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Big gamble on defensive end doesn't pay off Saints quickly cut out-of-shape Thomas
Monday, May 14, 2007
By Benjamin Hochman
Walter Thomas' Saints career ended almost as soon as it began.
Just 12 minutes into Thomas' first minicamp, Saints coaches sent the rookie free agent to the training room. Coach Sean Payton then decided that the 6-foot-5, 375-pound defensive linemen was unfit to participate in camp.
"It was a situation where, from a conditioning standpoint, he had a long way to go," Payton said. "He struggled."
Every spring, the Saints sign rookies who've gone undrafted, but few arrive with the hoopla and mystery surrounding Thomas.
Signed by Coach Les Miles at Oklahoma State in 2004, Thomas flunked out as a freshman and ended up at Northwest Mississippi Community College. He sat out 2005 and in 2006 played in two games, totaling 16 tackles. He was arrested and dismissed from the team, pending criminal charges. So he decided to take a shot at the NFL.
The Saints took a chance on Thomas, who can run the 40-yard dash in less than five seconds and can do back flips with ease.
According to Thomas' agent, Martin Magid, Thomas said his head hurt during the drills, but he still was able to compete. When trainers told him he appeared dehydrated and gave him intravenous fluids, Thomas still felt confident he could return to the field.
"He was a free agent we signed after the draft, and you have no way of measuring where he's at from a conditioning standpoint," Payton said. "So, you're somewhat guarded with everyone."
Magid said he was puzzled that the team cut Thomas so quickly.
"It doesn't add up," he said. "He's worked out for the team. He's been a football player his whole life."
Magid said three other NFL teams had expressed interest in Thomas, and the agent thought his client could get in shape for his next look-see.
"We'll talk to the teams, tell them Walter's side of what happened and move on," Magid said. "He wants to prove himself to the Saints and the football world. I'm not going to stop believing in the kid."
They could have at least waited until after practice.
Monday, May 14, 2007
By Benjamin Hochman
Walter Thomas' Saints career ended almost as soon as it began.
Just 12 minutes into Thomas' first minicamp, Saints coaches sent the rookie free agent to the training room. Coach Sean Payton then decided that the 6-foot-5, 375-pound defensive linemen was unfit to participate in camp.
"It was a situation where, from a conditioning standpoint, he had a long way to go," Payton said. "He struggled."
Every spring, the Saints sign rookies who've gone undrafted, but few arrive with the hoopla and mystery surrounding Thomas.
Signed by Coach Les Miles at Oklahoma State in 2004, Thomas flunked out as a freshman and ended up at Northwest Mississippi Community College. He sat out 2005 and in 2006 played in two games, totaling 16 tackles. He was arrested and dismissed from the team, pending criminal charges. So he decided to take a shot at the NFL.
The Saints took a chance on Thomas, who can run the 40-yard dash in less than five seconds and can do back flips with ease.
According to Thomas' agent, Martin Magid, Thomas said his head hurt during the drills, but he still was able to compete. When trainers told him he appeared dehydrated and gave him intravenous fluids, Thomas still felt confident he could return to the field.
"He was a free agent we signed after the draft, and you have no way of measuring where he's at from a conditioning standpoint," Payton said. "So, you're somewhat guarded with everyone."
Magid said he was puzzled that the team cut Thomas so quickly.
"It doesn't add up," he said. "He's worked out for the team. He's been a football player his whole life."
Magid said three other NFL teams had expressed interest in Thomas, and the agent thought his client could get in shape for his next look-see.
"We'll talk to the teams, tell them Walter's side of what happened and move on," Magid said. "He wants to prove himself to the Saints and the football world. I'm not going to stop believing in the kid."
They could have at least waited until after practice.
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