By John Clayton
ESPN.com
Day Two of free agency should be called Patriots' Day. It was a day in which the Patriots spent big for a star linebacker and were also aggressive adding several role players.
For the past year, the Patriots didn't appear to want to spend big. They lost several key free agents and traded Deion Branch when he held out for a bigger contract. But if that was done to clear up cap room for this season, the Patriots can't be criticized for being passive in 2007.
They signed linebacker Adalius Thomas and have managed to keep everyone hush-hush on the amount of the contact. They are planning to sign Dolphins wide receiver Wes Welker, a restricted free agent, to an offer sheet. They also signed tight end Kyle Brady and running back Sammy Morris.
Not since 1995, when Willie McGinest was in just his second season, have the New England Patriots had a defender post double-digit sacks. That long drought is likely to end in 2007.
The Patriots have reached an agreement in principle with former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Adalius Thomas, among the premier players in the unrestricted free agent pool, and the seven-year veteran appears to be a perfect fit for coach Bill Belichick's trademark 3-4 defensive scheme.
Thomas has 28½ sacks over the past three seasons, with a career-best 11 sacks in 2006.
ESPN.com
Day Two of free agency should be called Patriots' Day. It was a day in which the Patriots spent big for a star linebacker and were also aggressive adding several role players.
For the past year, the Patriots didn't appear to want to spend big. They lost several key free agents and traded Deion Branch when he held out for a bigger contract. But if that was done to clear up cap room for this season, the Patriots can't be criticized for being passive in 2007.
They signed linebacker Adalius Thomas and have managed to keep everyone hush-hush on the amount of the contact. They are planning to sign Dolphins wide receiver Wes Welker, a restricted free agent, to an offer sheet. They also signed tight end Kyle Brady and running back Sammy Morris.
Not since 1995, when Willie McGinest was in just his second season, have the New England Patriots had a defender post double-digit sacks. That long drought is likely to end in 2007.
The Patriots have reached an agreement in principle with former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Adalius Thomas, among the premier players in the unrestricted free agent pool, and the seven-year veteran appears to be a perfect fit for coach Bill Belichick's trademark 3-4 defensive scheme.
Thomas has 28½ sacks over the past three seasons, with a career-best 11 sacks in 2006.
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