Bryan Thomas has heard it all during his four-plus seasons with the New York Jets.
He has been called an underachiever, a career backup and, even worse, a first-round bust.
``In the beginning of my career, I struggled a lot and there was a lot that I didn't know,'' Thomas said.
Things certainly have changed. During a season in which some players have struggled to adjust to new coach Eric Mangini's switch from a 4-3 to 3-4 defensive scheme, Thomas has looked right at home playing defensive end and linebacker.
``It makes you feel good because the guy works hard and he puts everything into it,'' linebacker Eric Barton said. ``And it's good to see he's getting the results that he wants and is working so hard for.''
Thomas is fourth on the team with 37 total tackles, including 11 last Sunday against Miami, and has been one of the few Jets who have been consistently effective against the run.
``It helped me along to study behind some good players,'' Thomas said. ``If I was just thrown out there without knowing anything, you all would be criticizing me worse than you did in the past.''
Drafted in the first round out of UAB with the 22nd overall pick in 2002 and considered a reach by some, Thomas came to the Jets with impressive credentials. He set the school and Conference USA career records with 35 sacks, and was expected to bring some punch to New York's defensive line.
Instead, he was stuck on the depth chart behind John Abraham and Shaun Ellis _ and didn't show enough when he did get playing time to erase any of the doubts that started creeping in.
``My previous years when I was backing up John and Shaun, I felt like I wanted to contribute,'' said Thomas, who has 7{ career sacks. ``I mean, everybody wants to contribute, but I felt then that I was going to wait until my opportunity came. Around those times, I didn't ever give up. I just continued to practise and listen to them and take things from them, and I was going to apply that when I got my chance.''
He sure is doing that now. With Abraham gone, Thomas has started all six games _ five at defensive end and one at linebacker _ this year after making 19 starts in four seasons. He has led the team in tackles in each of the last two games, clearly adjusting to his new role.
``I think there are still some things I have to work out technique-wise,'' Thomas said. ``I feel like, as time goes on, my position coach and coordinators are helping out and getting me more accustomed to the position.''
Mangini praised Thomas after his performance against the Dolphins, considered by some to be the best all-around game of his NFL career.
``He made good plays in the running game, he did a real nice job against the tight ends and the tackles,'' Mangini said. ``He played just good, solid football, playing within the scheme, being able to take advantage of his natural strength and his natural ability. He was a big part of a lot of very important plays in the game.''
That's the sort of impact Thomas was expected to make all along.
``It's just preparation and just trying to work harder every day and practice hard,'' he said.
Sounds simple enough, but there's more to it. In addition to getting more opportunities on the field, the six-foot-four 266-pound Thomas attributes his emergence to an improved workout and diet routine.
``Right now, I'm in really good shape,'' said Thomas, whose weight often fluctuated in his first few seasons. ``Training camp helped me out because we really practised and conditioned ourselves. I feel a lot better now. I have a lot of energy.''
His teammates also have noticed the improvement in Thomas' performance _ whether it's in a 3-4 or a 4-3, or playing linebacker or defensive end.
``He's so athletic, he can probably play in any scheme,'' Barton said. ``He took it upon himself this year to hold his expectations higher of himself, and he's meeting them. It's great to be around and great to see.''
