Michael Thomas agrees to restructured contract

K Major · 01-07-2023, 10:46 AM

Story

K Major · 01-07-2023, 10:47 AM

Thomas is probably gone.

SaintFanInATLHELL · 01-07-2023, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by K Major

Thomas is probably gone.

Absolutely gone. The twist is that while the $31 million roster bonus would be paid in the 2024 league year, that bonus becomes guaranteed in March 2023, two months from now. There's no way the Saints are going to guarantee MT13 that money without having seen him this season.

Happy trails to MT13. Hope things work out from him in his next endeavor so long as that's with a AFC team.

SFIAH

SmashMouth · 01-07-2023, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by K Major

Thomas is probably gone.

Could be ... Although when healthy , he is a difference maker . The cap relief does give flexibility . I still wouldn't be opposed his being part of the rotation next year. Olave, Shaheed and MT, plus backups are a formidable WR room. Dijon Dixon and Merrick, although not used but should have been, provide adequate depth. Landry is still under contract too. So keep him one more year then move on. There will be opportunities for fresh meat with UDFA and regular FA too.

It's the TE and RB room that needs more capable bodies.

K Major · 01-07-2023, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by SmashMouth

Could be ... Although when healthy , he is a difference maker . The cap relief does give flexibility . I still wouldn't be opposed his being part of the rotation next year. Olave, Shaheed and MT, plus backups are a formidable WR room. Dijon Dixon and Merrick, although not used but should have been, provide adequate depth. Landry is still under contract too. So keep him one more year then move on. There will be opportunities for fresh meat with UDFA and regular FA too.

But when was "healthy" though? Mike will be 30 in March, he's starting to break down physically & let's be honest here but the Saints are 2 seasons away from truly competing again. MT has played in 10 games in 3 years.

He's gone.

As for Landry .. meh. Probably needs its own thread but Andrus Peat needs to be gone too. Another highly compensated player that cannot stay on the field.

Shakeups are needed and necessary this off-season in New Orleans.

SmashMouth · 01-07-2023, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by K Major

But when was "healthy" though? Mike will be 30 in March, he's starting to break down physically & let's be honest here but the Saints are 2 seasons away from truly competing again. MT has played in 10 games in 3 years.

He's gone.

As for Landry .. meh. Probably needs its own thread but Andrus Peat needs to be gone too. Another highly compensated player that cannot stay on the field.

Shakeups are needed and necessary this off-season in New Orleans.

We'll see. Maybe we can squeeze out one more year then dump him... or maybe not. We are paying him after all, aren't we?

SaintFanInATLHELL · 01-08-2023, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by SmashMouth

We'll see. Maybe we can squeeze out one more year then dump him... or maybe not. We are paying him after all, aren't we?

How would that work financially? Once the $31 million roster bonus is guaranteed, then the Saints are responsible for it whether or not MT13 is on the squad in 2024, right. So, if the Saints keep MT13 in 2023 with the $1 million salary, he doesn't produce, and they finally part ways after 2023, even if MT13 doesn't get the $31 million because he isn't on the roster, the Saints would still have to apply that $31 million to the cap.

That's my understanding of it. Given those circumstances, and given the injury history over the last three years, is it worth rolling the dice.

I may be seeing it incorrectly. Please clarify if I have it wrong.

SFIAH

mapcow · 01-07-2023, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by K Major

Thomas is probably gone.

Gone Pecan!!!

BakoSaint · 01-07-2023, 11:43 AM

I hope he is gone. If he is retained I feel it is likely that a CGJ type situation arises with Shaheed or Olave we are told they HAD TO be traded away cheap in a rush because they were not on the same page as the coach and were uncoachable. In reality it will be because we could not afford to cut MT, so we had to save a starting spot for him even if he would be injured, so we had to trade a better more reliable player to start a less reliable player to justify a salary to hide the fact that the way we manage our cap prevents us from cutting injury riddled busts.

Also I hope that if he is cut, he stays within the division and gets a monster contract.

vtiger72 · 01-07-2023, 11:54 AM

It's a win/win for both. If the Saints keep him, it guarantees him his money. For MT, this also forces the Saints to make an earlier decision. So that if he's cut, he's cut at the beginning of FA.

The move also helps the Saints a little on the cap which is something the Saints desperately need.

01-07-2023, 10:46 AM	#1
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,079 Blog Entries: 3	Michael Thomas agrees to restructured contract Story

01-07-2023, 10:47 AM	#2
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,079 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Michael Thomas agrees to restructured contract Thomas is probably gone.

01-07-2023, 10:59 AM	#3
SaintFanInATLHELL The Professor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lithonia, GA Posts: 2,647	Re: Michael Thomas agrees to restructured contract Originally Posted by K Major Thomas is probably gone. Absolutely gone. The twist is that while the $31 million roster bonus would be paid in the 2024 league year, that bonus becomes guaranteed in March 2023, two months from now. There's no way the Saints are going to guarantee MT13 that money without having seen him this season. Happy trails to MT13. Hope things work out from him in his next endeavor so long as that's with a AFC team. SFIAH Rugby Saint II likes this.

