The Fake Argument about Earl Thomas` Age

[Carter]

Fact1: Earl Thomas turned 29 in May 2018. Means he is 29 and 4 Month Old.
So he is not a Player in "his 30s".

Fact2: There are a ton of examples of Great Defensive Backs, especially Safeties that Play on elite Level way into their 30s.

Lets look at some of the Best Safeties to ever Play the Game.

Charles Woodson played until 39.
First Team All Pro aged 33 and 35,
Second Team All-Pro aged 38
Most Ints in the NFL aged 33 and 35.
Made a Pro Bowl aged 38.

Ed Reed played until 37.
He was an All Pro and Pro Bowler from Age 28 till 33.

Rodney Harrison played until 36.
Was an All Pro aged 31 and 32.

Brian Dawkins played until 38.
Was an All Pro aged 28, 29, 31, 34 and 36.
Pro Bowler aged 28,29, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38.

John Lynch played until 37.
Was an All Pro aged 28,29,30, 31
Pro Bowler aged 28,29,30,31,33,34,35,36

So all These Numbers Show that most good/great Safeties have their Prime between about 26 and 36.

Earl Thomas is 29. There is no reason not to believe he is still Elite and can still be Elite for another 3-5 years. Actually he should just be in his prime right now.

If that means giving up a 2nd Round Pick in the 2019 Draft (hopefully late in the Round anyway) you should go for it if you want to win Football Games.

There is never a guarantee that next year will be better than this year. In the Salary Cap NFL you can only plan one season at a time. Eagles went All in and it paid off. You cant Plan longterm success. If u Keep the Pick and hope for a Steal you never know what next year gonna be.

Do they lose Key Players in Free Agency?
Are they really able to sign ET in Free Agency?
Will Key Players be injured next Season?

So my Suggestion would be go for it, if it means giving up a 2nd in 2019.

 

[AsthmaField]

I don’t think he’s coming here, man.

 

[Cowboys22]

I don’t think he’s coming here, man.

Sure he is. We just don’t know when yet.

 

[Carter]

I don’t think he’s coming here, man.

I didnt say that. I was just stating Facts because there is so many Fake News and Arguments around about ET on this board

 

[Jake]

Great another ET thread, this one dedicated to him being 8 months short of his 30th birthday.

But since we're here, any extension he's given would in fact be to a guy in his 30s.

 

[HungryLion]

I don’t think he’s coming here, man.

I don’t think he’s coming here, man.

Well maybe not this season.

But we can have him when he is only 30.

He ain’t signing long term in Seattle.

 

[CWR]

Fact1: Earl Thomas turned 29 in May 2018. Means he is 29 and 4 Month Old.
So he is not a Player in "his 30s".

Fact2: There are a ton of examples of Great Defensive Backs, especially Safeties that Play on elite Level way into their 30s.

Lets look at some of the Best Safeties to ever Play the Game.

Charles Woodson played until 39.
First Team All Pro aged 33 and 35,
Second Team All-Pro aged 38
Most Ints in the NFL aged 33 and 35.
Made a Pro Bowl aged 38.

Ed Reed played until 37.
He was an All Pro and Pro Bowler from Age 28 till 33.

Rodney Harrison played until 36.
Was an All Pro aged 31 and 32.

Brian Dawkins played until 38.
Was an All Pro aged 28, 29, 31, 34 and 36.
Pro Bowler aged 28,29, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38.

John Lynch played until 37.
Was an All Pro aged 28,29,30, 31
Pro Bowler aged 28,29,30,31,33,34,35,36

So all These Numbers Show that most good/great Safeties have their Prime between about 26 and 36.

Earl Thomas is 29. There is no reason not to believe he is still Elite and can still be Elite for another 3-5 years.

If that means giving up a 2nd Round Pick in the 2019 Draft (hopefully late in the Round anyway) you should go for it if you want to win Football Games.

There is never a guarantee that next year will be better than this year. In the Salary Cap NFL you can only plan one season at a time. Eagles went All in and it paid off. You cant Plan longterm success. If u Keep the Pick and hope for a Steal you never know what next year gonna be.

Do they lose Key Players in Free Agency?
Are they really able to sign ET in Free Agency?
Will Key Players be injured next Season?

So my Suggestion would be go for it, if it means giving up a 2nd in 2019.

Good post. Hell with those that cant handle another ET thread. This is a good point and Im glad someone is clarifying it! ET is worth the cost.

 

[dwreck27]

Idk I’m guessing most of the board doesn’t think of us as super bowl contenders for another 3 or 4 years

So in 2022 or 2023 we should be ready!

 

[AsthmaField]

Yeah, maybe next year. Maybe not next year...

But it looks like it won’t be this season... which is what the topic is usually about.

 

[Carter]

Great another ET thread, this one dedicated to him being 8 months short of his 30th birthday.

But since we're here, any extension he's given would in fact be to a guy in his 30s.

So you just ignore the Fact that all These other great Safeties just hit their prime at the Age ET is right now and played on Elite Level into their mid 30s?

 

[Carter]

Yeah, maybe next year. Maybe not next year...

But it looks like it won’t be this season... which is what the topic is usually about.

You never know. Next Year it will again be not our season.

Have to try and not give up before trying.

ET might transform this upcoming Defense into a Top 5 Unit. If the O can just move the ball on an average rate the Cowboys should be able to make the Playoffs, and than you never know.

 

[Jake]

So you just ignore the Fact that all These other great Safeties just hit their prime at the Age ET is right now and played on Elite Level into their mid 30s?

Well, yeah, because I really don't care. But it's an impressive list of 5 people.

