Saints TE David Thomas is now more valuable than before

After having an excellent season in his first year of wearing the New Orleans Saints jersey, former New England Patriots tight end David Thomas has proved that he is worth more than what the Patriots asked for one year ago while trading him to the Saints.

According to the Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis, the Saints now owes the Patriots a six-round pick of 2011 draft instead of the original seventh-rounder, as 26-year-old Thomas has become much better than what he was before the trade. While helping the Saints win their first Super Bowl title, Thomas also had his career-best season with 35 catches for 356 yards and one touchdown. For that great performance, he earned a new one-year contract worth $1.176 million after becoming restricted free agent earlier this offseason.

The Saints would be glad to pay a higher draft pick back to the Patriots as what they have now is a valuable and versatile backup, who is able to take replacement for starter whenever it is necessary. David also started at fullback at times last season. It’s hard to say whether the Patriots had wrong decision in the trade or Saints are just a better team for Thomas.

Patriots QB Brady practiced Thursday

For this week, the New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady did not wait until Friday to practice again with his teammates. He made it one day earlier and practiced on a limited basis on Thursday, making it more likely that he will still start this Sunday’s game against Buffalo Bills.

The quarterback had limited participation in Thursday’s session after sitting out Wednesday’s workout while nursing rib and right finger problems, as well as tire tiredness caused by less than enough sleep for he had to take care of his baby boy who came to the world last week. Brady also was listed with a right shoulder injury, as he has been every week.

Brady has started every game this season, including last Sunday’s 20-10 win over the Carolina Panthers after he sat out practices on Wednesday and Thursday.

But it still remains uncertain whether starting defensive linemen Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren would put on their Patriots jerseys for Sunday’s game. Both missed their second straight practice, Wilfork with a foot injury and Warren with an ankle injury, after being hurt during the game against the Panthers.

Patriots signed LB Burgess from Ravens for conditional draft pick

Linebacker Prescott Burgess was traded by the Baltimore Ravens to the New England Patriots for a conditional seventh-round draft pick on Tuesday. I guess it is a good chance for Burgess after he spent last year on the Ravens’ injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

Burgess was picked in the sixth round of the 2007 draft and played eight games as a rookie with the in ravens jersey. However, he injured his shoulder last season and had to stay on injured reserve for the whole season. And before the trade, he had been used by the Ravens on special teams after he returned to team.

The Raven may not lament losing Burgess much for they got a vacant roster spot after the trade and was able to sign tight end Tony Curtis, a three-year veteran who was released by the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this month. At 6-oot-5, 251-pound, Curtis was signed as a rookie free agent by the Dallas Cowboys in 2005 and has played in 36 career games, making 11 catches for 50 yards and three touchdowns since.