Michael Thomas is one of the most high-profile free agents still on the market, but his injury history has helped keep him in free agency well past the start of the new league year. His legal situation is no doubt a factor that regard as well. 
Regarding the latter, Thomas now has a path to having misdemeanor simple battery and criminal mischief charges against him dropped. Attorney Daniel ‘Becket’ Becnel initially stated those charges have already been dropped, but the Kenner City Attorney’s Office later clarified that Thomas will enter a pre-trial diversion program. Upon completion of the program, the case will be closed, as detailed by ESPN’s Katherine Terrell.
Thomas was arrested in November after a dispute which took place near his home. The 31-year-old was allegedly involved in a verbal altercation with a local contractor arising from issues of parking on his street and in his driveway. The charges arose from Thomas being accused of pushing the victim and throwing a brick at his car windshield. Rather than having the case proceed to trial, however, this development will give Thomas a clear means of putting it behind him.
“There was no assault, there was no brick thrown… This was a dispute between a contractor and his employees, who were blocking [Thomas’] driveway and who were parking and walking on his grass,” Becnel said in a statement (via Terrell). “It came to a head one day, but there was no criminality involved. That’s obvious by the lack of any type of civil suit, the lack of any type of property damage, the lack of any medical issues and the lack of any physical evidence that criminal action took place.”
Thomas played in the Saints’ next game one day after the arrest, but he suffered a season-ending knee injury during that contest. The former Offensive Player of the Year was released last week, a move foreshadowed by the structure of the contract he played on last year. Given his career accomplishments – including a record 149 catches in 2019 – the two-time All-Pro has a stronger resume than any wideouts still on the market. His injuries have limited him to just 20 games over the past four years, however.
The former second-rounder earned $6.46MM in 2023, and another short-term deal worth far less than the $19.25MM-per-year extension he landed in 2019 will no doubt await him this offseason. With his legal situation now on track to be resolved, it will be interesting to see if interest picks up in the near future.
Who hasn’t had to yell at a contractor?
The grass would yell if it could.
This guy was elite and fell from grace quickly
Or did Brees make him look elite?
I don’t recall him doing anything before, after, or when Brees had missed games due to injury.
It looks like Brees also made Sean.
My mom would have said….if you walk on my grass one more time….your ass will be grass.
For obvious reasons, I must side with Michael Thomas in this dispute!!! GET OFF MY GRASS!!!!!!!
Malcontent and complainer who is more likely to catch a cold and miss a month of games than catch TDs. #buyerbeware
Throwing bricks = criminal activity
Getting called slantboy ruined him
A lot of changes have happened in the Big Easy since he was a dominate WR in the league. Have to wonder if he is still motivated or just hanging around for the paychecks.
He’s washed but I think a team like Dolphins or Ravens should add him for depth