Thomas Is The Newest Member Of The Broncos

DENVER (AP) -- The Denver Broncos have signed fourth-round draft pick Marcus Thomas to a contract that will pay him $3 million over four years.<br/><br/>The 296-pound defensive tackle had 14 sacks in 41

Wednesday, July 11th 2007, 2:30 pm

By: News On 6

DENVER (AP) -- The Denver Broncos have signed fourth-round draft pick Marcus Thomas to a contract that will pay him $3 million over four years.

The 296-pound defensive tackle had 14 sacks in 41 games for the University of Florida last season and likely would have been selected much higher than 121st in April's NFL draft were it not for the trouble he got into last year.

Thomas was suspended from the national champion Gators by coach Urban Meyer after failing two marijuana tests. He was reinstated but then kicked off the squad permanently in early November for violating curfew and drug rehab class provisions of a contract he signed to remain with the team.

The Dallas Cowboys had their eyes on Thomas when the Broncos moved up in the draft to select him, sending Minnesota their sixth- and seventh-round selections along with a third-rounder in 2008 to pick a player that coach Mike Shanahan agreed had first-round
potential.