They needed a safety, and quarterback Deshaun Watson (with whom Thomas shares an agent) reportedly implored head coach Bill O’Brien to consider signing him.īut Thomas also later said that his conversation with O’Brien didn’t go the way he expected, with the head coach wondering whether Thomas even wanted to play football still. If you recall a year ago, the Texans were heavily mentioned as suitors for Thomas’ services. There are myriad reports of Houston’s level of interest in Thomas, with some saying it’s likely not happening and others indicating that the door might remain ajar. Jerry Rice, for one, is saying that his former team must proceed with extreme caution on this one. There also are the lingering character questions, and the 49ers don’t want to upset the team chemistry that helped bring them on the precipice of a title six months ago.
And yes, memories of that haunting third-and-15 play from the Super Bowl hang above the team’s head. On the surface, it’s easy to see the connections here, especially with Robert Saleh calling the defense that essentially was built out of the Seattle system where Thomas became a star. And with K’Waun Williams battling a calf injury, the nickel job is open for now Ward can shift inside to that spot if needed, potentially opening up a deep-safety spot. The team added Johnathan Cyprien this offseason, but recent reports suggest he could be on the outs, so Thomas would certainly be an improvement over him. The 49ers also could use some help in the secondary, although it’s not as if they are bereft back there with Jimmie Ward, Jaquiski Tartt and Tarvarius Moore in tow. The Richard Sherman connection likely helps matters for Thomas, giving him a strong ally and voice of support in the locker room. The Browns, however, need to be careful playing with fire following their tinderbox 2019 season. Would Thomas relish joining one of the Ravens’ divisional rivals and get the opportunity to stick it to them twice this season? It’s possible, and his knowledge of the Ravens’ offense might provide Cleveland some edge. The battles between the receivers and Thomas could be fun in theory, or perhaps a nightmare in reality. The Browns’ locker-room chemistry was a dumpster fire last season, and even if there’s a new coaching staff there, one must ask if the team wants to add a high-profile player who just was kicked off a Super Bowl contender for disciplinary reasons.
EARL THOMAS ROOKIE CARD FIVE STARS SIGNED UPGRADE
Thomas represents a talent upgrade over that group.īut the anti-Thomas arguments are obvious. The Browns just lost talented rookie safety Grant Delpit for the season to an Achilles injury, which appears to leave Andrew Sendejo, Karl Joseph and Sheldrick Redwine as the top options at safety. The secondary is suddenly a mess, and they have boatloads of salary-cap space to add a big-name player if they want to.
0 kommentar(er)
