Pierre Thomas - Pro Football Rumors

Redskins Remain Interested In Pierre Thomas

September 10th, 2016 at 8:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Redskins have “maintained contact” with free agent running back Pierre Thomas, according to John Keim of ESPN.com, though it’s unclear at what level of seriousness the club’s interest lies. Thomas finished out the 2015 season with Washington, and the team is still looking for options behind starter Matt Jones.

Jones, 23, is entering his first full season as the Redskins’ starting running back after splitting time with Alfred Morris last year. On 144 carries during his rookie campaign, Jones averaged only 3.4 yards per attempt, and as Keim notes, was particularly poor after getting touched, as he ranked 45th in the league with 1.44 yards after contact. Jones wasn’t a factor in the passing attack, either, as he managed only 19 receptions.

Washington’s offensive line didn’t do Jones — or any of the other Redskins running backs — any favors, as the unit ranked 21st in adjusted line yards. The club didn’t make any additions to its front five, although Washington did attempt to acquire center Bryan Stork from the Patriots (the deal was rescinded when Stork failed a physical). And in terms of depth, the Redskins seem to be relying mostly on Jones, as the other running backs on the roster are third-down specialist Chris Thompson and undrafted rookie Rob Kelley.

Thomas, meanwhile, hasn’t been linked to any other clubs since the free agent period opened (aside from the Redskins, of course). After signing on with Washington in December, Thomas rushed for 4.7 yards per carry on 11 totes, adding nine receptions for another 84 yards. Those limited numbers obviously don’t speak to Thomas’ true ability, especially in the passing game — in eight years with the Saints, Thomas averaged 49 receptions per season. The 31-year-old, then, could make sense as a third-down option behind Jones.

If the Redskins are set on adding another back, they could theoretically turn to the free agent market, where a number of options sit unsigned. Veterans such as Ahmad Bradshaw (who could offer a skill-set similar to Thomas), Joique Bell, and Donald Brown are available, as are younger players like Karlos Williams, David Cobb, and Ronnie Hillman.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC Notes: Cardinals, Redskins, Wentz, Saints

August 13th, 2016 at 11:10am CST by Ben Levine

The Cardinals added a number of big names this offseason, including rookie defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche and linebacker Chandler Jones. While the two players have a relatively tumultuous past, the organization believed it was worth the risk to acquire the duo.

“You have to take some risks,” Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said (via Tom Pelissero of USA Today). “Let’s be honest: Not every player out there that is extremely gifted has done everything right in his life. Yet at the same time, we want to create a culture in the locker room of positive guys, good people in the community.”

Jones made the news last season following a bad reaction to synthetic marijuana, while Nkemdiche was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession.

“We feel like we got two high-character guys who made mistakes and know that they made a mistake and don’t feel like it’ll happen again,” said coach Bruce Arians.

“Each person’s an individual. You look at Nkemdiche’s history and the family he comes from and everything. He had a bad night in Atlanta. And we all have bad nights. You don’t condemn them for that. You find out why, and what are you going to do about it? Chandler’s episode was bizarre – but he went to the police.”

Let’s take a look at some other notes from the NFC…

Pierre Thomas ended last season with the Redskins, and ESPN.com’s John Keim believes the team could still use the free agent. The team has some talented running backs in Matt Jones, Keith Marshall, and Chris Thompson, but the writer believes the organization may still be seeking some reinforcement at the position. Considering his experience and familiarity with the organization, Thomas would appear to be a natural fit.
After being activated from the PUP list, Saints cornerback Keenan Lewis missed the majority of this past week’s practices. The veteran admitted that he was relieved that the lingering injury popped up during the preseason, and he added that he doesn’t anticipate a trip to the injured reserve. “I ain’t (going on) IR,” he told Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com. “That definitely ain’t my plan. I worked too hard this offseason. I stayed in New Orleans the whole time and grinded. So, offseason is definitely not on my calendar or in my notebook.”
Eagles rookie quarterback Carson Wentz took quite the hit during his team’s first preseason game, leading Bob Ford of Philly.com to write that the coaching staff should do a better job of protecting the generational talent. Meanwhile, considering the presence of veteran signal-callers Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel, Jeff McLane of Philly.com wonders how long it will take for the Eagles to become Wentz’s team.

