Quote (kargus @ Apr 10 2012 12:17pm)
According to ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky, word out of Jacksonville was that WR Mike Thomas "gave up" in frustration late last season.
It was more than just the struggles of rookie QB Blaine Gabbert. Thomas didn't get along with WRs coach Johnny Cox, who was subsequently fired by Mel Tucker and replaced with Jerry Sullivan. Thomas' effort came into question after signing a five-year, $19 million contract in October. Between Gabbert's growing pains and the addition of potential No. 1 receiver Laurent Robinson, Thomas will struggle to return to WR3 value in 2012. His Dynasty value is fading.
I already knew he wasn't giving it his all. You could see him stop short on routes. Not fight for balls. Run wrong routes, over and over. You could tell he wasn't all there. Our new WRs coach Jerry Sullivan, will get those guys coached up. Larry Fitz wanted him so bad. He flew him to Arizona and walked him right into their HCs office and said "I NEED this guy here". The guy is the best of the best. He wanted to come out of retirement and coach here in Jacksonville. That speaks volumes to what he thinks about the Coaching staff Mularkey and Gene assembled.
Thomas is best in the slot. That's where most of his playing time should be.
Derek Cox was playing like one of the best CBs in the league last year, before he got hurt and missed those games. He was locking guys down and excelling in the Man to Man scheme Mel had them running, as well as Mathis. Both are much, much better Man Corners, then Zone Corners. I remember on MNF against the Ravens. He ran a deep route, side by side with Torrey Smith, who can fly, and Jaws and Gruden were ranting and raving about Cox. Saying how incredible the coverage was. That they need to put that on a teaching tape, because he did it perfect.