New Orleans Saints release defensive tackle Hollis Thomas
Posted by Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune April 29, 2009 9:37AM
The New Orleans Saints have released defensive tackle Hollis Thomas.
Thomas, 35, was scheduled to earn $1.4 million this season.
“Hollis Thomas had a significant presence for us both on the defensive line and in the locker room for a number of years,” Saints Coach Sean Payton said in a statement. “He has been a big part of what we have accomplished here.”
Thomas spent the past three seasons in New Orleans after a draft-day trade with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2006. The run-stuffer played a key role in the Saints’ 2006 run to the NFC Championship Game.
He started 30 games in his three years with the Saints, including the playoffs, 123 tackles and 6.5 sacks. He missed the first half of last season after tearing a tendon in his left triceps during training camp. He was actually released by the team, then re-signed once he got healthy.
He finished the season with 10 tackles in limited action in eight games. But his performance and production level had steadily declined in his years with New Orleans, and the team felt he didn’t come into this year’s offseason workout program in good enough shape.
Thomas, who is listed at 6-foot, 335-pounds, has continually battled weight and conditioning issues with the Saints.
The Saints, who also released injured veteran Brian Young this week, are now somewhat thin at the defensive tackle spot behind starters Sedrick Ellis and Kendrick Clancy. They’re counting on two players who did not play last season — second-year pro DeMario Pressley, who missed his entire rookie season with a foot injury, and former Falcons veteran Rod Coleman, who signed with the Saints after spending a year away from football.
They also have two-year veteran Remi Ayodele, who appeared in six games with the Saints last year. And veteran end Paul Spicer should be able to slide inside and play some tackle.
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I like Hollis, I hope he gets on someplace !