Since getting healthy, Jets WR Demaryius Thomas has been a solid receiving option for Gang Green, especially in the last two weeks. With Sam Darnold back against the Cowboys, he saw four catches for 62 yards to help the Jets to their first win of the season.
But this wasn't where Thomas expected to be putting up yards this season.
Thomas was with the Patriots this preseason, teaming up with Tom Brady and his former Broncos head coach in Josh McDaniels, who serves as New England's offensive coordinator. Thomas was cut before the start of the season, but he quickly re-signed after rookie WR N'Keal Harry went on the IR.
The reason Thomas was more than willing to re-sign with the NFL powerhouse was due to the team's word that his roster spot was set in stone. That is until Antonio Brown made his way to the free agent market.
Brown eventually signed with the Pats (though he only played one game before being released), and Thomas was the casualty.
"It was insulting, for sure," Thomas explained to NYDN's Manish Mehta in depth. "Once I got cut, I could have just come here and not stayed there and re-sign. When they re-signed me, I was thinking that I was good. Two weeks later, I was gone. So, it's like, 'Why did I waste my time?' Because at the end of the day, it was kind of a waste of time for me."
It was a waste of time because Thomas knew the Jets were interested. The 31-year-old has playoff experience and battled back from a torn Achilles last season with the Texans. New York could have brought him in from the start to add some more veteran presence to their young receiving corps.
But he stayed with the Pats, who gave him their word, just to pull the rug out from under him. When Brown was brought in, Thomas said he felt like they "shipped me out like I'm just a rookie."
"It was disrespectful to me," he said. "Like, you know, you could trust me and I could trust you. You told me when you cut me at the (final) cut, sit around you'll bring me back. And I stayed. I could have easily become a Jet once I got cut."
Though his feelings towards New England are sour at the moment, Thomas is glad he is finally in green and white. He's also healthy and able to contribute to the offense as we mentioned before. With Darnold back, he should have more chances to make an impact in the receiving game.
And he's back with head coach Adam Gase, who he worked with in Denver as well. It's a better situation, one he knows he can perform within.
"Once I got traded here, I was happy to be back with Adam," Thomas said.
The Jets face the Patriots on Monday Night Football in their final bout of the regular season. Thomas may not say it, but there should be a little chip on his shoulder to stick it to his former team this week.