Newly Acquired CB Josh Thomas Dishes Up Dirt on New York Jets

This week, the Detroit Lions acquired a new cornerback to help add some depth to their defensive backfield. Josh Thomas, who had just played for the New York Jets as recently as last Sunday, signed with Detroit earlier this week.

Thomas was released by the Jets following their road game against the Tennessee Titans last Sunday, as well as after having an estimated $12,000 worth of his belongings stolen from the trunk of his car in New Jersey. Included in the theft were his checkbook, passport, wallet, wife’s anniversary gifts, luggage — and, most notably, the iPad that housed his Jets playbook.

And that is where a bad situation could take a turn for the worse — Thomas thinks that the two incidents are very related.

“They got rid of me, right?” – Thomas

Thomas signed with the Lions on Wednesday to help the secondary while Mohammed Seisay deals with a hamstring injury that has limited him in practice.

For that, Thomas is thankful for.

"“I’m happy to be here,” he said. “I’m so focused on what I miss the most, (which) is being coached. Being coached by my coach. I suffered there the most because I was not getting better.“So just coming here and being welcomed with open arms by staff, and even the chefs, (has been nice). The food was great.”"

But wait — there’s more!

Thomas wasn’t reluctant to voice his displeasure with the Jets organization.

"“I felt I wasn’t given the attention necessary, as far as being engaged from the coaches, from a player’s standpoint,” he said. “It came to where I was there as a player, and wanting and desiring some feedback that wasn’t given. Sometimes I may have been standing there with deer (in the headlights) look in my eyes trying to figure out what I needed to do.“But at the same time, just from the past experiences, every organization operates differently. And that’s how the Jets operated. But I just want to be great. I want to be better every day, and enhance something about my game every day. And (the Jets) were just more independent there.”"

Thomas played his college ball at the University of Buffalo in upstate New York and was a fifth-round pick in the NFL Draft. He has called several NFL teams home, playing for the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, and New York Jets.

His biggest role as a starter came in Carolina where he started 10 games from 2011-13.

He played in just one game with the Jets this season, and it’s safe to say that it was his least favorite stop during his travels, despite playing in his home state.

"Seattle was more hands on, and Carolina was … there’s no possible way to take a day off,” Thomas said. “I feel like it’s always good to have a second pair of eyes in the film room, and a coach telling you what you can improve on. And that’s what I miss the most.”"

Thomas says he already senses a difference in Detroit. He was welcomed by an assistant coach who stopped a team meeting to introduce him, and received some close coaching while working with the look team during practice.

"“It was just that warm welcoming, especially coming from the New York Jets,” he said. “After what I experienced there, and just having a really rough week, it was just really uplifting.”"