The 12-year veteran went in for surgery to repair the injury that occurred on Wednesday in practice, while running through some pass-blocking drills.

This was not Thomas’ only injury, as he has already missed numerous practices during camp with a cyst on the back of his knee. Thomas had just returned to practicing when the injury to his right arm happened during a joint practice with the Houston Texans.

The question for the Saints is whether they should hold an active roster spot for the veteran for the first six weeks of the season or place him on injured reserve, therefore ending his season. The answer should come over the next couple of weeks depending on how quickly Thomas can recover from surgery.

Thomas started 14 games in 2007, recording 58 tackles and three sacks.

The huge defensive tackle had been bringing the rookie along and teaching him the ropes, and Ellis couldn’t be more sorry to see his new teammate go out with an injury.

“He’s a great guy to take the time to help a younger guy, but I’m going to have to pick it up on my own now,” Ellis said. “We wish him a great recovery and we’ve got to move on. It’s the whole defensive line’s responsibility to help in those situations that Hollis has left open from his injury, but I don’t feel any pressure personally.”

The injury to Thomas leaves a massive void in the lineup for the Saints, but Ellis’ teammates are confident that he can fill that void.

New Orleans linebacker Scott Fujita said. “With the new guy, obviously he’s got a whole different level of athleticism that’s going to help him get a lot more involved in rushing the passer and making plays on the ball….So a lot of that remains to be seen,” Fujita added. “We have high expectations for him, but once you get into games and see how he performs, the jury’s still out.”

Ellis will likely move into the starting lineup, and his pass-rush skills should dramatically improve a defense that allowed a league-worst 32 passing touchdowns. The often erratic and non-existent rush allowed for 245.2 passing yards per game and 45 completions of 30-plus yards, with one-third of those between 40 and 80 yards.

Last year as a senior at USC, Ellis played in all 13 of the Trojans’ games, recording 58 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks with 7 passes batted down and two fumble recoveries. He was named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and an All-American for his efforts in 2007.

Reports are out that Pennington has agreed a two-year, $11.5 million deal with his former team’s division rival and Week 1 opponent, the Miami Dolphins.

Take a quick look at the figures for the deal, and you’d be quick to surmise a key piece of information for John Beck, Chad Henne, and Josh McCown - Pennington is getting paid to come in start, not to sit on the bench and just be an extension of the quarterback coach.

Matt Severance called this one the other day in a post about Pennington’s release following the Jets’ trade for Brett Favre, so it isn’t exactly a surprise.

It does show that while Bill Parcells and Co. know that there’s a long rebuilding job ahead, they’re not looking to just mail it in and think solely of the future by handing the ball to someone they may not be fully confident in just yet.

Besides that, even though Beck and the others might be a little disappointed that they may be getting jumped over in the depth chart, there’s nothing like a little competition, especially from a proven, veteran quarterback, to help bring out your best, and when you’re a pretty green prospect, it doesn’t hurt to have someone like Pennington to learn from.

On the flip side, It is also a great leap of faith to pay a lot of money to a guy whose injury problems and lack of arm strength are well-documented. Pennington’s TD-to-INT numbers also haven’t exactly been stellar over the last couple of seasons (17 TD, 16 INT in 2006, 10 TD, 9 INT in 2007).

However, one thing that Matt pointed out that should be remembered is that Pennington is an extremely accurate passer, and in the end, it’s not about how far you can throw it, but if the ball ends up in the receivers’ hands, and that’s something that Pennington a relatively good job of throughout his career, with a career completion % of 65.6, 82 touchdowns to 55 interceptions in his career, and a career passer rating of 88.9, numbers that aren‘t shabby by any means. On top of that, he led the Jets to the playoffs three times, including just two seasons ago.

Really, it’s about the best signing that the Dolphins could make at this point, though I do scratch my head a little at the money that they gave him. Time will tell whether or not he earns it, but if he can be efficient and play the kind of game that he’s capable of, it’ll make the Dolphins a lot more bearable to watch this season.

But whatever the case may be, it’s certainly going to make for a very, very interesting Week 1, though Pennington starting against his former team won’t garner as many headlines as a certain #4 standing on the opposite sideline.

I was spending time at my special lady friend’s house not all that long ago.  She had family and friends in town visiting from Columbus, Ohio (yes, Gator dates Buckeye… riots ensue).  While watching television, one of her younger houseguests was having difficulty recalling the name of “that heavyset guy” that used to be on Saturday Night Live way back in the day.  She was in her early 20s, so I figured she couldn’t possibly be talking about John Belushi, although he was the first person that came to mind.  I blurted out the other obvious answer, Chris Farley, to which she responded ‘Oh Yeah!’

Suddenly, I felt old.  I thought to myself, had it been that long ago that Farley was on SNL (1990-95) and is this generation even familiar with Belushi’s humor as one the Not Ready For Prime Time Players.

