After an extensive reshuffling of the deck in Dallas following the 2019 season, the current Cowboys franchise has been attempting to settle in and make the most of the crazy hand that’s been dealt to the entire league in the form of the coronavirus.
Now, less than three weeks before opening day, a wild card has been tossed onto the table. And while Mike McCarthy may simply be playing things close to the vest, the coach made it sound on Monday like he may be just as happy to stand pat when it comes to Earl Thomas.
Reports after the coach’s Monday morning Q-and-A session with media indicate that Thomas’s name did, in fact, come up in conversation within the Cowboys front office after his release by Baltimore over the weekend.
“We read the news, too,” McCarthy stated.
McCarthy cautioned, though, not to read too much into the seven-time Pro Bowler being discussed internally, as any newly-available player would be expected to be looked at, even as a matter of course.
#Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy told reporters today that he’s discussed FA S Earl Thomas with VP of Player Personnel Will McClay, but didn’t have much more to report. McCarthy did say he’s "very confident” in the current 80-man roster.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 24, 2020
“We had a chance to have a thorough personnel meeting just two days ago. We’re very confident in where we are as far as the 80-man roster. As far as any prospect that’s available, those are more conversations for Jerry, Stephen, and Will McClay as far as looking at that situation. So I have nothing really to report.”
Is that a bluff? Maybe.
Or maybe not.
McCarthy did give a possible hint as to why Thomas hasn’t already been signed by the Cowboys, a team he’s had a very public flirtation with for three years and the club he’s been most consistently (and loudly) linked to since things went south for him in Seattle.
“I think the most important question you need to ask,” McCarthy offered, “is, ‘How does a player fit into the locker room?'”
#Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy seemed deliberately vague and evasive speaking to media just now about interest in Earl Thomas. He mostly deferred topic to team management. Did say ultimate factor with any free agent is, “How does the player fit into your locker room.” pic.twitter.com/2utkDL0s0V
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) August 24, 2020
At 31, Thomas assuredly isn’t the same player, skillwise, that he was during the Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom” heyday, but he likely still has something left in the tank and could be a veteran asset to the right organization. Being unceremoniously sent packing, though, by both Pete Carroll and John Harbaugh, considered to be among the most player-friendly coaches in the league, may be a significant red flag to any club thinking of kicking the tires.
Thomas may be worth the gamble for some team out there. And maybe the Cowboys end up pushing all their chips to the center of the table and going all in. But just because there’s an ace up for grabs doesn’t mean it necessarily goes with the hand they’re trying to win with.
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