Redskins Could Add Running Back

May 29th, 2016 at 7:15pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Redskins envision that second-year player Matt Jones will be their starting running back, as head coach Jay Gruden said in March. But that doesn’t mean the club won’t consider making an addition to their backfield, John Keim of ESPN.com details. Washington won’t be in the market for Arian Foster at this time, per Keim, but the team is still interested in fellow veteran Pierre Thomas, who played in four games for the Redskins in 2015.

As I noted when ranking Foster as the No. 3 available offensive free agent, the 29-year-old back is still capable of putting up results when he is on the field. He accumulated 6,472 rushing yards during his seven years as a Texan, and earned three consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 2010 to 2012, averaging about 1,900 all purpose yards and 16 touchdowns in those seasons. But Foster was limited to 25 regular-season games from 2013 to 2015, and injuries, his age, and his increasing cap number resulted in the Houston releasing him this spring.

Foster has garnered some interest since being cut by the Texans, as he met with the Dolphins in the early stages of free agency — Miami is reportedly still “monitoring” Foster, perhaps waiting for him to prove his health before issuing a contract offer. For what it’s worth, Foster recently said he could need until July or so to get back to his old form. The Patriots also have some modicum of “preliminary interest” in the free agent back.

Thomas, meanwhile, hasn’t been linked to any other clubs since the free agent period opened (aside from the Redskins, of course). After signing on with Washington in December, Thomas rushed for 4.7 yards per carry on 11 totes, adding nine receptions for another 84 yards. Those limited numbers obviously don’t speak to Thomas’ true ability, especially in the passing game — in eight years with the Saints, Thomas averaged 49 receptions per season. The 31-year-old, then, could make sense as a third-down option behind Jones.

As the more high-profile back, Foster is likely to cost more than Thomas, but doesn’t mean Thomas is going to settle for a minimum deal. According to Keim, Thomas waited to sign last offseason while waiting for a good fit, and clubs apparently deemed his asking price too high — Thomas might be willing to wait out the league again while searching for the right opportunity.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NFC Notes: Washington, Cowboys, Falcons, Rams

March 25th, 2016 at 8:01pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

With Alfred Morris having agreed to a deal with NFC East rival Dallas earlier this week, Washington is prepared to go forward with Matt Jones as its starting running back.

“That’s what we envision, yes,” said head coach Jay Gruden (link via Tarik El-Bashir of CSN Mid-Atlantic). “We like Matt. We think he’s a smart football player and he runs very, very hard. Now we just have to make sure the ball security is there [because] he can catch the ball out the backfield. He’s a very good solid football player that we have high hopes for.”

In his rookie year last season, Jones – a third-round pick from Florida – averaged just 3.4 yards per carry on 144 attempts (compared to Morris’ 3.7 and 202, respectively) and totaled as many fumbles (four) as touchdowns. Washington is expected to add a complement to Jones in either free agency or the draft, according to Gruden, who said the team is interested in re-signing the still-available Pierre Thomas.

Here’s more from the NFC:

