Hollis Thomas
Encyclopedia
Hollis Thomas, Jr. is a defensive tackle who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles
as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football
at Northern Illinois
.
Thomas has also played for the New Orleans Saints
, St. Louis Rams
, and Carolina Panthers
. He is currently suspended eight games from the NFL for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
championship game for the first time in their history.
On December 5, 2006 Thomas was suspended for four games by the NFL for violating the league's steroids policy. In Thomas' appeal, New Orleans team doctor John Amos said that Thomas' asthma medicine contained two steroids, creating a false positive. Thomas lost the appeal.
Thomas tore his right triceps on August 14, 2008 in a pass-rushing drill against a Houston Texans
offensive lineman. He was later released on September 11 with an injury settlement. The Saints re-signed him on November 3.
On April 29, 2009 it was reported that the Saints had released Thomas.
signed Thomas. He was released on September 30.
on October 1, 2009 after the team waived defensive tackle Ra'Shon Harris
. In a game against the Buffalo Bills on October 25, 2009, Thomas tackled a Bills running back in the end-zone for a safety.
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois Huskies football
The Northern Illinois Huskies football team represents Northern Illinois University in the Mid-American Conference of the NCAA's Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision.-History:...
.
Thomas has also played for the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, and Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. He is currently suspended eight games from the NFL for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Philadelphia Eagles
In 1996, now undrafted Thomas signed a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. In his 9 year career with the Eagles he became a major part of their defense. After the Eagles drafted a young defensive tackle in Broderick Bunkley, they cut Thomas.New Orleans Saints
Right after Thomas was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles, the Saints claimed him from the waivers. When healthy, Thomas was considered an important part of the Saints' defense, especially against running plays, and he was seen as playing a key role in the Saints' successful 2006 season, when they reached the NFCNational Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
championship game for the first time in their history.
On December 5, 2006 Thomas was suspended for four games by the NFL for violating the league's steroids policy. In Thomas' appeal, New Orleans team doctor John Amos said that Thomas' asthma medicine contained two steroids, creating a false positive. Thomas lost the appeal.
Thomas tore his right triceps on August 14, 2008 in a pass-rushing drill against a Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
offensive lineman. He was later released on September 11 with an injury settlement. The Saints re-signed him on November 3.
On April 29, 2009 it was reported that the Saints had released Thomas.
St. Louis Rams
On July 29, 2009 the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
signed Thomas. He was released on September 30.
Carolina Panthers
Thomas was signed by the Carolina PanthersCarolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
on October 1, 2009 after the team waived defensive tackle Ra'Shon Harris
Ra'Shon Harris
Ra'Shon Lamar "Sunny" Harris is an American football defensive end he is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
. In a game against the Buffalo Bills on October 25, 2009, Thomas tackled a Bills running back in the end-zone for a safety.