Falcons Cut Former Bears Tackle Thomas

NEW ORLEANS The Atlanta Falcons spent more time trying to acquireoffensive tackle Stan Thomas from the Bears than they spentevaluating him.

Monday, the Falcons cut Thomas after only seven days. Theynever even tried him at guard, the position where they thought hebelonged.

"He probably deserved more time, but we haven't got more time,"Falcons coach Jerry Glanville said. "Maybe it wasn't fair to him,but we just had to move on."

The move has unfortunate implications for the Bears as well asThomas. The team will receive no compensation for him now. Had hemade the Falcons' 53-man roster, the Bears would have received afifth- or sixth-round draft pick.

"If I were the Bears, I'd be very upset," said Mike Merkow,Thomas' agent.

Thomas will be denied his $390,000 salary unless he is claimedon waivers before tomorrow, which is highly unlikely. But Merkowsaid it is likely Thomas will be picked up by a team after the waiverperiod expires. If Thomas is picked up by a team after waivers, thatteam can negotiate a much lower salary.

"I still think I belong in the NFL," Thomas said.

Merkow described Thomas as "very depressed" and "shocked."

Merkow said Thomas won't retire, but he should be doing a lot ofthinking.

"He's got to put everything behind him and get very dedicated inthe weight room," Merkow said. "He's got to shake that first-roundstigma. I'm more worried about him mentally as a friend and personrather than an agent being worried about a football player. The mostimportant thing I can do is help him put some stability in hislife."

OBEE EXCELS: Terry Obee, who scored half of the Bears' points,nearly tied the game with a 49-yard, Hail Mary-style catch as timeexpired. The only problem is he was on the five-yard line.

"I ran too far down not to make the play," Obee said. "Atthat point you might as well go for it."

Obee started at receiver in place of injured Anthony Morganand caught four passes for 113 yards.

NOTES: Coach Dave Wannstedt praised cornerbacks Lemuel Stinsonand Jeremy Lincoln, even though Lincoln was beaten on a 30-yard QuinnEarly touchdown. Jay Leeuwenburg started at right guard in place of JohnWojciechowski, who had an ankle injury but still played on specialteams. Despite the depth problems at running back, Mark Green didn't take asnap at the position.

"Mark Green is going to have to make this team with hisperformance on special teams," Wannstedt said. Defensive end Alonzo Spellman forced a fumble that was recovered byChris Zorich. "You get one of those once in a blue moon, so theremust be a blue moon tonight," Spellman said. WGN-AM broadcaster and former Bears safety Gary Fencik became afather Saturday when his wife, Sandy, gave birth to Garrison MichaelFencik.