FILE PHOTO: Nov 7, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas (29) celebrates after breaking up a pass play in the fourth quarter in a game against the Buffalo Bills at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks won 31-25. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
August 2, 2018
Pro Bowl safety Earl Thomas said Thursday he will continue to hold out from Seattle Seahawks training camp until he gets a new contract. And if the Seahawks aren’t prepared to give him a new multi-year deal, he wants a trade.
“I’m standing strong on this – because I’ve got to,” Thomas wrote in the Players Tribune. “I’m standing strong when it comes to getting what I deserve. I’ve been one of the best defensive players in this league for the better part of a decade, and the numbers show that this team plays much better with me than without me. Beyond that, I still have some great years of football left in my tank. I’m not even close to slowing down. I’m still working to get better.”
Thomas continued:
“If you’re risking your body to deliver all of this value to an organization, then you deserve some sort of assurance that the organization will take care of you if you get hurt. It’s that simple,” he said. “This isn’t new, and this isn’t complicated. It’s the reason I’m holding out – I want to be able to give my everything, on every play, without any doubt in my mind.”
Thomas, 29, is slated to earn $8.5 million in 2018.
The Seahawks talked with Dallas about a potential trade in the offseason, but the Cowboys did not want to give up a high draft pick in return.
“If the Seahawks don’t intend on having me around for the long-term, then I understand,” Thomas continued. “And if they want to start over and rebuild, then that’s their right – it’s part of the business. It’s not what I want but I get it. All I ask, though, is that if that’s the case, and they don’t want me anymore – just please trade me to an organization that does. Please trade me to a team that wants me, so I can give my all to them for the rest of my career.”
Seattle coach Pete Carroll told the NFL Network earlier this week that there was nothing new on the Thomas front.
“We did communicate awhile back, but really, there has been kind of a clear stance and so there hasn’t been much talk about it right now,” Carroll said. “Wish he was here, he’s one of us and all that. We’re really going to work with the guys we’ve got, the guys that are fired up to be out here playing with us. That’s really where our focus is right now.”
Thomas joined the Seahawks in 2010. During his career, he has 463 tackles, 25 interceptions and five fumble recoveries.
–Field Level Media
