Cornerback Joey Thomas gives up an 80-yard touchdown to the Browns’ Braylon Edwards on Sept. 18

Feeling like they weren’t getting through to him, the Green Bay Packers cut ties on Wednesday with second-year cornerback Joey Thomas.

The move came three days after the former third-round draft pick was benched during Sunday’s 21-14 loss at Cincinnati and exchanged words with defensive coordinator Jim Bates on the sideline. Bates yanked Thomas out of the game because Thomas got called for illegal hands to the face and fell down on a key third-down play. The flag gave the Bengals a first down, and they scored a touchdown on the drive.

After the game, Thomas told reporters he felt his benching was unjustified. Thomas, who has been the Packers’ nickel, or fifth, defensive back most of the season, did re-enter the game in the second half, but only because cornerback Al Harris was in the locker room receiving intravenous fluids.

Coach Mike Sherman said no single act led to the team’s decision to waive Thomas.
However, it was clear Thomas’ comments to reporters did not sit well.

“You have to be accountable and honest about what you’re doing and how you’re doing it,” Sherman said.

When asked if the decision was performance-based or because of Thomas’ postgame comments, Sherman said: “I might not appreciate the quote in the paper, but that just identified certain things that were happening. But that wasn’t the reason. It wasn’t the penalty.”

“He was not let go because of that comment,” Sherman added, “but it was revealing of some things.”

The final decision was made Wednesday morning, when Sherman called General Manager Ted Thompson, who was out of town, to discuss it one final time. Thomas, the 70th player selected in the 2004 draft, became the highest-picked player during Sherman’s tenure as general manager to be released.

The move completed a quick fall from the top for Thomas, who went into training camp this summer as the odds-on favorite to win the starting job over Ahmad Carroll, the first-round pick in 2004. Thomas couldn’t keep the job in part because he missed significant practice time with calf and hip injuries. Thomas did make one start this season, in Week 2 against Cleveland, after Carroll’s role was reduced because of penalty problems in Week 1.

Thomas was at Lambeau Field on Wednesday morning and said he wasn’t informed of the move until shortly before the afternoon practice.

Anyone looking for Thomas to blast the Packers on his way out of town will be disappointed. The 25-year-old, whose tenure in Green Bay might be best remembered for a meeting-room brawl last season with Carroll, took the high road during a cell-phone interview with the Press-Gazette less than a hour after he was released.

“I’m a little shocked,” Thomas said. “But you know, this is a business, and it’s OK. I’m not going to be bitter. I have no reason to be bitter. There’s no point in being bitter. It gives me an opportunity to start over. I just wish the best for everybody. I want the organization to do well, because I feel I’m going to do well. It would have been nice if it worked out, but it didn’t.

Sometimes things don’t always work out, but you’ll see Joey T. again. I guarantee it.”

He also refused to criticize Sherman, who met with Thomas shortly after the move was made.
“I don’t know if it was his decision or someone else’s decision, but I want to say thank you to Coach Sherman,” Thomas said. “He’s a real dude. He’s a good man, and he’s got a good heart. I hope things work out for him.”

Though Thomas never said so publicly, behind closed doors he complained Carroll got preferential treatment because he was the first-round pick. It was a comment along those lines directed at Carroll that ignited the fight between the two last year.

Thomas wouldn’t say whether he felt he got a fair shake from the Packers. During Wednesday’s interview, Thomas never referred to Carroll by name — only by his jersey number (28).
“I wish 28 well,” Thomas said. “I don’t have a bad relationship with 28. I wish 28 the best of luck, and I hope you put that in there, too.

“I hope you (Carroll) go out there on Sunday and do your thing. We all know that you got it. Just do it, man. Go out there and relax and play your game and just let it all hang out. To everybody else in that secondary, I say the same thing. Just play football, and things are going to turn around.”

Carroll and Thomas were roommates last year during training camp and on road trips but didn’t room together this year.

“Do I feel bad for him?” Carroll said. “No, because I know he’s a great athlete, and he’ll probably get picked up today or tomorrow. I’d just tell him to go out there and keep running and play like he’s been playing and whatever he needs to work on, work on and get better.”

Thomas was placed on waivers at 3 p.m. The waiver process lasts 24 hours. If he goes unclaimed, he becomes a free agent at 3 p.m. today. If another team claims him, the remaining two years of his prorated signing bonus, or another $360,000, will accelerate to this year’s salary cap. If he is not claimed, that total will count on the Packers’ 2006 cap. His base salaries ($305,000 this season, $385,000 in 2006 and $460,000 in 2007) were wiped off the books.

Thomas originally signed a four-year contract that included a $720,000 signing bonus.

The Packers will need a nickel defensive back for Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh. Rookie Mike Hawkins replaced Thomas against the Bengals and graded OK. Another possibility is Jason Horton or Jeremy Thornburg, who was claimed on waivers from San Francisco on Wednesday.
source : http://www.packersnews.com/