In what can only best be described as Extreme Home Makeover: Bill Belichick Edition, the New England Patriots have made another move. This time, instead of adding someone to what has become the most talented wide receiver group in the NFL they are letting a piece go.
New England signed Demaryius Thomas this offseason back when there were legit questions over what reliable options outside of Julian Edelman Tom Brady would have to throw to with Rob Gronkowski retired and Josh Gordon indefinitely suspended.
Belichick and the Patriots knew Thomas well as they faced off many times when the wideout was in his prime and partnered with the one true rival to Brady, Peyton Manning.
Thomas was still recovering from the torn Achilles he suffered after being traded by the Denver Broncos to the Houston Texans—who just so happen to have ties to the Patriots within their franchise.
He didn’t practice much with the team but was able to take the field for the fourth and final preseason game where he caught seven of the eight passes thrown his way by rookie quarterback Jarrett Stidham totaling 87 yards and two touchdowns.
New England waived him before the season began but quickly brought him back the same week. The. They were able to snag Antonio Brown in free agency and it looked like the Patriots were going to roster three former number one receivers along with Edelman and 2019 first-round pick N’Keal Harry.
However, to avoid a too many cooks situation, Belichick has decided to offload Thomas—the least healthy of the team’s top pass catchers—for a 2021 sixth-round pick. The surprise is where he sent the former Pro Bowler: the New York Jets.
Belichick has been coach and general manager in New England since 2000, which cane about as a trade between the two teams. Over that time he has made a trade with 31 different teams. Until today, the Jets were the only franchise he has not made a deal with.
Their divisional rivalry has ties deeper than just what’s happened on the field. Belichick spurned New York after being named Bill Parcells replacement for New England. There’s also the whole Spygate drama that was initiated by Jets head coach and former Belichick assistant, Eric Mangini.
But the Jets brought in Adam Gase to be their next head coach and he is respected by Belichick—possibly in a way he’s never respected a non-Parcells head coach in New York.
Gase was the offensive coordinator of those Manning-led Broncos team. Not only has he gone head-to-head with Bill but he also has coached Thomas.
If healthy, this reunion could be just the situation. He needs to reaffirm that he still has gas left in the tank. The Jets have long been searching for a true number one option. Given how Thomas looked in his lone appearance this year—albeit against mostly third-string players—there’s a chance he could be just what is missing from Gase’s revamped Jets offense.
Recent Comments