Devin Thomas had to know the Redskins weren't happy with him. They put him on a depth chart that gave him every opportunity to go out and earn a starting job, and yet he still only plays on special teams and extremely wide receiver heavy formations on offense.
But based on his comments about the team's reported interest in trading him, Devin Thomas didn't really see it coming. According to Jason Reid, Thomas is kind of in the dark about his future with the team.
"With the rumors coming out about this, I, I mean ... I just really don't know what's going on," Thomas said Wednesday before practice at Redskins Park. "But whether it's here or somewhere else, I'm going to keep pushing to be a main contributor and play. I'm going to keep doing what I got to do, because I know I can play this game."
Reid points out that Thomas has shown signs in the past, but singles out Thomas' inability to impress the new coaching staff that has moved the team to investigate trading him.
The former Michigan State standout, however, has failed to impress Coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. With his name being mentioned in trade speculation, Thomas said he plans to address the situation with the Shanahans "just to get the standpoint from them about exactly what they want and kind of what's going on ... if it's not too late. I mean, you never know.
"But all I can really do is just keep doing what I'm doing, and that's just trying to handle my business. I'm studying and doing everything I have to do to know the opponent. And I'm going out there every day with the mentality like I'm going to get a chance, but it's still just been limited to special teams. I really don't know what else to do but keep working hard and hoping it happens. But I know I can play."
Devin Thomas was a second round pick just a few years ago, and now he's been reduced to using "standard frustrated athlete speak" when responding to trade rumors. How could this have gone so wrong?
Thomas was a disappointment even before a new regime was put in place that was different than the one that drafted him. Mike Shanahan inherited Devin Thomas, and that makes it easier to to give up on him. With the Randy Moss trade setting the market, the Redskins might soon be able to find a good trading partner to unload Thomas.