USA TODAY International Edition
Thomas injury the brutal side of business
One of Earl Thomas’ foremost fears came to fruition. The Seahawks safety had worried about playing this year without financial security beyond this season, at the end of which his contract was set to expire. A serious injury could be a significant blow to his earning potential. And there he found himself Sunday, riding on the back of the medical cart, his left leg broken and in an air cast. As he exited, he raised a middle finger at the sideline of his own team, whose decision-makers declined to give him an extension or trade as he requested. His season is over. In all likelihood, so too is his time with the franchise for which he starred as a member of “The Legion of Boom,” helping the organization reach back-to-back Super Bowls and a title in the 2013 season. Thomas won’t get an extension or trade. He’ll spend the remainder of the year recovering and then head to free agency with uncertainty. The Seahawks, however, will likely turn the page on the Thomas chapter, so long as they don’t use the franchise tag, and continue their rebuild. Football is a brutal game. But it’s even more brutal in its business. Thomas’ situation will serve as a cautionary tale, another painful reminder for NFL players that they’re simply replaceable cogs in the wheel. For all of the sermons players receive from coaches about the need to sacrifice for the greater good of the team, the organization will always act according to its own best interest. And unlike their brethren in the NBA and NHL, who overwhelmingly operate on guaranteed contracts, the NFL’s players have very little power in the grand scheme of things. As Thomas rode off on the cart, it made perfect sense why he held out until Week 1 of the regular season. It also adds further credence to running back Le’Veon Bell’s decision to not sign his franchise tender with the Steelers. With teams holding virtually all of the power, players continue to find themselves at the center of both inner and outward conflict and scrutiny. Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner described the dilemma that players such as Thomas face while trying to take care of themselves as well as their team and teammates. “If he doesn’t come, then he’s not a team player. If he does come and gets hurt, then it’s ‘He shouldn’t have came.’ ... If I was him, I’d be pissed off,” Wagner said Sunday. That analysis caught the eye of Bell. He commented on an Instagram post of the quote, “smh exactly…get right bro bro @earl ! I’ll continue to be the ‘bad guy’ for ALL of us.” This whole ordeal didn’t have to happen. Not like this. The Seahawks did put themselves into a restrictive financial situation. As they built what looked like a dynasty and stockpiled talent, success came quickly, and probably faster than even the organization expected. But when it came time to choose which stars to pay, tough decisions had to be made. Over a few years, they shelled out deals to quarterback Russell Wilson, cornerback Richard Sherman, defensive end Michael Bennett and safety Kam Chancellor besides Wagner and Thomas. But those salaries all ate up resources. Meanwhile, things haven’t played out as hoped. A neck injury forced Chancellor out of football. The Seahawks this offseason traded Bennett to the Eagles in a cost-saving move and cut Sherman, who signed with the 49ers. Meanwhile, the Seahawks refused to budge on Thomas. Part of the reason the Seahawks held on to Thomas stems from some division within the franchise. Coach Pete Carroll is described by those that know him as “a sentimental guy,” and he couldn’t bring himself to parting with Thomas despite the dispute, a person familiar with the organization’s inner workings told USA TODAY. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject. But there’s a little more to it as well. NFL teams always want to maintain power. Even if they have no desire to keep or pay a player, they don’t like the idea of a player dictating terms. But holding on to Thomas had created a mess. Coaches who had preached to young players the importance of commitment and diligence now had to account for the Pro Bowl player embroiled in a dispute with the organization. Putting his focus on preservation and financial security, Thomas also openly opted to skip practices if he didn’t feel right. People with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY the Cowboys and Chiefs had recent talks with Seattle about dealing for Thomas. But the asking price of a second-round pick was too high. So Thomas remained, and so too did the conflict. And it all came to a head on Sunday with Thomas breaking his leg and literally giving the franchise the finger on his way out. Still, Carroll, able to distinguish between personal and business, called for sympathy or understanding for Thomas. “This was an earth-shattering moment for the kid. He knew exactly what had happened to him,” Carroll said. Unfortunately for Thomas and the Seahawks, there’s no way to salvage things. Seattle officials waited too long.