There was no sighting of Michael Thomas as the New Orleans Saints opened training camp. The fourth-year wide receiver, heading into the final year of his rookie contract, has made his holdout official.
According to reports, Thomas will not report without a new deal. Thomas and the Saints have been negotiating this offseason, but don’t seem close on numbers, at least according to Thomas’ Twitter feed.
My self-educated, shrewd, negotiations. Got these sharks that I'm sittin' at this table with afraid to bait me. 🤞🏾
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) July 24, 2019
Thomas is due to make $1.148 million this season and is easily the best receiver on New Orleans’ team and one of the best in the league. Since the Saints drafted him in the second round out of Ohio State in 2016, he’s eclipsed 1,000 yards every year and never caught fewer than 92 passes. Last year he led the league with 125 receptions, adding 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns. He has 23 touchdowns in three seasons. His 321 catches over his first three seasons in a new NFL record.
Saints WR Michael Thomas, in search of a new deal, still has not reported to the team's training facility, per source. No practice until Friday, but no Thomas today.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 25, 2019
Thomas is looking at becoming the league’s highest paid receiver and the Saints may not have any real argument against it. The other big deal out there coming, Julio Jones with the Atlanta Falcons, could also make negotiating with Thomas even tougher. Best for New Orleans to just bite the bullet and pay the man the $19 million a season it would take to get him back in uniform.
Sanders back at work in Broncos camp
He’s not been cleared for full participation, but Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is practicing with his team, participating in 7-on-7 drills with the offense. It’s the first work he’s gotten in since the Achilles tear he went down with back in December.
Broncos training camp: Day 7. Emmanuel Sanders leads off some WR individual drills in the early portion of practice. pic.twitter.com/JhW0dhr267
— Kyle Fredrickson (@kylefredrickson) July 25, 2019
“I’m looking forward to continuously, gradually (doing] 7-on-7 (drills) to (practicing with the) team hopefully 1-on-1’s,” Sanders said. “Hopefully in two or three weeks here, I’ll be full speed and full go all the way around.”
In 12 games last season Sanders caught 71 passes for 868 yards and four touchdowns.
