Zach in demand? Think again

By EDGAR THOMPSON

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Saturday, February 16, 2008

A day after the only NFL team he'd ever played for cut him, veteran linebacker Zach Thomas was neither bitter nor sad.

Thomas wanted to finish his decorated career with the Dolphins, but he had prepared himself for the team's decision Thursday to release him.


"It was simple," Thomas said Friday morning. "When you play five games and you get paid a lot of money to produce on the field, I saw it coming.

"I know it's part of the business. I'm not bitter at all."

Instead, Thomas, 34, was optimistic, looking forward to a fresh start with a new team in contention for the Super Bowl.

Thomas, who missed 11 games last season with head and neck injuries, might discover his options are limited.

"I don't sense there's going to be a lot of a market for this guy," said one longtime NFL observer.

Of the 17 teams that finished at .500 or better, New Orleans, which finished 8-8 a season after playing in the NFC title game, seems to be one of the few with questions at middle linebacker.

Saints starter Mark Simoneau, 31, averaged just 4.4 tackles in 16 starts last season, compared with more than 10 for Thomas when he was able to play. Simoneau, at 6-foot, 245 pounds, also doesn't offer a considerable size upgrade from the 5-foot-11, 228-pound Thomas.

"They have a need there," the NFL source said of the Saints. "The Saints are your best shot."

The NFL Network reported Friday that Thomas plans to visit New Orleans next week and the Dallas Cowboys the following week.

The Cowboys, who play a 3-4 defense, tend toward fast, athletic linebackers, but coach Wade Phillips also has a history of playing smaller linebackers in the middle.

Other teams have been mentioned as possible suitors, including New England, Indianapolis and San Diego. But none seems to be a good fit for Thomas.

The Patriots prefer big linebackers who can go up against offensive guards. The Colts are happy with defensive captain Gary Brackett in the middle and haven't shown a history for bringing in aging veterans. San Diego has some young, talented inside linebackers with size.

Thomas also has to persuade a team he can bounce back from last season. "Age and injury are going to be a factor no matter who you look at," the source said.

Thomas, the Dolphins' all-time leading tackler, said doctors have cleared him to play next season. He believes he can fit into just about any defense in the NFL.

"I'm not a long-term answer going anywhere," he said. "I'm a short-term answer. I want to enjoy my last year, maybe two years. Who knows?"

A seven-time Pro Bowl selection, Thomas played for the Dolphins while they were often in rebuilding mode. They missed the playoffs the past six seasons, including last year's 1-15 nosedive, and won only three playoff games in Thomas' 12 seasons.

"I definitely want to go to a team that's not rebuilding," Thomas said. "We've been rebuilding here for four years. I always wanted to turn this thing around because it would have made it that much more special.

"But it never did."

Still, Thomas never would have chosen this path for the final days of his career.

"Trust me, I didn't welcome this," he said. "No one wants to get fired. I don't want to move somewhere for just a little while.

"But I love the game."

Thomas always was a student of the game who sought any advantage he could find. He routinely tinkered with his diet and even bought a hyperbaric chamber for his home to help his body recover faster after games.

Thomas said he's already been watching game film of potential suitors and has broken down film of all 16 regular-season games for several of them.

In his search for a new team, Thomas already cleared one major hurdle.

Thomas said his family fully supports his decision to keep playing, despite his injury-plagued 2007 season. Thomas said his wife, Maritza, had encouraged him to retire after he suffered a whiplash when the couple's car was rear-ended by another driver on Florida's Turnpike following an Oct.'21 loss to the Patriots.

But Thomas said doctors have explained to his wife he is OK to return to the field.

"Now she doesn't want me to retire after talking to the doctors. She knows how miserable I am without football if I could play," Thomas said.

Thomas praised the way the Dolphins, particularly new Executive Vice President of football operations Bill Parcells, handled the decision to release him.

Thomas, who stood to make a base salary of $5.65 million in 2008, said there were no discussions about him returning less money.

"They respect the game, especially Bill Parcells. That's why players love to play with him," Thomas said.

Thomas said the most difficult conversation he had Thursday was with longtime teammate and brother-in-law Jason Taylor. The two have anchored the Dolphins defense since Taylor entered the league in 1997, the year after Thomas did.

Thomas didn't characterize the conversation, other than to say Taylor offered many kind words.

"That's the only time I got a little sad," Thomas said. "I know this was coming, but when it came from Jason, for me to be able to play with him 11 years and he's family, he is the best player on defense we every had. For him to show that much respect for me means a lot."

Thomas said wherever he ends up, he'll never think of himself as anything but a Dolphin.

"I know it's time to move on and so will the Dolphins," Thomas said. "I wish they get that trophy in Miami. They deserve it. That's the truth.

"I love Miami and always will be a Miami Dolphin."