01-07-2023, 02:18 PM	#4
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 37,186 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Michael Thomas agrees to restructured contract Originally Posted by K Major Thomas is probably gone. Could be ... Although when healthy , he is a difference maker . The cap relief does give flexibility . I still wouldn't be opposed his being part of the rotation next year. Olave, Shaheed and MT, plus backups are a formidable WR room. Dijon Dixon and Merrick, although not used but should have been, provide adequate depth. Landry is still under contract too. So keep him one more year then move on. There will be opportunities for fresh meat with UDFA and regular FA too. It's the TE and RB room that needs more capable bodies. iceshack149 and Rsanders24 like this.

01-07-2023, 02:37 PM	#5
K Major Site Donor 2019 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Bedford, TX Posts: 24,079 Blog Entries: 3	Re: Michael Thomas agrees to restructured contract Originally Posted by SmashMouth Could be ... Although when healthy , he is a difference maker . The cap relief does give flexibility . I still wouldn't be opposed his being part of the rotation next year. Olave, Shaheed and MT, plus backups are a formidable WR room. Dijon Dixon and Merrick, although not used but should have been, provide adequate depth. Landry is still under contract too. So keep him one more year then move on. There will be opportunities for fresh meat with UDFA and regular FA too. But when was "healthy" though? Mike will be 30 in March, he's starting to break down physically & let's be honest here but the Saints are 2 seasons away from truly competing again. MT has played in 10 games in 3 years. He's gone. As for Landry .. meh. Probably needs its own thread but Andrus Peat needs to be gone too. Another highly compensated player that cannot stay on the field. Shakeups are needed and necessary this off-season in New Orleans. subguy, UK_WhoDat and leilung like this.

01-07-2023, 07:16 PM	#6
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 37,186 Blog Entries: 29	Re: Michael Thomas agrees to restructured contract Originally Posted by K Major But when was "healthy" though? Mike will be 30 in March, he's starting to break down physically & let's be honest here but the Saints are 2 seasons away from truly competing again. MT has played in 10 games in 3 years. He's gone. As for Landry .. meh. Probably needs its own thread but Andrus Peat needs to be gone too. Another highly compensated player that cannot stay on the field. Shakeups are needed and necessary this off-season in New Orleans. We'll see. Maybe we can squeeze out one more year then dump him... or maybe not. We are paying him after all, aren't we? leilung likes this.

01-08-2023, 10:06 AM	#7
SaintFanInATLHELL The Professor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lithonia, GA Posts: 2,647	Re: Michael Thomas agrees to restructured contract Originally Posted by SmashMouth We'll see. Maybe we can squeeze out one more year then dump him... or maybe not. We are paying him after all, aren't we? How would that work financially? Once the $31 million roster bonus is guaranteed, then the Saints are responsible for it whether or not MT13 is on the squad in 2024, right. So, if the Saints keep MT13 in 2023 with the $1 million salary, he doesn't produce, and they finally part ways after 2023, even if MT13 doesn't get the $31 million because he isn't on the roster, the Saints would still have to apply that $31 million to the cap. That's my understanding of it. Given those circumstances, and given the injury history over the last three years, is it worth rolling the dice. I may be seeing it incorrectly. Please clarify if I have it wrong. SFIAH saintsfan1976 likes this.
	Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.

01-07-2023, 05:32 PM	#8
mapcow Just a Fan Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,335	Re: Michael Thomas agrees to restructured contract Originally Posted by K Major Thomas is probably gone. Gone Pecan!!!
mapcow Just a Fan Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,335

01-07-2023, 11:43 AM	#9
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 1,778	Re: Michael Thomas agrees to restructured contract I hope he is gone. If he is retained I feel it is likely that a CGJ type situation arises with Shaheed or Olave we are told they HAD TO be traded away cheap in a rush because they were not on the same page as the coach and were uncoachable. In reality it will be because we could not afford to cut MT, so we had to save a starting spot for him even if he would be injured, so we had to trade a better more reliable player to start a less reliable player to justify a salary to hide the fact that the way we manage our cap prevents us from cutting injury riddled busts. Also I hope that if he is cut, he stays within the division and gets a monster contract.
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 1,778

01-07-2023, 11:54 AM	#10
vtiger72 100th Post Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 185	Re: Michael Thomas agrees to restructured contract It's a win/win for both. If the Saints keep him, it guarantees him his money. For MT, this also forces the Saints to make an earlier decision. So that if he's cut, he's cut at the beginning of FA. The move also helps the Saints a little on the cap which is something the Saints desperately need.
vtiger72 100th Post Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 185