Seattle Seahawks: Earl Thomas plot thickens with tampering investigation
By Samuel Teets
In the fall of 2018 the Dallas Cowboys were investigated by the NFL for possibly tampering with Seattle’s Earl Thomas.
News came out recently that in the fall the NFL investigated the Dallas Cowboys for potential tampering charges with Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first gave the report on Feb. 1. The investigation concluded that Dallas had done nothing wrong and no further questioning was required.
Just when you thought your monthly dose of Thomas news was done, bam! This is the latest in a long string of drama and headline surrounding Thomas since he was caught telling Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, “If y’all have the chance, come get me.” The Thomas-to-Dallas rumor mill has been turning at a steady pace ever since.
Supposedly, Dallas actually even made a trade offer back during the 2018 NFL Draft and carried interest in trading for Thomas all the way into the season. A lot of the hype surrounding a potential move understandably died when the All-Pro safety fractured his left leg in Week 4.
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The injury was bad for all involved. The Seahawks lost the leader of their inexperienced secondary, Dallas lost a potential Pro Bowl addition and Thomas lost millions on his free agency value this offseason.
Which brings me to what we’ve been talking about for the past two years. Thomas is going to be a free agent this offseason. Where will he go? It’s safe to say he won’t return to Seattle, he made that quite clear when he flashed an obscene gesture towards the sideline as he was carted away in Week 4.
There are plenty of teams that could use someone as talented as Thomas. He’s been the best safety in the NFL since the end of the Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu era. Not to mention he was on pace to have 12 interceptions in 2018. While all signs might be pointing to Dallas right now, his decision will likely come down to who’s willing to pay him what he feels is right.
In nine seasons, Thomas has made six Pro Bowls and been a First Team All-Pro three times. He was also the X-factor on the legendary, and now defunct, Legion of Boom. He deserves respect from the Seahawks and the rest of the league.
Unfortunately, veteran safeties hardly ever get paid what they’re worth, and that’s even when they’re healthy. Tyrann Mathieu, a versatile former All-Pro, seemed to sit on the market forever last year before someone finally signed him. The safety market can be brutal as Thomas will soon find out.
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Thomas made $8.5 milllion in base salary with a $1.9 million signing bonus in 2018. For reference, Eric Berry‘s contract had him in line for $12.4 million in base salary and a $4 million signing bonus. That’s the kind of money Thomas should have been making with Seattle. Unfortunately, Thomas is coming off of a devastating injury and will be turning 30 next season. He probably won’t get the money he’s looking for this offseason.