Reg

NFL NOTES

Staff and Wire Reports

The chance to be close to home ultimately swayed Zach Thomas' decision to sign with the Dallas Cowboys.

The veteran linebacker, who signed a one-year free-agent contract with the Cowboys in February, said he is totally healthy, and fully expects to play at the same level he established in his first 12 NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins.

"If I felt there was a risk, at all, I wouldn't have come back," Thomas said. "What's the difference between 13 and 12? It's nothing. My health has been good, and when I've been cleared I felt my game hasn't missed a step. So why stop now?

"When I see my game decline or I'm at risk health-wise, I'll shut it down. There are guys that can't turn the page. I'm not one of those guys. I know I still have game."

Thomas, who is expected to start at inside linebacker this season, said the chance to return to his native Texas has allowed him to be closer to his family than he has been since he left for Miami.

He is not sure how much longer he will play -- it's a year-to-year thing -- but the chance to play for the Cowboys is a dream come true. And he is hopeful it will lead to his first Super Bowl ring.

"They aren't rebuilding, and that was important to me," said Thomas, who chose to sign with the Cowboys over the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints. "I've been in Miami where we've been rebuilding for the last four or five years. The Cowboys are just trying to get over the hump."
-- Mac Engel

Briefly
Jaguars: Jacksonville gave defensive tackle Rob Meier a bigger contract to go along with his bigger role. Meier, who is replacing three-time Pro Bowl player Marcus Stroud in the starting lineup this season, signed a four-year contract extension. Financial details weren't disclosed, but Meier said the new deal will pay more than the $2.095 million he was due in the final year of his previous contract.

Redskins: Washington released former Pro Bowl kick returner Jerome Mathis and signed undrafted rookie defensive end J.T. Mapu, who attended minicamp on a tryout basis.... One of five suspects charged in the slaying of Sean Taylor has pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree murder and burglary. Defense attorney Michael Hornung said that according to the plea agreement, Venjah Hunte will serve 29 years in prison.

Browns: Cleveland signed free agent Jereme Perry to a one-year contract to fill out its thin secondary. Perry played 12 games for the Browns in 2006 after earning a roster spot as an undrafted free agent. The Browns traded Leigh Bodden to Detroit and cut Kenny Wright, who was arrested last month on marijuana possession charges.

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gruntbygod

This is a great situation for him. With Burnette in fold, Thomas wont be a 3 down player. Let Thomas play sideline to sideline in that weakside ILB position, and bring Burnette in on 3rd and on passing situations where you want to stay in a base 3-4, take James out and play both of them, unless you plan n blitzing James

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Stevemc

Thomas didn't get to where he is in the league or college on athletic ability or size obviously. He's a Patriots type of guy for lack of a better term. If anything, I would hope his attitude towards the game rubs off on our backers and maybe other defensive players who are bigger, stronger and faster than Zack ever was. Zack . He's not the Pro-Bowler he was a few years back anymore but a diminished roll could really extend his career and keep him healthy enough to make a positive impact on the team more than just on the field. On the optimistic side, he could be great in passing downs with his experience seeing teams like the Patriots twice a year and their complex passing schemes and formations. We saw how inadequate we looked playing the Pats in the Tom Brady era. We just didn't have the personnel to keep up with them. With the addition of Thomas, Jones, and Jenkins we seem to have address this. Gotta love when your team at least makes an effort to fix problems.

gruntbygod

Considering what we had to play with, I personally think we had an outstanding offseason. Sure Boldin or RW would have been nice, but that turned out to be more fantasy than anyhing else. We managed to retain all our key FA'a (and their were alot of them) and still add talent.

Now hopefully we can extend some guys like Newman, Hamlin, Canty and Barber

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