Even with Morris in the fold, the Cowboys have a less-than-ideal running back situation, opines Jean-Jacques Taylor of ESPN.com. The Cowboys will try a balanced attack to aid quarterback Tony Romo – who has gone 38-11 as a starter while throwing 30 times or fewer and 41-38 otherwise – but Taylor doesn’t expect a backfield trio of Morris, Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar to fare particularly well. Thus, the team should use a second- or third-rounder on a running back and let the others compete for backup roles behind the rookie, Taylor believes.
The Falcons and free agent linebacker O’Brien Schofield are at “an impasse,” tweets D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Schofield said earlier this month that he and the Falcons weren’t “seeing eye-to-eye on a contract,” and the club may have found a replacement for him Friday when it signed Courtney Upshaw. The Falcons have offered Schofield a deal, per Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com, but the Upshaw signing could seal his fate in Atlanta. Schofield, 28, joined the Falcons last year and then made 30 tackles and two sacks in 16 appearances (11 starts) during the season. Upshaw has the greater track record of the pair, having started 29 more games (51 to 22) in two fewer seasons.
Remarkably, despite being shot in the head twice last November, the door hasn’t yet closed on Stedman Bailey‘s career. The Rams receiver “is currently in the evaluation process, seeking numerous opinions from neurologists and the like,” head coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday (link via Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). “Just to see if he can not only play, but continue with a rigorous physical rehab program that will put him in position to play.” Bailey has continued to stay involved with the team, as Thomas writes, with Fisher adding, “He’s been in the building. We’ve seen him. He’s doing well. He seems like the same old Sted, and he’s very lucky as we’ve all noted to be alive.”
Washington is undecided about the future of receiver Andre Roberts, reports John Keim of ESPN.com. Washington stands to save a solid amount if it cuts Roberts ($3MM before June 1, $4MM if he’s given a post-June 1 designation), but the team isn’t allowed to release him right now because he’s recovering from a torn meniscus. Roberts might not be ready until training camp, per Gruden. Even without his health taken into account, Roberts is probably Washington’s No. 4 wideout – which doesn’t seem to bode well for his chances to stay on the roster. The 28-year-old was productive from 2010-14, when he caught a combined 218 passes and 13 touchdowns for Arizona and Washington; he’s coming off a career-worst season, however, having hauled in a mere 11 catches in nine games. He also failed to find the end zone for the first time in his six-year NFL tenure.

Washington Rumors: Goldson, Thomas, Paul

March 23rd, 2016 at 8:33am CST by Zachary Links

On Wednesday morning, Washington coach Jay Gruden addressed reporters at the owners’ meetings. Here’s everything you need to know:

Gruden said the door has not been shut on Dashon Goldson returning and he says it was a financial decision to release the safety, Tarik El-Bashir of CSNMidAtlantic.com tweets. He added that there have been talks with the veteran since his release (Twitter link via Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post). Goldson was set to carry an $8MM cap figure in 2016 and while Washington wanted to keep him, they did not want to keep him at that rate. The veteran started 15 games for Washington last season, playing on more than 90% of the team’s defensive snaps. Goldson posted 70 tackles and one interception, grading as the No. 70 safety among 88 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.
Gruden says that running back Pierre Thomas is still a possibility for Washington, El-Bashir tweets. Thomas, 31, spent the first eight seasons of his NFL career with the Saints, but saw his 2014 campaign derailed by injuries. In 2015, he had a cup of coffee with the 49ers before landing with Washington in December. In four games with Washington, Thomas carried the ball 11 times for 52 yards. He also added nine receptions for 84 yards.
Washington plans to use tight end Niles Paul at fullback on some occasions when he’s healthy even though it’s a position that they hardly used last year (Twitter links via Tesfatsion).
Washington will try out Will Blackmon and Deshazor Everett at safety, Tesfatsion tweets. “We’re thin in the secondary,” Gruden said.

Washington Signs Pierre Thomas; Paea To IR

December 11th, 2015 at 10:44am CST by Luke Adams

Washington has officially added veteran running back Pierre Thomas to its roster, the team announced today in a press release. The club has placed defensive tackle Stephen Paea on the injured reserve list in order to create space on the 53-man squad to sign Thomas.

Thomas, who turns 31 next Friday, spent the first eight seasons of his NFL career with the Saints, but saw his 2014 campaign derailed by injuries and by an increasing workload for Mark Ingram, who received many of the carries that would have gone to Thomas in past years. Before he finished the season on injured reserve, Thomas ran for 222 yards on 45 attempts, both career-low totals. He did remain fairly involved in the passing game, however, grabbing 45 balls out of the backfield.

The longtime Saint had a brief stint with the Niners this season, but was released by San Francisco after just one game. In Washington, he’ll likely get a chance to see some snaps on third downs, with running back Chris Thompson battling a torn labrum in his shoulder. Thomas will join a backfield that also features Alfred Morris and rookie Matt Jones.

