NFL New Hall of Famer Reveals Almost Joining Patriots

Just how close were the New England Patriots to adding Zach Thomas to their 2008 defense?

The New England Patriots have a history of hitting on big free-agent signings in terms of signing players who are near the back end of their careers.

Randy Moss is the most famous example of New England signing a player in his twilight. After recent comments from another NFL Hall of Famer, it seems the Patriots were close to having another big-profile signing.

Zach Thomas, a former inside linebacker for the Miami Dolphins who was voted into Canton during last weekend's Super Bowl LVII festivities, revealed in a recent interview on WQAM's "Hochman & Crowder" that he wanted to join thePatriots. 

“After I got cut (by) the Dolphins, (Bill) Parcells told me that, ‘You’re 35. Linebackers decline after 35,’ ” Thomas said. “So I’m like, man — it’s just the competitive nature — I want to shove it in his face, right? So I say, where am I going to go in the division? I said I ain’t going to the Jets. Hell no. I ain’t doing that. So I say, OK, let’s go visit Bill Belichick."

Thomas visited Foxboro and met face to face with Belichick.

"I go out to Belichick, the genius himself. I wanted to learn from him, and they had that stacked defense," he said. "So I’m sitting across from Bill in a chair, and he said, ‘Zach, we’re going to offer you, but I can’t give you No. 54.’ I’m like, ‘Man, Tedy Bruschi’s a legend, man. I don’t want 54. I want 53.’ That’s (Patriots special teamer) Larry Izzo’s number, my best friend at the time. That got a good little smirk out of him.”

Thomas, 35 at the time, would've been a huge addition to a stout Patriots defense that was was coming off allowing 17.1 points per game, fourth-best in the league. So what stopped him from joining the Patriots after getting an offer? 

“I slept on it and and said, ‘Hell no, man. I can’t let down the fans, because they got my back.’ That’s one of those things that come back," Thomas said. "They’ve always been good to me. I thought it was the right move, so I went to Dallas, playing out of position, and it worked out.”

But ... did it really work out?

Thomas ended up playing the 2008 season for the Cowboys alongside co-Hall of Famer DeMarcus Ware, before being cut by the Kansas City Chiefs following 2009 training camp.

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