Jets get WR Thomas from Patriots in trade
NEW YORK >> The New York Jets are getting some roster help from the most unlikely of sources: Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.
Adam Gase’s squad acquired wide receiver Demaryius Thomas from the Patriots for a 2021 sixthround draft pick on Tuesday, according to a person with direct knowledge of the deal.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The tradeis the first between the AFC East rivals since Bill Belichick took over as the Patriots’ coach in 2000. The last trade between the teams was actually when Belichick left the Jets for the Patriots, and New York got a firstround pick.
Thomas became expendable for the Patriots when they signed Antonio Brown over the weekend.
Thomas, 31, gives the Jets’ receiving group an immediate boost, joining Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa and Jamison Crowder. The move also comes a day after Gase made it clear he wasn’t pleased with the receivers’ overall performance in a 17-16 season-opening loss to Buffalo.
Crowder had 14 catches for 99 yards as Sam Darnold used him often for short-yardage plays, but Anderson (three catches for 23 yards) and Enunwa (one for minus-4) combined for just four receptions.
Thomas and Gase were together in Denver from 2010-14, when Gase was the wide receivers coach and later the Broncos’ offensive coordinator. Thomas was also part of the Broncos’ Super Bowlwinning team with Peyton Manning in February 2016.
Thomas has 688 receptions
for 9,330 yards and 62 touchdowns. He played for the Broncos from 2010 until being traded to Houston last October for a seventh-round draft pick. He tore his Achilles late last season.
Thomas also faced legal issues
in the offseason when he pleaded guilty in March to careless driving in a February crash in Denver.
The move capped a busy day for the Jets, who also signed kicker Sam Ficken and waived Kaare Vedvik.