As for Paea, the former Bear started just one game for Washington this season after getting 40 starts in his previous three years in Chicago. While his part-time role limited his overall numbers (19 tackles, 2.5 sacks), Paea was solid during his time on the field, ranking as Pro Football Focus‘ 45th interior defensive lineman, out of 128 qualified players.

Paea, whose toe injury landed him on IR, is under contract for a $3.3MM salary and a $4.7MM cap hit in 2016, and Washington would create less than $1MM in cap savings by cutting him, so he looks like a good bet to return next year.

East Notes: Patriots, Cowboys, Jeffcoat

November 12th, 2015 at 4:52pm CST by Luke Adams

With running back Dion Lewis out for the season, the Patriots are on the lookout for potential additions at the position, bringing in a couple more veteran free agents for workouts this week, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Rapoport tweets that Pierre Thomas and Robert Turbin, recently cut by the 49ers and Browns respectively, auditioned for the Pats.

Thomas, in particular, could be a good fit in New England, since catching passes out of the backfield is one of his strength. However, in his brief stint in San Francisco, it looked like he was still attempting to shake off some rust after sitting out most of the 2015 season. The Pats also tried out Daryl Richardson earlier this week, so it’ll be interesting to see if they add another back within the next week or two, or if they try to get by with a combination of LeGarrette Blount, James White, and Brandon Bolden for now.

Here’s more from around the NFL’s East divisions:

As if the Cowboys‘ locker room wasn’t already a tense place to be these days, with the team having lost six straight games, and the presence of Greg Hardy drawing increased scrutiny, things got even more emotional today. As Eric Prisbell of USA Today outlines, wide receiver Dez Bryant yelled and cursed at multiple reporters today in the Dallas locker room, believing one had called teammate Devin Street a racial slur, though that charge was uncorroborated by other media members in the area.
With a game against the Patriots looming, Giants head coach Tom Coughlin admitted that he regrets the fact that Julian Edelman isn’t wearing a Giants uniform this weekend (link via Mike Petraglia of WEEI.com). The Pats receiver visited New York as a free agent in 2013, but ultimately opted to re-sign with New England.
Linebacker Jackson Jeffcoat showed that he could be a good reserve player for Washington, but he ultimately came up short on special teams, Rich Tandler of CSNMidAtlantic.com writes. Jeffcoat was quickly placed on IR and released from IR with a settlement this week.
Speaking to Colin Cowherd this week, former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman – who hasn’t played in the NFL in 15 years – said he still has the arm strength to go out and play in the league (link via the Dallas Morning News). So if quarterbacks like Drew Brees and Tom Brady want to play well into their forties, arm strength shouldn’t be the issue — it’ll be a matter of avoiding injuries like the chronic back issue that forced Aikman into retirement.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

49ers Sign Travaris Cadet, Cut Pierre Thomas

November 10th, 2015 at 10:49am CST by Luke Adams

10:49am: The 49ers have officially signed Cadet, announcing in a press release that they’ve cut Thomas to make room on the roster. Although the move wasn’t previously reported, it makes some sense, since Cadet and Thomas are both strongest in third-down and receiving roles.

8:40am: After auditioning him on Monday, the 49ers will sign running back Travaris Cadet to their 53-man roster, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The team has yet to officially announce the move, so the corresponding cut isn’t yet known.

Cadet, 26, saw his first significant action for the Saints in 2014, hauling in 38 passes on 51 targets, totaling 296 yards and a touchdown on those receptions. Although he was listed as a running back and generally lined up in the backfield, the Appalachian State product only had 10 carries for 32 yards. After signing with the Patriots in March, Cadet appeared in just one regular season game for the team this year before being cut.

According to Rapoport, Cadet drew interest from three teams, though it’s not clear if the Patriots – who have an opening in their backfield with Dion Lewis out for the season – were one of them. In recent weeks, Cadet has also auditioned for the Colts, Lions, and Jets, so it’s possible one of those clubs renewed its interest.

