Panthers Gain Depth, Weight and Humor with Addition of Thomas

Hollis Thomas is the newest contestant called upon to plug the holes at defensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers this season, and all 340 pounds of him made the leap to Charlotte from St. Louis yesterday, quickly snapped up by the Panthers after being let go from the Rams earlier this week. Thomas is a seasoned veteran expected to jump right into the game with the Panthers, and his sense of humor isn’t hurting the morale in Carolina, either. When asked by reporters what he’d bring to his new team, Thomas replied, “A little levity, a little thickness. Everybody wants to be focusing on the other fat guys; they’ll focus on the new fat guy. It’s like the first day of school. You don’t want to wear the wrong outfit because you’ll be the object of ridicule for the rest of the year.” (This, by the way, comes from the same guy who’s been photographed wearing a head-to-toe outfit with a SpongeBob SquarePants theme.)

Thomas was released from St. Louis earlier this week as the Rams are attempting to put younger players on the line, and of his fresh start with Carolina he said, “I was in a situation where I got to go through training camp with St. Louis and see if I could still play a three-technique, and I really can’t. So it was good to come back and play some nose guard. I know a few guys in there, and they seem like a great bunch of guys. I was happy that they welcomed me in.” Thomas has a whole week to adapt with the Panthers before making his debut in blue and black next week, so stick around for more following Hollis Thomas and Carolina’s defense!

To get Carolina Panthers tickets, go to StubHub.