Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
June 9, 2010







NEW ORLEANS (AP) -The New Orleans Saints have made one long-term contract offer to Pierre Thomas since the Super Bowl, and the value was not close to what the club's leading running back was seeking, Thomas' agent said.

"The Saints have refused to negotiate with us. They've given us one proposal," agent Lamont Smith said Wednesday. "Pierre made the NFL minimum (salary) the last three years and was their leading rusher the last two. He made all the plays necessary. ... He's done all the right things. He played his (first) contract out."

The Saints generally do not discuss ongoing negotiations, and when asked to respond to Smith's comments, general manager Mickey Loomis said only that Smith "is correct that we are far apart."

Thomas, who signed a three-year contract with the Saints as an undrafted rookie in 2007, is a restricted free agent. The Saints tendered him a one-year offer of about $1.7 million. Because the period when Thomas could sign more lucrative offers from other teams has passed, the Saints have Thomas' rights for 2010.

Thomas wants a longer extension worth far more than the lone multiyear offer New Orleans has made so far, which was the reason he skipped the Saints' mandatory minicamp last weekend and has remained absent for voluntary practices.

Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart - NFL - CBSSports.com Football

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

P.T phone home

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

lol

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

The agent for Pierre Thomas confirmed an NFL Network report that he's not close to a long-term deal with the Saints.

The Saints have only made one offer. It wouldn't be a surprise if they were low-balling Thomas considering their RFA tender offer was only at the second-round level. The agent did deny that he's seeking "Steven Jackson money" at $8 million per year, but the sides remain far apart.

Source: Associated Press

Who does PT think he is wanting Steven Jackson money? (sarcasm)

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

That sux!!!!!!!!! Old man Benson ,,excuse me,,,,,,cheap ass old man Benson with his tight wallet again,,,,,,give PT what he deserves you ass!!!!!

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

Am curious to see what was offered and what Thomas is seeking...

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

The Villain wasnt gonna chime in but since im higher then the mosthigh at this moment, I say pay him generously he deserves a new deal but until he does stephen jackson numbers he wont see any of that give him a 5 year $24Mil 4mill in signing bonus throw an escalator in there for 1300yards to bump up 3mill deal is done, having $15+Mill tied into rbs is alot

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

He needs to be paid a lot more since he outplayed his contract the last 2 years. But if they are that far apart, both sides need to give in a little. That should happen as we get closer to training camp. Who knows, maybe PT doesn't like camp and wants to hold out most of the summer? If that happens, the Saints will need to bring in someone else for insurance.

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

I love P.T. If the Saints hadn't signed him as an undrafted player I'm not certain he would have had the opportunity to show his talents. I had read he was looking for a $44 million contract. Don't know how accurate that is. However and there is always a however in life, I believe Loomis is pricing their offer based on P.T.'s performance while comparing his achievements with those of other running backs in the leauge today. It's like when you are house hunting you look at the comps for the neighborhood so you don't over pay. It worked with Sharper and it will work for P.T. He will still get great money

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

4 years, 11 million

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

Since he was underpaid a nice size signing bonus makes good sense IMHO

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

11 mill over 4or 5 years

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

While, Thomas has played great, he's not an every down back in the NFL. No team is going to give him a contract with big money. He fits our offense well, but he wouldn't shine on a lot of other NFL teams. Our offense with Brees makes players better. In our hearts, Thomas is the man, just like Deuce was, but we can replace him with a veteran RB or one we have on the roster already. I love the guy, but he's digging his own grave with this holdout. He might find himself on another team for less money next year if he's not careful.

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

He deserves more money than roughly 2 mill a year....8 mill? heck no but don't pee on his paycheck.

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

If he was offered that, he should jump at it for not being a full-time running back...

Even if Reggie gets paid for touchdowns like JD Drew gets paid for batting appearances...

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

PT if it aint mandatory dont go.

Without any guaranteed longterm deal if you got hurt you got cut. It will be much easier if you act the bad apple and go out an produce and put up numbers better than the 2nd overall pick in a draft. Participate in offseason workouts where u have earned a place on the practice squad ,to garbage runs at the end of blowouts, to a starting RB on the SuperBowl champs. Leading rusher on the #1 offense in the league 2 out of his 3 years in the league.

Hold out PT you dont have to act like an angel in this business to work your way to the top. We wont act crazy when you commit a crime and then seem shocked why it hurts your job. In my job I dont get a 3strike policy for a little weed, some coke, whatever it is. I dont have 4 months out of the year I can spend in jail when the season is over.

Anybody can do what u do. You worked your way up the depth chart got injured got replaced and then worked your way back to a starter because the company had so much invested in you. It was so easy to cut a player we moved up in the draft to get by a guy that noone draft. Hell what did it take 1 yr or 2.

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

If I was him, I would hold out for a similar contract to Marion Barber but that is just me... or it should at least be the bargaining point.

If not there, at least in the realm of Michael Turner's which PT's agent referenced to (not Steven Jackson's). Turner signed a six-year, $34.5 million contract with the Falcons in March of 2008.... with $15 million guaranteed. And BTW, at the time Turner was awarded that contract his production was no where near what Pierre has put up.

All of this cheap talk is closet Reggie favoritism and ultimately detrimental to the potency of the Saints. Pierre was the most productive player on the whole team, right behind Brees. Not to mention, a team coming off of a Super Bowl win.

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

If not for the current strife between the players and the league and the potential for a lock out I'd be willing to bet PT would have the contract he wants.

Re: Agent: Thomas, Saints far apart
 

-JB -BM = PT