As for the Niners, they added Shaun Draughn and Pierre Thomas to their roster last week, and those backs saw plenty of action on Sunday, with Kendall Gaskins getting some touches as well. With Carlos Hyde expected to be healthy enough to return to the field soon, the Niners’ backfield is starting to get crowded. Gaskins could be a candidate to return to the practice squad with Cadet coming aboard, but we’ll have to wait and see how San Francisco manages its roster.

Cadet will become the third notable ex-Saints running back to sign with the 49ers this year, with the team also having added Thomas and Reggie Bush.

49ers Sign Pierre Thomas; Bush To IR

November 3rd, 2015 at 3:41pm CST by Luke Adams

3:41pm: The 49ers have officially signed Thomas, moving Bush to the season-ending injured reserve list, the team announced today in a press release.

10:00am: A day after signing Shaun Draughn, the 49ers are adding another running back to their banged-up backfield. According to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (via Twitter), the 49ers are signing veteran free agent Pierre Thomas. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com had reported earlier today that Thomas was returning to San Francisco for another visit.

Thomas, 30, saw his 2014 campaign with the Saints derailed by injuries and by an increasing workload for Mark Ingram, who received many of the carries that would have gone to Thomas in past years. Before he finished the season on injured reserve, Thomas ran for 222 yards on 45 attempts, both career-low totals. He did remain fairly involved in the passing game, however, grabbing 45 balls out of the backfield.

Thomas reportedly had a strong workout for the Texans back in August, and later auditioned for the Chiefs in the wake of Jamaal Charles‘ injury, but couldn’t find a deal with either Houston or Kansas City. The Niners hosted Thomas for a tryout a little over two weeks ago, and will now add him to a roster that has been hit hard by injuries.

With Carlos Hyde dealing with a stress fracture in his foot, Reggie Bush and rookie Mike Davis were called upon to carry the rushing load for the Niners in Week 8. However, Bush suffered a season-ending knee injury, and Davis sustained a fractured hand, leaving Kendall Gaskins as the only healthy back on the roster.

San Francisco signed Draughn yesterday to complement Gaskins, and figure to use incorporate the veteran Thomas into the mix as well, at least until Hyde and Davis are healthy enough to return.

49ers Host Pierre Thomas For Tryout

October 19th, 2015 at 4:45pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Saints running back Pierre Thomas worked out for the 49ers on Monday, according to a source who spoke with ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). Thomas was released by the Saints in early March and has been without an NFL home ever since.

When the Saints parted ways with Darren Sproles last March, the team re-committed to Thomas, signing him to a two-year, $4MM extension that spanned the 2015 and 2016 seasons. However, Thomas didn’t wind up playing out any part of that new deal. By cutting him, the Saints created $1.735MM in cap savings for 2015, carrying $800K in dead money on their books.

Thomas, 30, saw his 2014 campaign derailed by injuries and by an increasing workload for Mark Ingram, who received many of the carries that would have gone to Thomas in past years. Before he finished the season on injured reserve, Thomas ran for 222 yards on 45 attempts, both career-low totals. He did remain fairly involved in the passing game, however, grabbing 45 balls out of the backfield.

Thomas reportedly had a strong workout for the Texans back in August, though rumors of a deal there turned out to be false. Last month, it was reported that Thomas was seeking a salary around $1.3MM or $1.4MM, though I would imagine that his demands have come down since then. Thomas auditioned for the Chiefs last week in the wake of Jamaal Charles‘ injury, but there was no deal between him and KC.

The 49ers also worked out center Samson Satele, according to Mike Florio of PFT (Twitter link). Satele, 31 in November, spent the 2014 season with the Dolphins, starting all 16 games for the team. The eight-year veteran, who has also spent time with the Raiders and the Colts, has started 114 of his 118 career regular season contests, and we heard back in March that he was looking for a team that would give him an opportunity to compete for a starting center job. In August, he visited the Seahawks but he did not sign.