Undrafted Thomas will try to catch on with Jets

Steve Guiremand

Monday, April 28, 2003 | 9:48 a.m.

It was a little more than four years ago that Jason Thomas made headlines when he decided to transfer from USC to UNLV.

The reason? Thomas felt Trojans head coach Paul Hackett was going to switch him to wide receiver and not give him a chance to compete with Carson Palmer for the starting quarterback job in spring practice, something Thomas felt he had been promised.

So there was more than a little irony when Thomas, who along with the rest of his UNLV teammates was not picked in the NFL draft over the weekend, decided to sign a free-agent contract Sunday afternoon with the New York Jets.

The offensive coordinator for the Jets is none other than Hackett. And despite Thomas' recent assertions that he was willing to go to the Canadian Football League to keep his boyhood NFL quarterback dreams alive, Thomas is headed to Jets minicamp on Thursday to play wide receiver and tight end.

"Yeah, it is very ironic," said Thomas, who is 6-foot-4, 240 pounds.

Thomas, who signed a three-year contract that begins at the league minimum of $225,000, received a $2,500 signing bonus. He said he also had received calls from Atlanta, San Diego and Miami before the draft "to see what position I'd play."

But it was the Jets who ended up signing Thomas shortly after the 262nd and final pick of the draft was announced on ESPN.

"It was kind of funny," Thomas said. "Coach Hackett called and said, 'Well, here we go again.'

"Things (at quarterback) just didn't seem to work out. But I'm excited about getting the opportunity to play for the Jets. I've never been to New York before. And it sounds like a good opportunity for me. He said that they were going to be taking baby steps with me and not rush me into it. He kept saying they needed someone like me who could get down the field and catch the ball.

"Coach Hackett told me he felt he had a good relationship with me. I was glad he said that. I think it showed I handled (transferring) the right way and left the door open for the future. Now I can walk through that door."

Whether the opportunity includes a chance to play quarterback is not known, but seems unlikely. The Jets have one of the top young quarterbacks in the league in Chad Pennington along with veterans Vinny Testaverde and Todd Husak. And New York also drafted Wisconsin quarterback Brooks Bollinger on Sunday.

"Right now I'm just going to focus all my attention on being a receiver and tight end," Thomas said. "I'm just grateful to get this opportunity."

Thomas wasn't the only Rebel feeling that way Sunday.

Offensive guard Tony Terrell, regarded as a solid second-day draft pick, also went undrafted. But his disappointment turned to joy a few hours later when he signed a free-agent deal with the San Diego Chargers.

"I was really depressed after the draft," said Terrell, 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds. "It was real tough sitting there. Real tough."

The Minnesota Vikings had gotten his hopes up with a phone call just before their pick in the seventh round, leading Terrell to believe he might be drafted.

The Vikings and Bengals offered free-agent deals to Terrell. But Terrell, of Hawthorne, Calif., ended up signing with the Chargers, about a two-hour drive south of his hometown.

"I'm just thankful that it all worked out at the end," said Terrell, a first team all-Mountain West Conference pick.

Two other Rebels signed free-agent contracts on Sunday. Fullback Steve Costa inked with the Indianapolis Colts while wide receiver Troy Mason signed with the 49ers.

Three other UNLV players -- running back Joe Haro, tight end DeJhawn Mandley and safety Connie Brown -- were still hopeful of signing free-agent contracts today.