Joe Thomas says "No" to NFL Commissioner and won't attend draft

[zagoshe]

93 Devil -- I think I saw a trivia question about the last team completely built through the draft and if I'm not mistaken it was one of those 1970's Steelers teams, maybe like 1976 ot 78.

That's a great question though.

 

[cranberry]

Until he starts cashing checks, he doesn't owe anybody ****.

This is the correct answer.

 

[slappy4428]

That he is going fishing with his father is a very good thing, but the real issue here is the ****ing almighty ****ing NFL thinking it can control everybody's lives.

**** THE NFL!

Well said, grampy...

The NFL will have enough time to dominate and consume his life... it's one of the last chances to be a person.
And being on site has developed into a draft day tradition of the wrong kind... watch some kid sit and sweat as he drops from 1st to second to third round....

 

[micropolitan guy]

Saves everyone from looking at another guy in a bad suit, and saves us from the ridiculous photos of the draftee holding up a uniform wearing a cap. Until he signs, he doesn't owe the NFL anything.

Good for him. Sounds like a nice tradition with his pops. But they better not tell anyone where their fishing hole is or they'll be 15-20 reporters and people with minicams hounding them all day.

 

[Ace]

I just can't imagine that anyone is arguing that he needs to be there. Only ones I can see being put out are the reporters who may have trouble reaching him on draft day.

Fans can go jump in a lake. Just don't scare the fish.

 

[trifectarich]

It adds nothing to my viewing pleasure to see a player, wearing a suit he pulled off the rack and doesn't fit, walk and smile for a photo. Nor do I care to hear his response when a microphone is put in front of him and the interviewer can't come up with anything better than, "Well, how does it feel?"

I'm with the go-fishing crowd.

 

[Boom_70]

Love it. Can't wait to buy a Joe Thomas jersey. The NFL does not own him.

 

[PhilaYank36]

Family comes first, especially over the NFL. End of debate.

 

[trifectarich]

Better yet, I hope he doesn't even take his cell phone with him. I'd love for him to get home five hours after the draft has started and then he finds out which team took him. I hope he catches the biggest damn fish in history.

 

[outofplace]

93 Devil -- I think I saw a trivia question about the last team completely built through the draft and if I'm not mistaken it was one of those 1970's Steelers teams, maybe like 1976 ot 78.

That's a great question though.

I am 99 percent sure it was the 1978 Steelers, which was also probably their best team. The really amazing thing about those teams is that most of their core players were on all four championship teams, though their roles changed. Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Franco Harris, Mike Webster, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Mel Blount, L.C. Greenwood and Joe Greene were among a fairly large group of players that played for all four.

Yes, I am contributing to yet another Steelers-related threadjack. But it's more interesting to me than this particular controversy. It's definitely overblown.

 

[outofplace]

Better yet, I hope he doesn't even take his cell phone with him. I'd love for him to get home five hours after the draft has started and then he finds out which team took him. I hope he catches the biggest damn fish in history.

That would screw the beat guys covering the team that takes him. Tell the NFL to go to hell, fine, but let's take care of our own (in the media) here!

 

[boots]

Joe Thomas is expected to be a high -- top five -- pick and was invited to attend the draft -- apparently on more than one occassion by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who even sent him a person invitation via e-mail.

Thomas, however, has declined the invitation because he is going fishing with his dad - something he says is a family tradition -- to go fishing on draft day.

This was actually a very heated topic on a sports talk show today, which is not a surprise.

One side says "Good for him, he's putting family first."

The other side says "Bull****, he is about to get paid millions by the NFL, it is his duty to help promote the league by showing up. He could fish the next day and he could take his dad with him to New York and still spend quality time."

I tend to think the latter is the correct position -- the NFL draft we all know is a made-for-TV bull**** event but the show does get a boost from the top picks showing up and walking the stage. I think it is his duty.

What is the general consensus on this one?

**** the No Fun League. The time spent bonding with his father is immeasureable. Why go through all of that draft day bull****. He's going to get drafted. He's going to make money. He's not going to have his dad forever. Good for him.

 

[Oz]

93 Devil -- I think I saw a trivia question about the last team completely built through the draft and if I'm not mistaken it was one of those 1970's Steelers teams, maybe like 1976 ot 78.

I am 99 percent sure it was the 1978 Steelers, which was also probably their best team.

I'm 99 percent sure you're wrong, because I believe it was the 1979 Steelers.

And what was probably the Steelers' best team didn't even win a Super Bowl -- the 1976 version, who outscored opponents 234-28 in its final nine regular season games. The defensive stats are that much better if you toss a 32-16 home victory against Houston in that span -- only 12 points allowed in the other eight games, including five shutouts. It's just too bad that both Harris and Bleier got hurt in the playoffs and couldn't play the AFC title game against the Raiders. Injuries caught up to them.

 

[cortez]

I betcha David Stern wouldn't take no for an answer

 

[outofplace]

93 Devil -- I think I saw a trivia question about the last team completely built through the draft and if I'm not mistaken it was one of those 1970's Steelers teams, maybe like 1976 ot 78.

I am 99 percent sure it was the 1978 Steelers, which was also probably their best team.

I'm 99 percent sure you're wrong, because I believe it was the 1979 Steelers.

And what was probably the Steelers' best team didn't even win a Super Bowl -- the 1976 version, who outscored opponents 234-28 in its final nine regular season games. The defensive stats are that much better if you toss a 32-16 home victory against Houston in that span -- only 12 points allowed in the other eight games, including five shutouts. It's just too bad that both Harris and Bleier got hurt in the playoffs and couldn't play the AFC title game against the Raiders. Injuries caught up to them.

Could've been '79. That's why I said 99 percent.

And I've heard all about how great that '76 was team, too. But they didn't win the Super Bowl. Yes, they had injuries, but the Raiders kicked their asses in that playoff game. In my mind, that means they were not the best of the Pittsburgh teams in the '70s.

Not to mention the fact that the '78 and '79 teams could win in the air if Harris or Bleier were hurt or unproductive, something the '76 team couldn't do.

Based on regular-season statistics, the 2004 Steelers were better than the 2005 version. Not only were they 15-1, they beat the crap out of the Patriots and Eagles in mid-season. Both games were dominating performances. But they didn't win it all. The 2005 team did.

 

[zeke12]

Go fishing.

There is no need to be there, and its nice to see a kid intelligent enough to know that.

 

[Trouser_Buddah]

People never fail to astonish me....how is this an issue? And as Ace said, I can't imagine people are passionately declaring Thomas needs to be there. Where is common sense? Perspective?

 

[boots]

People never fail to astonish me....how is this an issue? And as Ace said, I can't imagine people are passionately declaring Thomas needs to be there. Where is common sense? Perspective?

It's called mental retardation. People think that athletes don't have lives or issues. They do.

 

[Pastor]

I am just surprised that people put on this 24-hour NyQuil for your eyes. Who gives a **** if he's there?

 

[Oz]

And I've heard all about how great that '76 was team, too. But they didn't win the Super Bowl. Yes, they had injuries, but the Raiders kicked their asses in that playoff game. In my mind, that means they were not the best of the Pittsburgh teams in the '70s.

Based on regular-season statistics, the 2004 Steelers were better than the 2005 version. Not only were they 15-1, they beat the crap out of the Patriots and Eagles in mid-season. Both games were dominating performances. But they didn't win it all. The 2005 team did.

Good points, but man, that 1976 defense was awesome. If not the best team, that was the best version of the Steel Curtain.