Bills release LB Pat Thomas
by Brian Galliford on Sep 2, 2009 1:17 PM EDT
in Buffalo Bills News
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PrintWGR 550 reported, and the Buffalo Bills themselves have confirmed, that veteran linebacker Pat Thomas has been released by the club.
Thomas, a four-year NFL veteran, was signed this past March as depth and competition for several young players. However, Thomas has been dealing with an ankle injury, which has caused him to miss several weeks of practice as well as the last three pre-season games.
With Thomas out of the picture, the Bills now have no linebackers behind their starting trio with significant NFL experience. Jon Corto and Marcus Buggs spent 2008 with the Bills, but rarely saw the field at linebacker; Nic Harris, Alvin Bowen, Ashlee Palmer and Ryan Manalac have never seen a live down of regular season NFL action.
Don't be surprised if the Bills try to rectify their lack of depth at this position via trade over the next few days. The Bills have defenders that can be dealt, and if they can swap a corner or an end for linebacker depth, they could very well pull the trigger. NFL rosters must be set at 53 players by 4:00 PM ET Saturday.
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My guess: Drayton Florence will be trade bait
They brought in an experienced FA corner last year to compete for the nickel spot and ended up cutting him at the end of preseason too.
Drayton Florence is not going anywhere. The coaches love the guy. His grip on the nickel job is ironclad.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Sep 2, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed
Youbuty is more likely, he has skills and talent, but is always injured, some coach somewhere will figure he can keep him healthy. And alot of teams are losing CBs right now, I mean all around the NFL good quality guys are dropping like Raid Smothered flies.
(443): My mom came into my room and told me to flip off the tv. I gave it the middle finger. Note to self: STOP SMOKING THIS S#!T
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But we haven’t exactly stayed healthy there either, especially the past few years. McGee, Leo, Youboty and now Florence have all missed practice time. I don’t like the idea of dumping our depth at a position where we’ve seen plenty of recent injuries. I don’t want to be shorthanded and have to sign Dustin Fox or Jeremetrius Butler again!!
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
by Kurupt on Sep 2, 2009 2:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Well, it’s not like we’d be dumping him just to dump him. I’d have to see a trade before I freaked out about our CB depth.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Sep 2, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly, but if Florence is looking good and our LBers start hurting don't be surprised to Youbuty gone before week 6, just saying
(443): My mom came into my room and told me to flip off the tv. I gave it the middle finger. Note to self: STOP SMOKING THIS S#!T
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Well I’m saying that Youboty could be gone by 4PM Saturday, so naturally, I agree. :)
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Sep 2, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe Youboty to the Bears would work? Rusty Jones has a knack for player health and conditioning, as we’re all well-aware. That could possibly help land the team a LB they may need.
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by TheAfghanTwilight on Sep 2, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Youboty is a good idea.
Also, Chicago has four ends up from UFA at the end of the season: Anderson, Idonije, Ogunleye, and Brown. Maybe Kelsay or Denney for Jamar Williams?
The only problem is that the Bears just signed CB Rod Hood to a one-year deal here in the past couple of days…
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Sep 2, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Why does everyone think Florence might not make the team??? Is it because so many look at Will James and just assume its the same situation? Florence is a much, much, much better corner. He has been a very good nickel during his career and had the job won until he hurt his knee…
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
by Kurupt on Sep 2, 2009 1:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Tell you what, I am not sold on Florence. Corner could easily step in and play the nickel. I think he has played pretty well this pre-season. Having sad that, Florence makes the team.
"It's that time of the year where all teams are involved in making some, to a degree, painful decisions." - Marv Levy
by Jason from OH-IO on Sep 2, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Well it’s not exactly a surprise on this on. Florence is an excellent nickle corner\ and can be a short term starter when in a bind.
Captain of the "Promote Bob Sanders to Deffensive Coordinator" band wagon.
by CanadianBillsFan on Sep 2, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
How about Jamar Williams from the Bears? http://www.chicagobears.com/team/player83.html
can contribute on ST and has some game experience too, wouldn’t take too much to get him.
What do you guys think?
"What in the hell have I gotten myself into?" - Bruce Smith HOF
A player. I don’t think they’d try to swap a draft pick, to be honest. Youboty or an end.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Sep 2, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
The Bears team site has him as 2nd string at both outside LB spots on the depth chart. They may value him highly. Although looking at their CB depth, they could use an extra hand or two.
No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.
If any Bears LB is available, I would guess it’s Hunter Hillenmeyer.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Sep 2, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Not to my knowledge. Isn’t it Urlacher in the middle with Briggs and Tinoisamoa outside?
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Sep 3, 2009 8:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Oh, then I guess Hunter would be a good idea as well, he would give us some size. corto is our small speedy LB, I think Hunter would complement him well. plus, he plays in this system for a while now, wouldn’t take to much time to adjust..
