The Boston Herald and ESPN are reporting that the Patriots have agreed to a deal with free agent linebacker Adalius Thomas. Contract terms aren't available quite yet. Considering the example that Nate Clements set earlier in the day, though ... I'd guess that Thomas probably got close to $20 million in guaranteed money.There had been some speculation here that the Patriots were after Joey Porter ... as it turns out, though, they had their eyes on a much bigger fish. The extremely versatile, talented, and athletic Thomas will fit in perfectly with the young linebacker-starved Patriots. Of course, a guy with Thomas's skills would fit in anywhere.
I hate to overstate, and I mean to disrespect to Nate Clements or Jeff Garcia, but ... given Adalius Thomas' talents, and the team he signed with, this will be the most significant free agent signing of the NFL off-season.
It's very bad news for AFC teams were were planning on making a Super Bowl run next year. The Colts and Chargers, et al, didn't need the Patriots defense to get much better ... and Thomas certainly makes them markedly better.