I’m 40 years old now.  I am from New York City and was weaned on the original Saturday Night Live.  There was nothing like staying up late as a kid and watching Roseanne Rosannadanna, Belushi’s samurai, Bill Murray’s lounge singer, Chico Escuela, Mr. Bill, the land shark and of course, two wild and crazy guys.  As a child, I met Gilda Radner once and was awestruck.  Of course, later generations of SNL featured their own unique brand of talent too, from Eddie Murphy to the later generations of Myers, Sandler, Farley, Hartman and Rock.  For me, that was a golden era of comedy.  I look fondly back on those times.  Without sounding like an old fuddy-duddy, today’s version can’t hold a candle.  It kind of makes me long for the days of old.

Which is why I can’t fault Brett Favre for his decision to return to football.  These athletes that we write about, particularly the elite, are like no creatures we’ll ever truly understand.  They are the best of the best and as we’ve seen over the years, have difficulty hanging them up when their time has come.  How many athletes, guys as tough as nails, have we seen break down into tears, sobbing like newborn babies at their retirement press conferences?  One need only recollect a glassy-eyed Mike Schmidt or John Elway at the podium, reaching unsuccessfully for that next word with their hearts in their throats.

The most successful businessmen, scientists and doctors can practice their chosen profession until late in life.  Bill Gates is 52.  Mick Jagger is 65 and he’s still working.  Heck, even John McCain is 71.  Professional athletes aren’t afforded that luxury.  The physical, psychological and emotional anguish is too demanding.

We’ve seen a bunch of them do it, the best of the best, retire then yearn to return.  Montana, Namath, Jim Brown, Magic, Leonard, Foreman, Holyfield, Jordan… twice.  It’s getting so that the ones who say goodbye and don’t look back a la Koufax or Barry Sanders are the exception rather than the rule.  We criticize athletes for leaving in their prime as if they owe us something more, yet we also blame them for wanting to return to the game without fully understanding what’s in their hearts and minds.  We may never know.  The majority of us will never be as good at anything as these men were at their chosen profession.  We crave a storyblog ending, but life isn’t always a fairytale.

Could Favre have handled his current situation better?  Of course he could have.  But think about it.  There’s no conceivable way Favre could leave the Packers organization on good terms.  There’s no such thing as an amicable breakup.  This is about a man who rebuilt a franchise and a franchise who made the man.  The two will always be inexorably linked, regardless of what uniform he dons next.  It was bound to end ugly no matter how it went down.  I cannot fault Favre for wanting one last shot as long as he’s prepared to deal with the consequences.  Unless he suits up for either the Pats, Colts, Chargers or Cowboys, he likely will not win a Super Bowl and those teams are already pretty well set at the quarterback position.

Favre obviously still has his demons, something left to prove.  It is likely something none of us can understand.  Remember that next time someone asks you, fifteen years from now who ‘that guy’ was that used to play quarterback for Green Bay.  The answer he’s looking for just might just be Aaron Brooks.

ESPN reports that Hester agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $30 million. His original rookie contract was slated to end after the 2009 season, and he would have only earned $445,000. $15 million of his contract is guaranteed. Also, the last year of his deal, which would be in 2013, includes a $10 million roster bonus if he becomes a standout wide receiver by fulfilling several incentives.

Hester showed his anger towards Bears’ management by holding out of training camp for a whopping two days. The Bears had reportedly talked with him about certain terms of a potential deal all offseason, but, he still held out. In fact, it shocked GM Jerry Angelo.

“[His agent] floated it out there, but I didn’t really take it serious because, as I say, we are still talking, we’re still in the process, there’s no closure,” Angelo told reporters Wednesday. “Usually when you say, ‘Hey, it’s over, take it or leave it, we’re out of money,’ you might get a reaction like that. But as you’re continuing on in negotiations as we have been, it is surprising.”

There is no doubt Hester outplayed his original contract. With only two seasons under his belt, he has already amassed 11 total return touchdowns, which is just two away from Brian Mitchell’s all-time record. Hester has also cemented himself as one of the best return men ever. Almost every team in the NFL would rather give the Bears’ dismal offense great field position than have Hester possibly take it to the house. That’s how much of an impact he has.

Before Hester’s brief holdout, Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith had a chance to speak with Hester before camp and tried to convince him to come.”I don’t have any idea how long it will be. We would like to get him out here as soon as possible,” Smith said. “I know he would like to be out here. He realizes how important this work is, especially this early work with him becoming a full-time receiver.”

Most might say the hold out is what got Hester his new deal, but I don’t. In fact, I think it t was the fact he eventually showed up. His agent Eugene Parker might not have liked that he went to training camp, but it looks like it did pay off for Hester in the end.

Look at it this way. The Bears extended both Tommie Harris and Brian Urlacher’s contracts. Why did they do it sooner rather than later? Because all those guys showed up at mandatory OTA camps. Heck, last season, Lance Briggs was thinking about holding out of training camp but never did. He got his reward and shocked the world by resigning with the Bears. Hmm, I see a pattern. By Hester being at camp, you knew a payday was in the near future.

