 Right after Thomas was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles, the Saints claimed him from the waivers.When healthy, Thomas was considered an important part of the Saints' defense, especially against running plays, and he was seen as playing a key role in the Saints' successful 2006 season, when they reached the NFC championship game for the first time in their history.On December 5, 2006 Thomas was suspended for four games by the NFL for violating the league's steroids policy.