Recently, Zach Thomas was released by the Dolphins.  The first thought in my head after I heard this, was that he would fit right in at middle linebacker for the Patriots.  It would have been a match made in heaven.  Zach Thomas, who has been named all Pro 7 times at middle linebacker, a smart and sure tackler, would step in and replace either the aging Junior Seau or Tedi Bruschi.  Belichick loves to have veterans manning the middle of his defense and Thomas might finally get a chance to earn that coveted ring, a la Randy Moss, Junior Seau, and Corey Dillon.  His first interview was in New England, where they promptly gave him a contract offer.  In my mind, it was only a matter of time before he signed there, but for completeness sake, he would entertain other offers.  Well a funny thing happened after his visit to Foxboro; Thomas made a stop in Dallas and signed with the Cowboys.    Perhaps it’s no surprise he signed with the Cowboys, after all Thomas grew up in Texas  He would also be playing for a team that many believe could go to the Super Bowl next year.  He signed for a 1 million dollar base salary, 1 million dollar signing bonus, and another million in incentives.  Though it’s technically a multi year deal, it’s structured as essentially a one year deal. The details of New England’s offer were not released, but if it was anything like Junior Seau’s contract last year, it would be comparable to the contract Thomas signed, so money probably was not a major issue in his decision. and played his college ball at Texas Tech.

Zach Thomas is a professional, but he is also human.  While professionally, he might have a better ending to a stellar career in New England, I wonder how he felt about playing for Belichick and the hated Patriots.  After all, the Dolphins played the Patriots twice a year, and were actually one of the more successful teams against them.  The Patriots did not make any friends around the league this year in their quest toward an undefeated season.  The arrogance of their players and coaches was not lost on the players around the league.  I listened to an Osi Umenyiora interview on Sirius radio.  He mentioned how at the Pro Bowl, the other players were congratulating him for winning the Super Bowl and especially beating the Patriots.  It seems that the players around the league are no different than the fans in their contempt for Belichick and the Patriots.  The Patriots this past year thumbed their noses at convention and football etiquette.  They ran up scores and rubbed the collective noses of other teams into the dirt.  By season’s end, the animosity around the league toward the Patriots was palpable.  Zach Thomas’ Dolphins were one of the teams the Patriots embarrassed.  After throwing for 5 touchdowns in the first half, Brady was pulled early in the fourth quarter, but after Miami  He promptly led a drive to bring the difference back to 28 points.  Many around the league felt that they intentionally ran up the score.  While no Dolphins players complained publicly, they likely seethed beneath the surface.  The Patriots were once the team everyone wanted to play for, but fairly or unfairly, the tide seems to have turned against them.  As I said, Zach Thomas is a professional and he probably made his decision based on what was good for Zach Thomas, but I have to think that after 11 years of playing against them, he had some pent up dislike of the team from New England. cut the lead to 21, Brady was put back in.

This brings me to the subject of Junior Seau.  Next to Lawrence Taylor, Seau will be regarded as one of the best linebackers ever.  He is certainly a first ballot shoe in for the Hall of Fame. My question is:  will he go in as a Charger or as a Patriot?  Certainly, he enjoyed his best years as a Charger.  While in playing in San Diego, he was named All Pro seven times.  He has been to a total of 12 Pro Bowls playing for the Chargers and Dolphins.  In 2003 He was traded to the Dolphins and had another good year there, but his next two seasons there were marred by injury.  He was released by the Dolphins in March, 2006 and announced his retirement in August 2006.  This was done at an emotional press conference in San Diego where he declared he was “graduating from football” and moving onto the rest of his life.  Just 4 days later, he unretired and signed with the Patriots in order to get the Super Bowl ring which had eluded him throughout his brilliant career.  In his two seasons with the Patriots, he has been solid, but still has not gotten the coveted ring.  During his time there, real enmity has developed between his current and former teams.  LaDainian Tomlinson, after a heartbreaking loss to the Patriots in the 2006 divisional playoff game, declared that the Patriots had “no class” after Ellis Hobbs mimicked Shawne Merriman’s “Light’s out” dance.  Before and after their loss to the Patriot’s in this year’s AFC championship game, several Chargers accused the Patriots of playing dirty.  If I were a Charger’s player or fan, I’m not sure I’d want current Patriot Seau wearing my colors in the Hall.

This situation is analogous to that of Rod Woodson who will be eligible for the Hall next year.  His career was even more decorated than Seau’s.  Woodson made it to 11 Pro Bowls and was named All Pro 9 times.  He was the only active player voted onto the NFL’s all 75th anniversary team and is a lock for the Hall next year.  His best years were in Pittsburgh where he played the first 10 years of his career.  He then went on to play well in San Francisco, won a ring in Baltimore, then played in another Super Bowl with Oakland.  As a Steeler fan, I still see Woodson as a Steeler even though he won his Super Bowl ring with the hated Ravens.  Listening to Woodson on the NFL network, it’s obvious his heart is with the Steelers.  The biggest difference between Woodson and Seau is that his teams did not throw him a lavish retirement party only to give them the finger 4 days later, so he could chase a ring with a hated competitor. It would be like Steve Jobs getting a bunch of stock and a gold watch from Apple, only to take a job with Microsoft a few days later. 

Time heals all wounds though, and since it will be 5 years between the time Seau retires, and the time he makes it to the Hall, there will be plenty of time for him to heal the wounds he made with the Chargers.  I don’t see any San Diego Car commercials in Seau’s future though.