Shortly after the Bears cut Cedric Benson loose last month, Chicago coach Lovie Smith said that the team wouldn’t be signing a veteran running back to compete with rookie Matt Forte.

But apparently Kevin Jones was too good of a risk for the price, as the Bears signed the former Lion to a one-year deal this week, beating out the Pittsburgh Steelers for his services.

Jones’ deal is worth only $605,000, compared to the $2.35 million he would have made this season had the Lions not cut him. Obviously there is a risk involved in that Jones tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Dec. 23. He had surgery the first week of January, and the recovery was supposed to take a year, but Jones says he is well ahead of schedule.

That said, Jones, who turns 26 in August, says he still expects the Bears to start him on the physically-unable-to-perform list when camp starts next week, even though he passed a physical. If he were to begin the regular season on the PUP list, he wouldn’t be eligible to join the 53-man roster until after Week 6. But Jones has his sights set on full participation a couple of weeks into camp.

Asked if he’ll be ready for the start of camp, Jones said: ‘‘I think so. They’re going to be cautious with me and take it slow. The doctors recommended I don’t get hit in the first week of training camp. I don’t know what the plan is for the preseason.’’

What won Jones over for the Bears was that he would get a chance to compete for the top job, something few other teams could offer.

“My main thing for (Lovie Smith) was would the opportunities for competition be fair and if he wanted me here,” Jones said. “And coach Smith said, ‘Yes, we want you here. And you have a fair opportunity.’ ”

Jones was the 30^th overall pick out of Virginia Tech in the 2004 NFL draft, and the Bears heavily scouted him that year and considered him with their pick before Tommie Harris fell into their laps at No. 14. Jones finished his rookie season with 1,133 yards and five TDs on 241 carries. He had his 2006 season cut short by a Lisfranc fracture of his left foot. Then the ACL tear prematurely ended his ‘07 campaign.

Last season, Jones rushed for 581 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns on 153 carries. He also had 32 receptions for 197 yards. During four seasons in Motown, he rushed for 3,067 yards and 24 touchdowns on 761 carries. 

The Bears ranked last in the league last season in yards per carry last season, so there’s nowhere to go but up and two-back systems are now in vogue in the NFL.

On Wednesday afternoon, it was reported that the NFL’s leader in career touchdown passes has an “itch” to play again. In fact, Favre has contacted his former coach Mike McCarty multiple times about his desire to play again. Even his family wants him to play, according to longtime ESPN football analyst Chris Mortensen.

“Brett retired for the right reasons, even though I know his family is tugging on him [to play],” said Mortensen’s source.

Favre’s agent Bus Cook is staying mum on the situation and said, “As far as I know, right now, Brett Favre is retired and until he tells me something different, that’s what it is.”

Of course this story is in the embryonic stages, but I’m sure no one is surprised. Brett Favre is a guy who is very passionate for the game of football. Of course, fans would love to see him back, but do the Packers?

It was sort of a blessing in disguise that he retired this year. Aaron Rodgers has been waiting for his shot for a while now, and so were the Packers. Also, by drafting Brian Brohm out of Louisville, it seemed apparent they were ready to forget number 4.

Favre’s contract is tied with the Packers on the reserved retired list, which means if he were to come back, it would be in Green Bay. However, according to Mortensen, he would have to write a letter to ask for his release.

While seeing Favre play at a high level one more time would be great for the game, it just wouldn’t be right. Why is he putting all this scrutiny on Rodgers and the Packers? This seems like a very selfish act by the old gunslinger.

Granted, Rodgers could be a complete flop, but what’s to say Favre’s return to be the same? Remember, Favre was on the decline until his rejuvenation last season. Who knows? Maybe 2007 was a mirage. What if the decline continues? That doesn’t seem fair for Green Bay or Rodgers.

What if the Packers decide not to bring back Favre and release him into free agency? It would be hard to picture him in anything but the green and gold. Also, who would really want him?

The Bears? Like it or not, they are sold on having Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton behind center. The Falcons? Well, if you’re paying Matt Ryan that much money to sit like Aaron Rodgers has been the past 3 seasons, forget about it. The Vikings? It makes sense, but Brad Childress is in love with Tarvaris Jackson. The Chiefs? They seem sold on Brodie Croyle, but this would be the only place that might even think about signing him.

Brett, you are a legend. All of us who watched you play the last 17 seasons have a book full of memories. Heck, you even won a Super Bowl and played in the big game twice. Most quarterbacks would sell their soul for a chance to do that.

So, please, for your sake, quit toying with us. Quit waffling, pondering, and flip-flopping. Do what John Elway and Dan Marino have done. Hold back your desires, walk away, and stay retired. Keep your legacy intact. Make last season one where you road off into the sunset.

But, if you REALLY do want to come back and the Packers say “no,” I think you would look good in navy blue and orange. Just a suggestion.

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