Now put together a list of the guys given big extensions in their 30s who ended up being bad investments. No rush, it's going to take you a while.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Fact1: Earl Thomas turned 29 in May 2018. Means he is 29 and 4 Month Old.
So he is not a Player in "his 30s".

Fact2: There are a ton of examples of Great Defensive Backs, especially Safeties that Play on elite Level way into their 30s.

Lets look at some of the Best Safeties to ever Play the Game.

Charles Woodson played until 39.
First Team All Pro aged 33 and 35,
Second Team All-Pro aged 38
Most Ints in the NFL aged 33 and 35.
Made a Pro Bowl aged 38.

Ed Reed played until 37.
He was an All Pro and Pro Bowler from Age 28 till 33.

Rodney Harrison played until 36.
Was an All Pro aged 31 and 32.

Brian Dawkins played until 38.
Was an All Pro aged 28, 29, 31, 34 and 36.
Pro Bowler aged 28,29, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38.

John Lynch played until 37.
Was an All Pro aged 28,29,30, 31
Pro Bowler aged 28,29,30,31,33,34,35,36

So all These Numbers Show that most good/great Safeties have their Prime between about 26 and 36.

Earl Thomas is 29. There is no reason not to believe he is still Elite and can still be Elite for another 3-5 years. Actually he should just be in his prime right now.

If that means giving up a 2nd Round Pick in the 2019 Draft (hopefully late in the Round anyway) you should go for it if you want to win Football Games.

There is never a guarantee that next year will be better than this year. In the Salary Cap NFL you can only plan one season at a time. Eagles went All in and it paid off. You cant Plan longterm success. If u Keep the Pick and hope for a Steal you never know what next year gonna be.

Do they lose Key Players in Free Agency?
Are they really able to sign ET in Free Agency?
Will Key Players be injured next Season?

So my Suggestion would be go for it, if it means giving up a 2nd in 2019.

Its about making a good decision for this team. There is the short term and the long term. Long term typically always trumping short term. And with this team NOT a legitimate contender it would be silly to do something short term that might be bad for the long term.

Its also about cost. Draft picks, huge salary. And in case you didn't realize it, he is going to want somewhere close to a 5 year contract. So he will be 32 and over for half of it. Say what you want about guys being great after 30 the percentages don't line up with your claim.

So overall based on age, draft pick cost, salary cost, its a horrible decision. And considering you don't have a problem with a guy over 30 then just wait a year and we get him for free.

 

[Nexx]

just goes to show the FS position is more cerebral than physical

 

[SportsGuru80]

They better take a 3rd and be happy...

 

[superonyx]

His age is irrelevant.
If the question was if we should sign him or not then lets talk about age.

The question is should we pay a 2nd round pick (could be a low 2nd round pick) to have Earl Thomas for 14 games. It will take him about 2 weeks to be ready.
I say NO. No safety is worth borrowing for 14 games at the cost of my 2nd round pick.
We can sign him for free in 16 weeks.

 

[cowboy_ron]

 

[Setackin]

I wish he’d end his hold out so we can stop bringing this up everyday...

 

[bpfred]

Fact1: Earl Thomas turned 29 in May 2018. Means he is 29 and 4 Month Old.
So he is not a Player in "his 30s".

Fact2: There are a ton of examples of Great Defensive Backs, especially Safeties that Play on elite Level way into their 30s.

Lets look at some of the Best Safeties to ever Play the Game.

Charles Woodson played until 39.
First Team All Pro aged 33 and 35,
Second Team All-Pro aged 38
Most Ints in the NFL aged 33 and 35.
Made a Pro Bowl aged 38.

Ed Reed played until 37.
He was an All Pro and Pro Bowler from Age 28 till 33.

Rodney Harrison played until 36.
Was an All Pro aged 31 and 32.

Brian Dawkins played until 38.
Was an All Pro aged 28, 29, 31, 34 and 36.
Pro Bowler aged 28,29, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38.

John Lynch played until 37.
Was an All Pro aged 28,29,30, 31
Pro Bowler aged 28,29,30,31,33,34,35,36

So all These Numbers Show that most good/great Safeties have their Prime between about 26 and 36.

Earl Thomas is 29. There is no reason not to believe he is still Elite and can still be Elite for another 3-5 years. Actually he should just be in his prime right now.

If that means giving up a 2nd Round Pick in the 2019 Draft (hopefully late in the Round anyway) you should go for it if you want to win Football Games.

There is never a guarantee that next year will be better than this year. In the Salary Cap NFL you can only plan one season at a time. Eagles went All in and it paid off. You cant Plan longterm success. If u Keep the Pick and hope for a Steal you never know what next year gonna be.

Do they lose Key Players in Free Agency?
Are they really able to sign ET in Free Agency?
Will Key Players be injured next Season?

So my Suggestion would be go for it, if it means giving up a 2nd in 2019.

I read a good article about this very topic a couple of months ago. The data you are showing is pretty biased. First, you are including a bunch of players aged 28--that hasn't got any relevance going forward, since Thomas is already 29.

The other big thing, you are only showing the success stories. There were a lot more pro bowl safeties that never achieved the same level of success as they got older. The age argument against Thomas is a real argument (one I personally buy into)--you just aren't showing a representative sample of the data.

 

[Cowboysfan1975]

His age is irrelevant.
If the question was if we should sign him or not then lets talk about age.

The question is should we pay a 2nd round pick (could be a low 2nd round pick) to have Earl Thomas for 14 games. It will take him about 2 weeks to be ready.
I say NO. No safety is worth borrowing for 14 games at the cost of my 2nd round pick.
We can sign him for free in 16 weeks.

What's to say Seattle doesn't trade him to someone else and they sign him long term? Or they decide to extend him or franchise him next season? A second round pick isn't too much to make sure we don't miss out on him entirely. People seem to forget just how good he is.