Seahawks welcome Thomas
RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas ended his lengthy holdout in time for the start of the regular season, even without the longterm contract he was seeking.
Thomas showed up at the Seahawks facility Wednesday morning and was welcomed back by his teammates. Coach Pete Carroll said he met briefly with Thomas, but wouldn't commit to whether Thomas would play in the opener Sunday against Denver.
“He's been with us for so long. He's just been part of the fabric of what we've been about,” Carroll said. “It's an adjustment period as he jumps in with us right now and we'll figure out how that works.”
Thomas posted to Instagram Wednesday announcing his return, saying he has never let his “teammates, city or fans down as long as I have lived and don't plan to start this weekend.”
By reporting, Thomas won't miss any game checks — $500,000 per game — and he shores up a defense that saw many of its more prominent players depart in the offseason. Thomas, one of the top safeties in the NFL, is scheduled to make $8.5 million in base salary for the upcoming season. Bell’s no-show angers Steelers
After missing all of training camp, Le’Veon Bell is continuing his holdout as he hopes for a long-term deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Missing camp isn’t egregious, but the situation got serious Monday, when he did not show up.
He was also absent for meetings when the team assembled Wednesday morning.
That has begun to openly frustrate teammates as the clock ticks down to the season opener, especially since Bell is still slated to make $14.5 million this year, the most of any running back.
“What do you do? Here’s a guy who doesn’t give a damn, I guess, so we’ll treat it as such. I just hate it came to this,” offensive lineman Ramon Foster told the Pittsburgh PostGazette. “He’s making seven times what I make, twice as much as Al (tackle Alejandro Villanueva) is making, and we’re the guys who do it for him.” Rookie Griffin to start at LB
Seattle Seahawks rookie Shaquem Griffin, who had his left hand amputated as a child, will start at weakside linebacker when Seattle opens the season at Denver on Sunday.
Starter K.J. Wright is still recovering from minor knee surgery and coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday that the earliest he would return is Week 2 against Chicago. Odds and ends
The New Orleans Saints have waived rookie running back Boston Scott and signed offensive lineman Michael Ola. The move came as starting left guard Andrus Peat sat out practice and was listed with a quadriceps injury. … The Detroit Lions have claimed defensive end Romeo Okwara off waivers from the New York Giants and cut defensive end Anthony Zettel.