New weirdness in New Orleans

[Mr. Scot]

The team now says that Michael Thomas was not suspended for Monday's game (link).

Mind you, he still didn't play, so... 

PFT has obtained a copy of the letter that the Saints sent to Thomas. The subject line of the letter uses the phrase “Fine for Conduct Detrimental to the Club.”

Here’s the key language: “[T]his letter is to notify you that you have been fined in the amount of $58,823.53 . . . for engaging in conduct detrimental to the club.” In other words, Thomas was fined, not suspended.

It’s a strange development, given that the discipline was so widely characterized as a suspension. