Millionaire Thomas pays back Saints with insults

By Ed Daniels, Sports
Clarion Herald

How do you repay an organization that has paid you more than $72 million in your NFL career?

By going on social media, of course, and bashing the team’s starting quarterback.

Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas disabled his Twitter account the day after he posted the following messages while watching the Saints’ 33-28 loss to the Detroit Lions:

“AT wide open.”

“When your eyes don’t work, you get people hurt, it’s no mystery.”

“God is with Jameis.”

There’s no excuse for this kind of nonsense, and what the Saints should do is cut Michael Thomas, if they haven’t already.

In the offseason, the Saints reached a one-year deal with Thomas, for a guaranteed $10 million.

That’s right, guaranteed.

Not bad for a receiver who has played in 20 games since 2020, and has four TD receptions.

Head coach Dennis Allen has clearly been in Thomas’ corner.

In a February 2022 interview, Allen said the following: “He’s really committed to this season and looking forward to getting started.”

Thomas is eligible to return from injured reserve for the Dec. 21 game at the Los Angeles Rams.

But, he shouldn’t take the field for the Saints, again.

Dennis Allen needs to send a message that this public insubordination will not be tolerated.

Do you think this would have happened under Sean Payton?

When Thomas delayed ankle surgery and missed the entire 2021 season, Payton delivered a public rebuke to his wide receiver.

“It appears we’re going to have to spend some time without him,” said Payton. “It’s disappointing. We would have liked to have that happen earlier. And, quite honestly, it should have.”

“I am going to leave it at that,” said Payton.

It’s called leadership. And, whether you agree with the way Payton handled things or not, there was never any ambiguity about where he stood.

And, there shouldn’t be now.

Time to see if the Saints can guard Mike (his Twitter handle is @can’tguardmike) while he plays for another team.

But, those in the NFL should be aware.

Just because an organization makes you the first wide receiver to average $20 million per season, and the first non-quarterback to agree to a contract that pays $100 million, doesn’t mean a thing.

Sign “@can’tguardmike” and you get the considerable baggage that comes with him.

For the Saints, it is time to cut the cord with Michael Thomas.

Ed Daniels is sports director of ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at [email protected].