Saints give WR Thomas $100M deal

The Saints and leading receiver Michael Thomas agreed to a fiveyear, $100 million contract, his agent said Wednesday.

A representative of Andrew Kessler of the agency Athletes First said the contract pays Thomas about $61 million in guaranteed salary and bonuses. The agreement brings an end to Thomas’ training-camp holdout, which spanned five practices. The Saints had a scheduled day off Wednesday, and Thomas was expected to practice Thursday.

Thomas’ average annual pay of $20 million represents a new high for NFL receivers, eclipsing the $18 million per year paid to the Browns’ Odell Beckham Jr.

Last season, Thomas ranked first in the NFL in catches with 125, sixth in yards receiving with 1,405 and tied for 10th with nine touchdowns.

The Minnesota Supreme Court dismissed former Vikings defensive lineman Al Noga’s claim that his dementia is related to concussions he suffered during his playing years with the team. In a unanimous decision, the high court threw out Noga’s workers’ compensation award.

Bills starting center Mitch Morse is out indefinitely after being put in the NFL’s concussion protocol.

MISCELLANEOUS Women’s World Cup expanded

FIFA’s Council unanimously approved expanding the Women’s World Cup from 24 teams to 32 for 2023. It also reopened bidding to host the tournament but made no mention of changing prize money.

The Grizzlies signed guard Marko Guduric, 24, to a multiyear contract. He played for Fenerbahce in Turkey the last two seasons.

The Avalanche locked up defenseman Samuel Girard, 21, with a seven-year, $35 million extension that runs through 2027.