Big Linebacker News!
 

http://www.benmaller.com/#nfl_rumors_notes

The Ravens have resigned themselves to the probability that their standout strongside linebacker Adalius Thomas, who is second in the AFC and fifth in the NFL with nine sacks, is going to test the free-agent market this winter. A long-term contract agreement seems to be out of reach, and the Ravens have accepted that Thomas will test the free-agent waters before deciding what he wants to do with his future.

Woof!

RE: Big Linebacker News!
 

He's a nice player to go after and all, but he doesn't really fit into our system.

I would love to see him play here.
I like the attitude he play with.
We need players that play on
Defense that play with the Attitude
he play with!!

8)

even having your player locked up for 4,5,6, yrs does not guarantee they'll give 100% if not satisfied............too many to list to prove my point.....but best case scenerio, you have a winning team with good coaches where you want to be a part of it and are willing to sacrifice the bucks for a superbowl or 2 or 3 and fame, ( did i mention fame, FOREVER,) ..........
i am truely amazed at what payton is doing with what he has and what he is able to obtain.....
i've said it in the past and maintain my position til i die...........if you don't have good 2nd and 3rd stringers that can step in as though no one has been missed, you are not going anywhere. period.................
payton is not only taking care of that, he is paying attention to the future needs as need requires.................i can not find fault as easily as i could have in years past......this is painfull in an entirely different way, almost a "diva do"................
if you don't know what that is, don't ask b&b, he wishes..............
don't ask diva, she knows, but ladies don't tell............
and don't ask me, i wish and know, but it does'nt do any good...........smitty

and pay no attention to the senile. only thing they offer to society is drool and used depends.... :P

I'm with papz on this one. If we didn't have Fujita under contract, I might, but for linebackers, I'd rather concentrate on a fast, young, smart, versatile guy that can play the middle. Nothing against Simoneau, but he's not a long term solution to the position.

We definitely need to lock up Fujita. Adding Thomas would add an extremely tough LB to play the middle (we're what...24th in run defense). Clark, Simoneau, and Shanle to fill the 3rd spot and add depth...seems like a great fit to me...better than Donnie Edwards. We use the draft and hopefully FA to build up the secondary and watch out. If we do well this season I could see Thomas wanting to be the guy on our D and competing for the big game next season.

Simoneau is diffenently not the answer. He's not the physical presence a dominant defense needs in the middle to be a great defense.

If they need and can get him they will.

can he make the change to MLB? he was out there last year and got no offers and ended up back with the ravens. according to nfl network last night.

Ravens' Thomas: The Everywhere Man
By D.Laurant on September 20, 2006 12:44 AM
Permalink | Comments (0) | RSS | [+] More Ravens News

Off the field, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Adalius Thomas is a big teddy bear. On it, he's a big problem for opposing
offenses.

Last season, Thomas had a career high 104 tackles to go with nine sacks. But since it was an off-year for the Ravens as a whole, the 29-year-old University of Southern Mississippi grad remained best-known for breaking Michael Vick's leg in a preseason game several years ago.

He's used to it. Despite being twice named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year at USM, Thomas was only a sixth-round draft choice of the Ravens in 2000. The problem was, he seemed too heavy (370 pounds) to be a linebacker and a bit too short (6-foot-2) to play on the defensive line. No one was quite sure where to put him.

The answer? All over the field. As the Ravens shift back and forth from 3-4 to 4-3 under innovative defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, Thomas might be anywhere -- charging at the passer, clogging the running routes, blanketing a receiver on a short middle route. For a 270-pounder, his speed is frightening.

"They don't know if he's a safety, a defensive tackle, a defensive end or what," said teammate Terrell Suggs, another "tweener" type.

Nevertheless, Thomas received little interest -- at least, little lucrative interest -- when he tried free agency after making the Pro Bowl as a special teamer in 2003. The Ravens wisely reeled him back in, and he has been a major part of the team's dominating defense this season.

Led by Thomas, Ray Lewis and others, the Ravens have yet to surrender a touchdown.

"If you can hold someone to single digits in this game, you should win," Thomas said.

Especially if Thomas continues to play like he did last Sunday in a 28-6 throttling of the Oakland Raiders -- seven unassisted tackles, two sacks and an interception.

According to Thomas, he and DE Trevor Pryce discussed the impending third-quarter sack of Raiders' QB Andrew Walter before it happened.

"Trevor said, 'If you come around me, you'll get it," Thomas said.

As a Raven, Thomas has involved himself in helping the Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, and a host of programs benefiting children and teenagers. He loves kids, and even married an elementary school teacher.

It's only quarterbacks and offensive linemen he doesn't like.

NOTE: Despite Baltimore's 2-0 start, coach Brian Billick is softpedaling the euphoria -- and with good reason. Although the defense caused six Oakland turnovers, the O did little to capitalize on it. QB Steve McNair was only 16 of 33 for 143 yards, his lone touchdown pass marred by an interception.

"We had the potential to do a lot more, offensively, given the way it was teed up for us," Billick said. "We didn't deliver to the degree that we will need to against a better football team."

Get weekly Baltimore Ravens coverage at RealFootball365.com

I would really love to see this guy in the black and gold, i dont think Simoneau is the answer either.