Don't expect Tra Thomas in Jacksonville
by JasonB on Mar 5, 2009 1:04 PM EST
in News
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Remember a few days ago when I snickered at the report about Tra Thomas having a "very good" visit with Jacksonville Jaguars? Remember how it really sounded like Derrick Gunn's "source" in the report was quite clearly Tra's agent? 
Seems like that was true. The Jaguars say Thomas never visited them and the "meeting" was no more than an informal phone call.
The Jaguars spoke with Philadelphia free-agent left tackle Tra Thomas recently, but that’s about as far as things went. Jaguars spokesman Dan Edwards confirmed Tuesday that the sides engaged in informal discussions, but Thomas wasn’t brought in for an official visit and never stepped foot inside the club’s facilities. A native of DeLand, which is approximately 100 miles south of Jacksonville, Thomas likely visited the area and contacted Jaguars officials to gauge their interest.
The article goes on to say that the market for Thomas' services is almost nonexistent.
Meanwhile, Thomas' talks with the Jaguars might be a ploy by the 34-year-old to drum up interest around the league. A native of DeLand, Thomas visited the area Monday and contacted Jaguars officials to gauge their interest.
"It wasn't an official visit," Edwards said.
Thomas turned down a contract recently from the Eagles, but he appears to be learning the market for his services isn't what he initially expected. Thomas told Philadelphia reporters before the start of free agency that he wanted to remain an Eagle, but he was prepared to seek employment elsewhere if he could secure a more lucrative deal.
Such offers haven't surfaced for Thomas.
The Inquirer talked to Tra earlier this week and he didn't feel the Eagles had any interest in bringing him back
"They haven't shown any interest in bringing me back, so as hard as it is, I have to move forward," Thomas said via a text message yesterday after returning from a visit with the Jacksonville Jaguars. "The Eagles have always been the team I wanted to play for, but now I have to go to the team that wants me."
A source with knowledge of the situation said the Eagles' offer to Thomas before the start of free agency was "way too low.
In that same Inky article, they mention that LJ Smith will be visiting the Detroit Lions. Reports over the first weekend of free agency said he had signed a deal in Atlanta. That doesn't appear to be the case.
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I'm a little surprised that there is no market for Tra
even though he is 34 he is still a serviceable LT and there are a lot of teams that could use a LT. He will probably be signed late in FA when some team realizes they don’t have a good LT or who they were counting on goes down with an injury … come to think of it that could be the eagles
by homestar2281 on Mar 5, 2009 1:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
also
I am kinda surprised that LJ doesn’t have a deal yet. I mean he was never that great in my opinion but he can definitely help some teams.
by homestar2281 on Mar 5, 2009 1:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
What does it say...
…that these guys were both starters for us last year and now as free agents absolutely no one seems to want them? I mean it’s early, but still…
by ajay on Mar 5, 2009 2:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
well Runyan is having Microfracture surgery, which puts him as a big question mark for the rest of his career. I did expect Tra to peak some interest, but I am starting to think that Andy’s blocking schemes helped him out more than we realized.
by Clyde Simmons on Mar 5, 2009 2:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think that...
…even if Runyan had been healthy there wouldn’t have been much interest. But LJ – he was once considered a real up-and-coming tight end in this league.
by ajay on Mar 5, 2009 2:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Fortunately, if there is one position group that Reid seems to know how to get a lot of production out of, its the O-Line. I have no idea what he is doing here but at least with the O-Line I trust that he knows what he is doing. My hope is that we can resign both of these guys for significantly less than what we had been paying them in the past. That way we can buy some more time and still have the cap room to groom new talent on the line.
"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious." -Vince Lombardi
by DiLe47 on Mar 5, 2009 2:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
My problem is that the FO thought that Dawk would generate no interest in free agency and would come back with his tail between his legs and take the Eagles low ball offer. Let’s not let Tra walk—if nothing else, he gives us depth and veteran leadership/experience.
by SaxManNate on Mar 5, 2009 3:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Well
I think it’s fair to say not many around the NFL assumed he’d get the contract Denver offered him. That definitely was surprising.
As for Tra, in the past few years the Eagles have drafted Justice (I know), Jean-Gilles, McGlynn, Gibson, Dunlap, etc. They probably think they’ve got some young talent to work with and move around if necessary.
by ajay on Mar 5, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well if the Eagles' cost-consciousness
allows them to get another year of Tra for cheap, that will lessen the Dawk sting a little.
I think Runyan and the Eagles will wait on each other until he’s healthy. Also, it probably depends on what Tra does, how ready to go Stacy Andrews is, etc.
by D3Keith on Mar 6, 2009 3:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
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