Will Dan Quinn lead Cowboys to take chance on Earl Thomas?

If you’re upset that the Dallas Cowboys didn’t get former Seattle Seahawk and Dan Quinn player Bobby Wagner, here is another chance at a former “Legion of Boom” member joining the Cowboys. On Friday, it was reported that 32-year-old NFL veteran safety Earl Thomas is trying to get back on an NFL roster. Thomas has not played a snap in the league since 2019.

Let’s be clear that even though Thomas and Wagner both have ties to the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator, they bring about two very different situations. Wagner is a couple of years younger and has not taken a hiatus from football. He also wanted big bucks for his services. Thomas, on the other hand, would come at a much cheaper price tag, which seems right up the Joneses’ ally. But, is he a smart sign? Arguably not. Regardless, this man has been tied to the Cowboys often in his career.

The 7x Pro Bowler shocked the NFL world in 2017 when he ran up to then-Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett and said, “if y’all have the chance, come get me,” after Seattle beat Dallas at AT&T Stadium. In the 2018 offseason, the Cowboys tried to trade for him by offering a second-round pick to Seattle, but the attempt failed.

Now the Texas native and former Longhorns star wants another shot at pro football. This is what the former safety texted ESPN’s Adam Schefter:

"“I’m ready. I’m in shape. My timing is on point — I’m proud of that.”"

Will Earl Thomas’s connection with Dan Quinn help him land with the Cowboys?

While Thomas certainly had a successful career, he also had several issues that made his time in the NFL difficult for the organizations he was a part of. In nine years with Seattle, he collected 664 tackles, 28 interceptions, and 11 forced fumbles. When he was carted off the field with a broken leg in 2018, he famously put up his middle finger toward Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.

In 2019, the safety was signed to a four-year, $55 million deal by the Baltimore Ravens. That deal would only last 17 months. Thomas played well for Baltimore, but his off-the-field issues got him cut. The veteran allegedly missed several team meetings and had multiple heated confrontations with teammates. The final straw came when Thomas punched teammate Chuck Clark in August of 2020 at a training camp practice. He was released just two days later and hasn’t played with a team since.

In theory, this isn’t the type of guy you want on your team. But we all know Jerry Jones likes to take problem players in hopes that they turn a new leaf in Dallas. Plus, this organization had its eyes on him for a while. Now that Quinn is part of the staff, the Cowboys have even more of a pull if they want Thomas. Is he ready to play an NFL game after three years? Who knows. But… he will certainly come at a cheap price which we know the billionaire Joneses love.