thomas is a hard worker, a team-leader and highly talented.

Will he get injured? Maybe. Does he do more for us in 8 games than any other LB we have in 16? Probably.

And quit with the "we need youth," already. We have plenty of young, clueless players running around out there without adding a few more. Good lord, when Lynch was out... guys couldn't even figure out where to line up. ****, we couldn't even get the right number of guys on the field!

Someone mentioned the Patriots... and you can laugh, but they squeezed a lot of life out of Harrison and Seau when people thought they were done. They did it by mixing talent, experience and youth.

Right now, we have two guys (Bailey/Lynch) with both... and a bunch of guys who might have trouble starting on other NFL teams.

We're GOING to draft young players, folks. It's not as if when we sign Thomas, we're suddenly forbidden from drafting any LBs.


WOW!!! Wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. JUST TEASING. I don't share your assessment of DJ. This guy should be in Golds spot. Period. I don't think you would feel the same if he was turned loose there. The mixing of the vets with youth is exactly what any team needs. You have to tip your hat to the way the Pats have done it.

I am not opposed to bringing in any good locker room vet with a well structured contract to see what he has left. We need to stop extending all this money out to guys with injury history. Denver is no longer attractive to many players without the money being forked out.

[Kaylore]

I bet he's a Patriot.

[SpringStein]

Dallas Morning News and PFT are reporting that he will at least visit Dallas.

[bronco militia]

hopefully his next concussion is his last...thomas should hang it up

[MechanicalBull]

Pass. I don't want to see Denver go after these guys that were names years ago and are injured or done(Simeon Rice, the Browncos, etc). These guys rarely work and are just stop gaps for the most part. If they are going to go into a rebuilding mode I'd much rather see it with young FA's and guys from the draft and not over the hill vets.

[Dedhed]

If you're considering Thomas, why wouldn't Al Wilson be a no brainer?

[Popps]

Al Wilson should also be considered. He should have been brought in for a physical immediately.

[Dedhed]

Pass. I don't want to see Denver go after these guys that were names years ago and are injured or done(Simeon Rice, the Browncos, etc). These guys rarely work and are just stop gaps for the most part. If they are going to go into a rebuilding mode I'd much rather see it with young FA's and guys from the draft and not over the hill vets.

With the state of this defense, we're going to need a couple of stop gaps. If we rely on incoming rookies or current youth to fill all the gaps its going to be a long season. Lynch is a stop gap at this point in his career, and we're going to need another on the DL and likely one at LB. I'd rather Al Wilson because I think he brings immediate leadership and fan support where a guy like Thomas would take awhile to adjust and get acclimated to new players and fans.

[Popps]

Pass. I don't want to see Denver go after these guys that were names years ago and are injured or done(Simeon Rice, the Browncos, etc). .

See, why does it have to be Simeon Rice? Why isn't your example John Lynch, Junior Seau or Rodney Harrision or the long list of other vets who have helped teams?

You cherry-pick a few ****ty examples and assume we ONLY have those as options.

I'm not saying Thomas will be able to stay healthy. What I am saying is that he's talented enough to take the chance on, and we can STILL draft young guys.

Once again... signing a few vets does not preclude us from using our draft picks. I'm just not understanding the connection in people's mind that if we do one, we CAN'T do the other.

I go back to New England.... or hell, go back to the Broncos championship teams. It was probably 80% vets and a few of the key vets were added in the last year before we won a SB.

[NFLBRONCO]

See, why does it have to be Simeon Rice? Why isn't your example John Lynch, Junior Seau or Rodney Harrision or the long list of other vets who have helped teams?

You cherry-pick a few ****ty examples and assume we ONLY have those as options.

I'm not saying Thomas will be able to stay healthy. What I am saying is that he's talented enough to take the chance on, and we can STILL draft young guys.

Once again... signing a few vets does not preclude us from using our draft picks. I'm just not understanding the connection in people's mind that if we do one, we CAN'T do the other.

I go back to New England.... or hell, go back to the Broncos championship teams. It was probably 80% vets and a few of the key vets were added in the last year before we won a SB.

See your point but, SB teams were alot better in many spots then we are now so its easier to get rewardsof big time FA's . Shanny has had zero luck with most of his FA moves. NE is winning alot so of course it looks like a great plan to sign aging vets but, hasn't worked well in Denver lately because our core of talent isn't good enough esp up front on either line and young. If we sign guys to 1 or 2 yr contracts I'd be ok with it while we bolster our core via draft

[Popps]

NE is winning alot so of course it looks like a great plan to sign aging vets

Most SB teams have a good mix. All I'm saying is, we aren't going to hurt our front seven by having a few guys that actually know how to play the game and have some talent.

I realize we need to develop young guys, but we simply can't keep trotting scrubs and rookies out there and expect to win games.

[NFLBRONCO]

Most SB teams have a good mix. All I'm saying is, we aren't going to hurt our front seven by having a few guys that actually know how to play the game and have some talent.

I realize we need to develop young guys, but we simply can't keep trotting scrubs and rookies out there and expect to win games.


Yeah I understand your view. I'm not sure what Denver will actually do in FA.

[Popps]

Yeah I understand your view. I'm not sure what Denver will actually do in FA.

The wild-cards here are obviously the young guys we already have. If a couple of them can pan out and contribute (Moss and Thomas?) ... that makes a huge difference. I'm not sure how much Ekuban has left, but he's a clear upgrade over Engleberger if he can return.

We still remain in the position where we need a couple of impact guys in the front seven, no matter how we get them.

[SpringStein]

I bet he's a Patriot.

Good call.

From PFT:
Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that the Patriots have offered a contract to free-agent linebacker Zach Thomas, who was cut by the Dolphins last week.

Thomas and agent Drew Rosenhaus visited with the Patriots on Monday.

Next up? A visit to New Orleans. The Cowboys, Texans, Bills, and Jets also are interested in acquiring Thomas.

[MechanicalBull]

See, why does it have to be Simeon Rice? Why isn't your example John Lynch, Junior Seau or Rodney Harrision or the long list of other vets who have helped teams?

You cherry-pick a few ****ty examples and assume we ONLY have those as options.

I'm not saying Thomas will be able to stay healthy. What I am saying is that he's talented enough to take the chance on, and we can STILL draft young guys.


I wasn't cherry picking, in my opinion I think guys like Lynch and Harrison are the exception to the rule and plus I don't want to touch guys that have had concussions or serious injuries either. To be honest I wouldn't want Al Wilson back either eventhough I love the guy.

[MechanicalBull]

With the state of this defense, we're going to need a couple of stop gaps. If we rely on incoming rookies or current youth to fill all the gaps its going to be a long season. Lynch is a stop gap at this point in his career, and we're going to need another on the DL and likely one at LB. I'd rather Al Wilson because I think he brings immediate leadership and fan support where a guy like Thomas would take awhile to adjust and get acclimated to new players and fans.

If we are just going to get stop gaps then I'd rather just rely on the rookies and see how they progress cause I don't think guys like Wilson or Thomas at this stage in their careers puts us over the hump anyway.

[Dedhed]

If we are just going to get stop gaps then I'd rather just rely on the rookies and see how they progress cause I don't think guys like Wilson or Thomas at this stage in their careers puts us over the hump anyway.
I'm not sure you're all that in touch with today's NFL. Every team in the league has stop gap players.

[MechanicalBull]

I'm not sure you're all that in touch with today's NFL. Every team in the league has stop gap players.

I understand stop gap players and in touch with the nfl. I said I'd rather let the rookies progress and be given time over guys like Thomas and Wilson.