Earl Thomas should not be the next cast-off the New England Patriots bring in.
The New England Patriots are known publicly for doing things “the Patriot Way,” and always have an image of the franchise who does not want anything to do with players not interested in anything but football. The thing people seem to overlook or forget is that Bill Belichick loves the value of depreciated assets.
This is why many people feel the Patriots should be talking to Earl Thomas right now. However, this would be a mistake.
Thomas recently wore out his welcome with his second straight franchise when the Baltimore Ravens cut him loose. On the surface, this was due to a fight with teammate and fellow starting safety Chuck Clark.
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According to Jason La Canfora for CBS Sports, it appears teammates had grown tired of Thomas and it appears he was no longer worth the effort of dealing with him as a teammate. In Baltimore, Thomas’s act had worn thin and his skills and desire were questioned by teammates. This all feels like a recipe for disaster for any team interested in him, nevertheless the Tom Brady-less Patriots.
The new-look New England Patriots can’t withstand the Earl Thomas storm.
The Patriots are no longer Super Bowl contenders so part of the shine of the organization might have worn off for someone like Thomas. When Brady was still with the team, the AFC Championship Game felt like a right of passage. Any internal player standing in the way was often diffused by the team’s veteran leadership. Nobody wanted to see one or two people ruin a chance at another Super Bowl ring. This is no longer the case in Foxboro.
Even though Bill Belichick has previously been able to reach troubled veterans who were still highly interested in winning and proving doubters wrong, Thomas does not seem to be in the same category. Although his love of football has never been questioned, Thomas made it clear when he was in Seattle that money had become his number one priority.
The other thing about Thomas is he has already won at a high level in his career. He has played in two Super Bowls and won once. This is probably what caused some of the headstrong attitude displayed in Baltimore when teammates accused him of doing whatever he wanted instead of sticking to defensive play calls. This would result in a quick benching in New England.
Additionally, the Patriots are still pretty solid in their safety depth. Although Thomas and his experience could be an asset, the team still has Devin McCourty to play the deep part of the field.
Media reports have Adrian Phillips looking well in training camp as well as Terrence Brooks. Either one of these players could fill the role played by Patrick Chung now that he has opted out for 2020. The team still needs someone to help fill the role of Duron Harmon since he was traded to Detroit.
However, the team still has rookie Kyle Dugger or there also the possibility of Joejuan Willams getting more time at safety this season rather than cornerback. Dugger is another player who has caught the attention of media members who have been allowed to attend the team’s training camp practices.
Either way, the Patriots have players who are capable of stepping and helping the team. They may not have the same overall impact of Earl Thomas at his peak but no one is sure if this will even be the case. Although the team could make use of him, he most likely will not be worth the price tag or effort it takes to keep him happy.
The team would be wiser investing the money into greater areas of need and letting someone else deal with the headache. There are simply too many young impressionable players on the 2020 defense. The team does not need a potential future Hall of Famer poisoning their culture. They should remember that for every Randy Moss and Corey Dillon, there have been plenty of misses like Antonio Brown and Albert Haynesworth.