Seattle Seahawks: Recapping Earl Thomas’ holdout
By Samuel Teets
After a long holdout that lasted all the way through the preseason, the Seattle Seahawks have activated Earl Thomas and plan to start him for Week 1.
Earl Thomas finally ended his holdout and reported to the Seattle Seahawks during the week just before the team’s first game. Thomas was holding out for more money and a new contract. He claimed that if the team wasn’t going to give him a new deal, that he wanted to be traded. While Thomas was adamant about his stance all offseason, he relented just soon enough to still suit up for Week 1 (per ESPN).
His current deal will end after this season. Entering his age 29 season, it’s easy to see why Thomas wanted a new, long-term contract. Safeties are generally undervalues in the NFL, even if they’re as good as Thomas.
Just look at how slowly the safety market moved this offseason, Thomas didn’t want to have to deal with that. Also, since he’s turning 30 next season his value to NFL teams will take a hit. He’ll be viewed as a great player who is past his prime, whether that’s fair or not is for you to decide.
As far as pay goes, Thomas is making roughly $10.4 million this year between his base salary and signing bonus. To put that in perspective, safety Lamarcus Joyner of the Los Angles Rams is making more money on the franchise tag than Thomas. Thomas is a future Hall-of-Famer, while Joyner has never made a Pro Bowl.
The closest Thomas got to being traded was during the draft when the Dallas Cowboys made an offer for him. The Cowboys also made an offer recently that would’ve sent the Seahawks a second-round draft pick for Thomas, but the Seahawks weren’t open to the trade. It seems like the Cowboys really wanted to get Thomas, he would’ve been a big boost for their secondary.
In the end, after a ton of drama and social media posts, Thomas is back with the Seahawks and his contract situation hasn’t changed. But he must have noticed the intense disrespect from Seattle fans on social media, and his teammates must have been a little irked by his absence.
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Has the holdout tarnished his legacy? The Seahawks are just lucky to have him, and frankly they should have paid him. Thomas is worth all of the money he wanted, and since the Seahawks haven’t paid him, he’ll likely being going somewhere else when his current deal ends.