Last year, evidence of extremely genuine friction emerged in between the Saints and super star receiver Michael Thomas. The fact that Thomas reportedly will miss out on the start of the season due to ankle surgery dating back to the injury he suffered in Week One of the 2020 season might make things worse.
It definitely wont make things much better.
On the surface area, an obvious question develops: why would Thomas wait until June to get surgery with a four-month recovery/rehab duration? A clear response hasnt emerged, but Nick Underhill of NewOrleansFootball.com has actually pieced together some facts that might make the Saints less than thrilled about the way in which Thomas dealt with the scenario.
The specialist believed that Thomas potentially might rehab the injury and prevent surgical treatment. Thomas, according to the report, was supposed to spend a month or so trying to recover the ankle and then return to the specialist to see whether surgery would be required.
The team then informed Thomas to get the surgery performed. And now he requires six to eight weeks after surgical treatment to heal the ligament and six to 8 weeks thereafter to get the repaired ankle into complete football shape.
If Underhills report is precise (and Im not doubting it, Im just qualifying what Im about to say next), theres a really great chance the Saints are pissed at him for delaying the process. He d potentially be ready to go from the start of training camp if he d returned to the specialist and gotten surgery by March. Surgery was considered “most likely” in the aftermath of the teams playoff loss to Tampa Bay in January.
To the level the Saints arent delighted with Thomas, that feeling isnt new. Theres the reality that, as PFT reported in late October, the Thomas camp was trying to get another team to make the Saints a trade deal for Thomas.
That part shows that any tough feelings are (or a minimum of at the time were) shared. Now, with the group possibly stewing over Thomas dragging his feet concerning his ankle and Thomas perhaps (underscore possibly) taking his time as a not-so-subtle middle finger to the group, where does it go from here?
A trade prior to the 2021 deadline wouldnt change his $8.9 million bonus offer proration for the current year, and it would lead to the team taking a $22.7 million cap charge in 2022. Although Saints G.M. Mickey Loomis has actually revealed that he understands how to work salary-cap magic, the group surely would choose avoiding that kind of dead-money load next year. (That stated, they would offset the cap struck by avoiding $15.6 million in payment for Thomas in 2022.).
Nevertheless everything plays out, the tea leaves suggest that the milk quite potentially stays ruined between gamer and group. If the Saints can leave to a great start without him this year, the Saints might choose that the time has actually pertained to listen to offers– if, naturally, they get any.
The professional believed that Thomas perhaps might avoid and rehab the injury surgical treatment. Thomas, according to the report, was expected to spend a month or so attempting to heal the ankle and then return to the specialist to see whether surgery would be required. The group then told Thomas to get the surgical treatment performed. To the extent the Saints arent happy with Thomas, that feeling isnt new. Theres the fact that, as PFT reported in late October, the Thomas camp was trying to get another group to make the Saints a trade deal for Thomas.
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