by SHELDON MICKLES; Advocate sportswriter; , The Advocate

Thomas is again playing for an undefeated team and is working every day with one of the game's premier quarterbacks - just as he did when he was with the 2007 New England Patriots before landing on injured reserve.

Other than wearing new colors, the only difference is Thomas, a four-year veteran from Texas, is catching passes from Drew Brees rather than Tom Brady.

That's not a bad tradeoff, which is how Thomas came to the Saints - in exchange for a 2011 seventh-round draft pick.

While many players might have had some misgivings about being traded away by the Patriots, especially if they go to a losing team, Thomas doesn't think his deal ended up so bad.

"It all happened really fast, but I'm happy to be here," Thomas said. "I'm excited to be a part of this team. These guys have really embraced me and helped me fit in. I'm just trying to work hard and get better every day.

"I'm just happy to be part of a team that's winning games," Thomas said of the 7-0 Saints , who are just one of two remaining undefeated teams going into Sunday's game with the Carolina Panthers.

That he's part of it is more than he can say about the 2007 season when the Patriots went 16-0 in the regular season and won two playoff games before falling to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

Thomas played in only two games that season before ending up on injured reserve with a foot injury, which meant he had to watch the Patriots' historic march through the regular season from the sideline.

Thomas has played a key role as a receiver and run blocker since the Saints got him from the Patriots on Sept. 5. He didn't participate in his first practice with his new team until Sept. 7, then started the season opener six days later in a double tight end set with Jeremy Shockey.

While Shockey is one of Brees' primary targets, Thomas has quickly and quietly settled into his role as the No. 2 tight end. He has seven catches for 78 yards and has helped the Saints' running game, which ranks fourth in the NFL with 153.3 yards per game, as an extra blocker.

In his first three seasons, Thomas, a third-round draft pick of the Patriots in 2006, caught 21 passes for 261 yards and a TD while starting 13 games. His rookie season was his best when he had 11 receptions for 159 yards.

"Yeah, I've gotten more opportunities," he said of his brief time with the Saints , "and I'm happy that I've been able to step in and gain some confidence with Drew and the coaches that put me out there."

The Saints desperately needed another tight end after Billy Miller tore his Achilles' tendon in the final exhibition game against the Miami Dolphins. Two days later, they made the deal with the Patriots.

Thomas said he had no inclination the Patriots were willing to part with him, which made the trade a complete shock to him. During training camp and the preseason, he had gotten his normal allotment of reps alternating with Ben Watson and Chris Baker.

"I was a little surprised when it all went down," Thomas said, "but I'm real happy to be here. It's nice to be with another great quarterback going from Tom to Drew, so it's been a great transition for me."

The transition was more like a blur, however, because of the need to get into his new playbook quickly.

"Every offense is complicated and every offense has things that are more complicated than others," Thomas said. "This is definitely a tough system, but the guys have helped me learn it. (Tight ends) Coach (Terry) Malone did a great job with the way he taught it to me.

"All of those guys - Jeremy and Darnell (Dinkins) and Billy - they were all there giving me tips and pointers, so they get a lot of credit with that. Drew and those guys helped me a lot, too."

Thomas' role expanded last week, however, when fullback Heath Evans was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Thomas started in Monday night's game with the Atlanta Falcons because Kyle Eckel, who was signed to take Evans' roster spot, had only been with the team for four days.

"That's something I've always learned, the more you can do the more you can help your team," Thomas said. "I try to pay attention to the whole offensive scheme and not just the small area that I live in."

"Dave is smart and versatile, and I think he's athletic," Saints coach Sean Payton said of plugging Thomas in at fullback. "He's been versatile - that would be a good way to describe his skill set in both the passing game, in (pass) protections and in the running game.

"He has been an important acquisition. He sure has been."

Panthers at Saints

WHEN: 3:05 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Superdome, New

Orleans

TV: Fox

RADIO: WYPY-FM, 100.7

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