Earl Thomas‘ second Seahawks contract raised the bar for safeties, but that four-year, $40MM extension has been since surpassed by several players. And it’s only good through the 2018 season.
This status has caused the perennial All-Pro to reassess his standing in Seattle. After broaching a holdout earlier this week, Thomas doubled down on Saturday, telling Jane Slater of NFL.com he doesn’t see himself rejoining his Seahawks teammates without a long-term deal (Twitter link).
“I won’t allow myself to even go out there and just risk it all if they’re not having faith in me in a long-term deal,” Thomas said at the Pro Bowl. “I just gotta protect myself, at the end of the day, me and my family. … I don’t feel comfortable going out there without signing a long-term deal.”
Thomas’ apprehension is understandable given how his 2016 season ended and the way some of his longtime teammates’ 2017 campaigns concluded. Thomas suffered a broken leg during the ’16 slate, one that significantly affected the Seahawks’ Super Bowl chances, and observed Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril encounter career-threatening neck injuries this season.
Five safeties usurped Thomas’ contract since he signed it in 2014, with Eric Berry‘s $13MM-AAV agreement now the safety standard. Among active safeties, only Thomas and Berry have three first-team All-Pro distinctions to their credit. Thomas is five months younger than Berry and won’t turn 29 until May, so he figures to command top dollar from Seattle or another team, if it comes to that, for his third contact. The eighth-year defender hinted at a union with the Cowboys, whom he supported growing up, in December.
The Seahawks extended Chancellor, who does not have a first-team All-Pro honor despite consistent success, last year for $12MM per season and also have Richard Sherman entering a contract year. It could be a complicated offseason for the Legion of Boom.
The patriots should trade for him! They have Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty at safety McCourty is getting old and Chung is also up there in age
These players all they want is more more more but yet we still watch and have to pay insane money to see them if we want there autograph or see a game in person
I get there heath is important but for once can some of players think for the fans
I call BS. In every other profession, the person doesn’t need to consider anything but their own situation. The fans may pay their salary, but they don’t have to. If you don’t like the prices, don’t pay them. Real simple.
If he doesn’t want to be here then let him go. Better to trade him a year early instead of a year too late. I’m ready for a transition and for the next generation. Nothing lasts forever. I love ETIII and i understand his concern after watching Ricardo Lockette’s career end. Then in 2016 w/ breaking his leg and then seeing Kam & Cliff have possibly career-ending injuries. Pete has some serious decisions to make.
This could be an opportunity for Jerry Jones to make a move.. No one they take in the first round will have the impact of ET3.. The guy is on a hall of fame path if he stays healthy.. throw in a few later picks if need be, bring him back home
Naw, ETIII deserves at least a 1st rd pick if we trade him.
That won’t happen
As a Cowboys fan I think you should let him walk
I’m sure you do lol. I would too if i was a Cowboys fan.
Tired of all the holdout threats. Just holdout and then don’t complain if the team goes in a different direction or better yet don’t sign a long term deal if you are going to be upset about it 3 yr later. Sign short term deals and get paid each year.
I would agree with that sentiment except that their contracts arent fully guaranteed which means the Seahawks can do what’s best for them in terms of cutting him and not paying the whole contract. So I don’t bat an eye when a player does the same thing more or less to an organization.
that makes sense in theory, but NFL contracts aren’t guaranteed. a “long term” deal can be terminated with very little penalty sometimes. the teams have all the leverage.
Because he and his family won’t be taken care of with the 40 mil on the current contract? Hahahahahahaha
I know, i think that’s hilarious. Does he have 400 kids or something? He’d probably still be fine.
Too much gambling, weed, and Colt 45.
The Seahawks have gotten too old. Earl is a valuable player other teams want. He ought to be worth 2nd and 5th round picks in this draft. Trade him to Dallas! NOW!
Seahawks should only trade him if they get a first, other teams should only trade for him if they can extend him. It could probably work out.
Old? That’s simply not true. On the defensive side we have 11 key starters at or under the age of 27 and that doesn’t include our injured 1st round stud draft pick – Malik MacDowell. Ex- Shaquill Griffin 22, Frank Clark 24, Jarran Reed 25, J Coleman 24, B Wagner 27, Nazair Jones 23, Dion Jordan 27, Del Hill 22, McDougald 27
I doubt that MacDowell ever plays for the Seahawks.