Agent: Saints, Thomas agree on five-year, $100M contract
NEW ORLEANS » The New Orleans Saints and leading receiver Michael Thomas have agreed to a new five-year, $100 million contract, his agent said Wednesday.
Andrew Kessler of the agency Athletes First, who joined colleague David Mulugheta in negotiating the deal with the Saints, said the contract pays Thomas about $61 million in guaranteed salary and bonuses.
The agreement, brings to an end Thomas’ training camp holdout that spanned five practices. The Saints had a scheduled day off on Wednesday and Thomas was expected to join practice on Thursday.
Currently, Thomas’ average annual pay of $20 million represents a new high for NFL receivers, eclipsing the $18 million per year paid to Cleveland’s 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.
Thomas was entering the final season of his rookie deal and was due a little more than $1.1 million.
Redskins sign OL Penn
RICHMOND, VA. » Donald Penn reached out to good friend Trent Williams before deciding to sign with the Washington Redskins.
“We had a good conversation,” Penn said. “We’re on the same page.”
Penn said he chose Washington over other teams for the chance to start at left tackle. Given that interest and his friendship with Williams, bringing in Penn looks like the strongest sign yet that the Redskins’ regular starting left tackle’s holdout won’t be ending any time soon.
The 36-year-old veteran jumped right into practice Wednesday and could soon hold down Williams’ old spot.
“I’ve got a whole bunch in my tank,” Penn said. “I’m back at a comfortable position where I feel like I can strive and be great at and get back to my old self.”
Penn is a three-time Pro Bowl selection going into his 14th season.
Tepper wants to build retractable roof stadium in Charlotte
SPARTANBURG, S.C. » Panthers billionaire owner David Tepper believes Charlotte, North Carolina is destined to be the “sports entertainment capital of the Carolinas,” — and he’s vowing to make sure that happens.
Tepper said Wednesday his goal is to build a retractable roof stadium in Charlotte within the next 10 years in an effort to attract major sporting events to the state, including the NCAA men’s basketball Final Four and a Major League Soccer team.
“It’s not idle chatter, it’s something I would like to see done,” Tepper said.
Bills center Morse out
PITTSFORD, N.Y. » Buffalo Bills starting center Mitch Morse is out indefinitely after being placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Coach Sean McDermott provided no details on how Morse was hurt while saying the player was diagnosed with the concussion Tuesday.
Morse was Buffalo’s key offseason freeagent addition in its bid to overhaul what had been a patchwork line. He signed a fouryear, $44.5 million contract after spending his first four seasons in Kansas City.
McDermott says back LeSean McCoy has been excused from practice for personal reasons and wouldn’t say when he’d return.
Panthers LB Kuechly leaves practice with undisclosed injury
SPARTANBURG, S.C. » Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly was held out of the second half of practice after getting tangled up in a pile during a 9-on-7 play.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera declined Wednesday to specify the nature of the injury, saying trainers were purposely being “overly cautious” with the six-time Pro Bowler.