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Stadium Rant
Michael Thomas's Fall from Grace
By Nicholas Mullick,
13 hours ago
When the topic of current free agents has been talked about for last-minute additions there have been a ton of names mentioned. While looking into current free agents there is a notable name who many years ago was considered one of if not the best wide receivers in the NFL. His name is Michael Thomas, and he has had such a tremendous career in the NFL yet followed by a big fall from where he was.
Michael Thomas's Resume
When it comes to Michael Thomas's Resume it is super lengthy.
2 Time All Pro
3 Time Pro Bowler
NFL Receiving Yards Leader in 2019 (1,725)
2 Time NFL Receptions Leader (2018 & 2019)
Holds Record for Most Receptions in a Season (149 receptions - 2019)
Offensive Player of the Year (2019)
8 8-year career with the New Orleans Saints.
That is a very good resume for an NFL player to have. It would attract many teams to bring him in as a change of scenery could help Thomas show he has plenty of football left in the tank. However, the 31-year-old has remained out of a job since getting released by the New Orleans Saints and nobody expected to see Thomas in this spot 5 years ago. There are multiple reasons why Thomas has had such a fall at this point, but 4 come to mind immediately.
The Injuries
The biggest and most obvious reason that contributed to Thomas's fall from grace is his injuries. After all the saying in sports goes "Your best ability is you let availability". Thomas has not had a ton of availability as since 2020 he has only played a total of 20 games.
It all started from that ankle injury that he suffered in 2020 and since getting that ankle injury he's never been the same. Heck, it cost Thomas his entire 2021 NFL season due to multiple setbacks in his rehab. That is how bad his ankle issue was and Thomas himself even said " My body failed to respond to surgeries ".
It gets worse because Thomas also has had more issues with his lower body including his foot, hamstring, etc. His health isn't what it is and now that he is 31 if he gets hurt his recovery is going to be longer.
That Locker Room Fight in 2019
A factor that contributed to his downfall was the many problems in the locker room that he was a part of. The problems started in 2020 the year his decline began. In the middle of practice, he threw a punch at Chauncey "C.J." Gardner-Johnson.
Now, Chauncey "C.J." Gardner-Johnson doesn't come across as a swell guy either. Especially as there are notable fight incidents with him on the field and in the locker room. However, it's saying that Gardner-Johnson wasn't suspended in that altercation, but the man who was suspended is Michael Thomas.
The reason why is surprising. It was not because of the punch; it was in the way he acted to the coaching staff. It was rumored he talked back to the coaches and was not cooperative when they tried to hash things out. It also didn't help that he sent cryptic tweets throughout that process and seemingly called out the organization as a whole . Thomas was lucky he signed that gigantic contract in 2019 as the Saints couldn't cut him or tried to trade him after this incident.
His 2023 Arrest
2023 came with the Saints and it got really bad for him. Not only was he having yet another down season, but he also got arrested mid-season. Thomas was arrested on misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal mischief .
Thomas had an altercation with a construction worker , where he was telling the worker not to park in front of his home and was verbally threatening to harm him. That sounds like a brilliant idea, let's threaten a man for parking in the street in front of your house. Thomas then decided to pick up a nearby brick and throw it at the car. With the construction worker terrified he decides to grab his phone either to record him or call the cops, but Thomas decides to knock his phone out of his hands and shove him to the ground.
Thomas is trying to dig a deeper hole for himself in this situation. Now that he was charged, Thomas had to complete a diversion program and it looks like the charges have been dropped. However, it's just another added form of baggage of issues that he has to deal with.
His Issues With Derek Carr in 2023
The issues seemingly got worse in 2023. Not only in the altercation he had with Derrick Brown while outside of the Saints locker room but in his relationship with Derek Carr. Thomas is not a fan of Derek Carr as his QB. The tweets he made on Carr were a clear message and he was pointing the blame on Carr for why his production declined and even claimed there was a lack of effort to get him the ball. More excuses with Thomas.
Now Carr admits that he could have done better and may have contributed to Thomas's injury in 2023 with him overthrowing the ball resulting in the bad landing. However, it's not his fault that Thomas can't stay healthy or that Thomas causes problems on and off the field. Heck, Thomas decided to do this publicly when he never tried to hash it out privately with Carr. It sounds like Thomas was trying to throw him under the bus as he did with the Saints organization in 2020. The writing was already on the wall that Thomas was not going to return next season.
What A Fall From Grace
The Saints made the move during the offseason to just cut all ties with Thomas. To go from one of the most talented receivers in the NFL to out of a job is a tremendous fall. It's not the biggest falls from grace at wide receiver as that goes to the trainwreck known as Antonio Brown, but Thomas is up there.
It's also telling that Sean Payton and Peter Carmichael, who for years coached Michael Thomas with the Saints want nothing to do with him in Denver. Especially with how terrible the Bronco's wide receiver room is, Thomas would easily be a solid receiver who should get starting snaps. Yet he remains unsigned.
Now is this the final nail in Thomas's coffin when getting another opportunity in the NFL? Who knows. Maybe in time, Thomas could get a one-year ring-chaser-style contract, but if he doesn't then his career in the NFL is likely done. Especially as the injury history, locker room issues, and off-the-field problems are just too much baggage for any team to want to bring him in. Looking at where his peak was to where he is today, It's quite the fall from grace for Michael Thomas.
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