Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Dolphins’ Parker involved in social media squabble with Saints’ Thomas
All it took was a simple letter of the alphabet for Miami Dolphins receiver DeVante Parker to provoke one of the NFL’s best players on social media late Monday night.
Here’s the backstory.
The NFL on Fox Instagram account posed a question: Which is tougher?
A: Make a catch while guarded by New England Patriots standout cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Or B: Break up a pass while defending Saints star receiver Michael Thomas.
Parker, the Dolphins leading receiver in 2019, simply commented “A” on the post.
Whether it was praise for Gilmore or for himself, Parker’s response made him look like the better player. He got the best of Gilmore — the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year — during their matchup in the season finale last season.
Still, Thomas took Parker’s comment personally. And the two traded comments on the social media post, exciting football fans longing for sports during the coronavirus pandemic.
Thomas’ response: “For you, yes. Go run some numbers up. Then you can talk. I lapped you and you been in the league longer than me, first-rounder.”
Well, then.
Parker: “Got some hard feeling there brotha??? Let me get targeted 300 times a game.”
Thomas fired back with not one, but two responses.
The first: “In other words, you weak. They don’t even put your name in the same sentence as me. Remember that!”
The second: “You still not going to do nothing. It took you six years and 17 weeks to have a good game. GTFOH. Blame your parents, not no QB.”
Well, this is spicy.
“Quit crying bra,” Parker responded with several laughing emojis making light of the situation.
“You heard what I said,” Thomas fired back.
“I didn’t hear shiiii play boi,” Parker said. “You can’t even get a seat at the table,” Thomas said, getting the final word in.
Seeing the social media duel unfold begs the question: What got Thomas so triggered in the first place?
There is no question Thomas is one the best — if not the best — wide receiver in the NFL because of his production.
With the help of Drew Brees, Thomas led the league with 125 and 149 receptions in the past two seasons. Thomas’ 1,725 yards receiving and 107.8 yards per game also led the league in 2019.
Thomas’ catches alone the past two seasons eclipses Parker’s career total of 235, while Thomas’ 3,130 yards is close to Parker’s career total of 3,419 yards.
Since Thomas was a second-round pick by the Saints in 2016, he has caught 470 passes on 602 targets for 5,512 yards with 32 touchdowns in 63 games while missing just one game in four seasons.
Parker’s career numbers pale significantly in comparison: 235 catches on 408 targets for 3,419 yards with 18 touchdowns in 70 games while missing 10 games to injury in five seasons after being Miami’s first-round pick in 2015.
While the numbers prove Thomas right, Parker still deserves his fair share of praise in the argument.
Parker had eight catches for 137 yards in Week 17 against Gilmore, who led the league with six interceptions and 20 pass deflections last season.
It was an impressive performance that capped Parker’s best season in the league, one in which he used just 72 receptions to finish with nine touchdowns (tied for thirdmost in the NFL with five others) and fifth in the league with 1,202 yards receiving while playing with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Parker also ended his season on a tear, accounting for 733 yards receiving in Weeks 11-17 — more than any other player in the NFL.
Who was second during that stretch? It was Thomas with 698 yards.
Perhaps, Parker’s response made Thomas feel as if Parker was implying he is a better player than Thomas.
While Parker seemed to let the issue roll off his back, Thomas appeared to let the social media duel fuel his fire even more.
“Being underestimated is a part of being above average,” Thomas later posted to his Twitter account.