I like that idea
"What in the hell have I gotten myself into?" - Bruce Smith HOF
As I stated above, however, the Bears aren’t exactly hurting for depth at CB/DE. Doubt we trade Parrish.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Sep 3, 2009 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions
I’d be more interested in Hillenmeyer if we can get him.
Captain of the "Promote Bob Sanders to Deffensive Coordinator" band wagon.
by CanadianBillsFan on Sep 2, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions
What vets might be available?
The Packers seem to have a lot of LB’s.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
by Kurupt on Sep 2, 2009 1:51 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Hey, they are down on AJ Hawk right now… any takers????
"It's that time of the year where all teams are involved in making some, to a degree, painful decisions." - Marv Levy
by Jason from OH-IO on Sep 2, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Brooks
Thomas is the type of player the Bills might still give a call to in the pinch or after final cuts if he is available.
I still wish they would bring Derrick Brooks in at least to work him out. Brooks still has a year or two left and what a good person to help instruct others on the Tampa 2…
There has to be good reason he hasn’t signed on anywhere. He’s a HOF player, and couldnt’ latch on with the Saints. That’s a team that needs all the help on D they can get.
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by TheAfghanTwilight on Sep 2, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions
The reason is money. If you’ve accomplished as much as Derrick Brooks, why the hell would you play again unless it’s for ridiculously excellent salaries? He has nothing to prove, and more money than he knows what to do with.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Sep 2, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Word in Tampa is that he wants to continue playing, the Raiders recently brought him in for a look. There are some athletes that enjoy playing the game and have a hard time walking away, for Brooks I don’t believe it is about the money.
I think he just wants a starting role on top of the money. I don’t think he wants to be stashed as a back up either.
I think that it’s much more about the starting role then the money. He wouldn’t have starter for the Saints, but would have been in a rotation. He wont start for the Raiders either. He wouldn’t start here either.
Captain of the "Promote Bob Sanders to Deffensive Coordinator" band wagon.
by CanadianBillsFan on Sep 2, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe because he loves playing and wants one more shot? If someone wants Brooks and would let him play a lot, I bet he’d sign regardless of money.
Why wouldn’t he just retire if it would only take big $ to get him to sign? I think he just really wants to play, but no one wants him or wants to guarantee PT.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
by Kurupt on Sep 2, 2009 2:15 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I can guarantee you that the “no one wants him” is crap, because who in their right minds wouldn’t want Derrick Brooks?
I never said it was SOLELY money, though it did come across that way. Obviously he still wants to play, or as you said, he’d just retire. He’s looking for playing time and money. Nobody can guarantee him that at this point in the game – not even Buffalo.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Sep 2, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I was just speculating that it might be that no one wants him. My belief is no one wants to guarantee him PT. I can see why he wouldn’t want to return as a backup that might never see the field.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
by Kurupt on Sep 2, 2009 2:45 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Brooks doesn't want to play special teams...
and he wants starter’s money…just not a good fit here…although I love his game
by NorCal BillsFan on Sep 2, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s the thing. If a linebacker isn’t going to start he has to contribute on special teams. Is Brooks willing or able to do that at this point in his career?
You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on.
by PerryTuttle22 on Sep 2, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
With Brooks I think it is the PT, he wants and thinks he can still be an effective starter, and obviously NFL people don't think he can be
I think if someone like the Pats or Giants came to him with a Seau type offer partway through the season he might sign, but any other teams, especially bubble teams like ours would need to give him a starter’s role.
(443): My mom came into my room and told me to flip off the tv. I gave it the middle finger. Note to self: STOP SMOKING THIS S#!T
-textsfromlastnight.com
Kinda saw it comming, but it's still not comforting.
We need more depth at LB, Brooks maybe?
Or maybe this is more of an omen to Harris’ great play so far. Cause right now Harris is our top sub at LB. Not sure if I like that, but if they’r grooming him to be our next big thing at LB (along with Puz) then it’s not a bad idea either.
Captain of the "Promote Bob Sanders to Deffensive Coordinator" band wagon.
by CanadianBillsFan on Sep 2, 2009 4:01 PM EDT reply actions
It doesn’t mean anything other than Thomas is hurt and they’re tired of waiting for him to get healthy.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Sep 2, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice hockey quote.
Captain of the "Promote Bob Sanders to Deffensive Coordinator" band wagon.
by CanadianBillsFan on Sep 2, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
… I was not quoting hockey.
Buffalo Rumblings. On Twitter.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. --Wayne Grezky" --Michael Scott
by Brian Galliford on Sep 2, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s what she said.
Twitter: helping to make anti-social people anti-socially social.
by TheAfghanTwilight on Sep 2, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions
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