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The scorecard lists Thomas as an outside linebacker, but trust me, Belichick will have him everywhere -- at defensive end, covering wide receivers, plugging the middle -- which means it just got tougher to game plan the Patriots. Thomas' strength is his versatility. He can cover the field as easily as he can rush the pocket, and, remember, he had 11 sacks for the Ravens last season. Also remember that New England was one minute from the Super Bowl. You think he would've made a difference in that second half against Indianapolis? You bet he would. One other thing: I liked the Patriots' pickup of tight end Kyle Brady. He's 35, but the guy can block.
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San Diego Chargers: I don't care if you love A.J. Smith or hate him. You can't help but admire how the general manager keeps San Diego on its feet. Smith entered March wondering how on earth he could compete with Seattle for guard Kris Dielman when the truth was he couldn't. The Seahawks would offer more money. But Dielman pulled the upset, staying in San Diego with a six-year, $39 million deal that is nothing but good news for new coach Norv Turner.
With Dielman re-signed, Turner has his offensive line intact ... now and for the foreseeable future. All five of San Diego's starters are signed through the next two seasons, including three -- Dielman, center Nick Hardwick and right tackle Shane Olivea -- who are locked down through the next five. You won't find many clubs with that sort of continuity up front, but then you don't find many teams that run through a season with only two losses -- and both of them on last-minute scores. San Diego is deeper than almost everyone in talent, and the Dielman re-signing is a reason: Smith finds a way to keep key players from moving on.
Leonard Davis: He's out of Arizona. He's home in Texas. He's $50 million richer. And he might get a chance to play right guard. If not, pencil him in at right tackle. I don't care which it is. All I know is Davis is headed to the right spot, and I don't necessarily mean the Cowboys; I mean anywhere but left tackle. He seemed lost there, unable to keep up with speed pass rushers, and I offer those eight sacks and nine false starts last season as evidence.
Now he's where he should be -- on the right side of the line, with the possibility of settling in at guard, where he seemed most comfortable in Arizona. Say what you want about the Cowboys' checkered history lately when it comes to offensive linemen, but this is a good move for Leonard Davis.
Eric Steinbach and Derrick Dockery: Two guards with zero Pro Bowl credentials pulling down nearly $100 million between them? Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.
A year ago, Cleveland signed Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley to a six-year, $36 million deal. Then he suffered what could be a career-ending injury. So the Browns try to make up for the loss by shelling out $49.5 million for Steinbach? Wow. No one can accuse GM Phil Savage of sitting on his hands. He's doing everything he can to make sure Romeo Crennel keeps his job.
The Bills overpaid for Dockery, but look at the move like this: It's a way of protecting your most valuable asset, quarterback J.P. Losman. If Losman is going to keep improving, he needs protection, and Dockery is an upgrade over left guard Mike Gandy. I trust Bills fan Rich Q. when he weighs in on his club and tells me, "Dockery is as much a nod to Losman's development as it is a recognition that the Bills need to improve in the trenches." OK, I'll buy that. But at $49 million? Is this a great country or what?
The losers
Donte' Stallworth: Wide receivers are beginning to drop off the board, with St. Louis adding Drew Bennett and Detroit zeroing in on Kevin Curtis. Stallworth is the best of the bunch, and he's still out there ... somewhere. Not only is he unsigned, but a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday has Stallworth involved in the league's substance-abuse program. That's not exactly what I'd call a job recommendation. Trust me, Stallworth will be signed by someone, but the big money is beginning to disappear, and Stallworth has yet to visit an NFL club.
Baltimore Ravens: I would have tried to do everything I could to keep Thomas. The guy not only is a playmaker, he's perfect for what the Ravens do. They move him all over the field, rushing the passer on one down, dropping into coverage the next, then settling into the middle of the field as a safety.
When I spoke to coach Brian Billick in training camp about last year's team, he raved about Thomas, saying, "You're going to be down here writing a lot about him." He was right. Thomas was one of the most intriguing and productive defenders anywhere. So the club re-signed Jarret Johnson in hopes he becomes Adalius Thomas II. I hope so, too, for their sake.
The Ravens didn't just subtract Thomas. They subtracted right tackle Tony Pashos, too. I know, they knew they weren't going to keep him, but all that means is they might have two (depending on Jonathan Ogden's future) tackle positions to fill this season. Not to mention a starting fullback and running back. Look, I trust Baltimore when it comes to evaluating personnel -- particularly in light of a stellar draft record -- but the Ravens just took a couple of steps backward.
Houston Texans: I don't understand these guys. A year ago they could've had Reggie Bush or Vince Young with the first choice of the NFL Draft. Instead they took defensive end Mario Williams. Now they try to correct their mistake with the addition of veteran Ahman Green, and, I'm sorry, I'll take Vince Young as a running back.
Ahman Green was a terrific runner ... back in 2003. Now he's 30; he has missed 13 of the Pack's past 27 games; and he averaged 3.8 yards a carry the past two seasons. That's what is known as a running back in decline. And let's not get started about the fumbling. Paying Ahman Green $8 million in 2007 is not how you solve problems; it's how you complicate them.
Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks thought they had their next left guard in Dielman. Then he re-signed with the Chargers. Better make that a double latte for Mike Holmgren. Dielman was just the guy to close the revolving door at left guard, the perfect solution to life after Steve Hutchinson. He's big. He's nasty. And he's good at his job.
With Eric Steinbach, Derrick Dockery and Dielman off the board, the three best free-agent left guards are somewhere other than Seattle, and that's not good for the Seahawks. Question: With the money Seattle was offering Dielman, do you think someone there thinks maybe, just maybe, it might've been a good idea to pay Hutchinson a year ago and save yourself this anguish?
Tennessee Titans: If I asked you last season what Tennessee needed most, you might've answered, "More wide receivers." They had Drew Bennett and ... and ... OK, they had Drew Bennett. Then you saw him; now you don't. That's because Bennett, the Titans' leading receiver the past two seasons, is gone. He signed with St. Louis.
I know Bennett is no Torry Holt, but he was the best the Titans had. Now it's Brandon Jones. Don't tell me about David Givens. He's not expected back until midway through the 2007 season because of a bad knee. Oh, and remember what the Titans had going at running back? Yep, Travis Henry. He produced the team's best numbers in six years, rushing for 1,211 yards, averaging 4.5 yards a carry and scoring as many times as Young. Now, he's gone, too, cut before the Titans could pay him an $8.3 million bonus.
I think Young is pretty special, too, but he can't run and catch passes at the same time. I guess these guys are serious about making Jeff Fisher earn that paycheck.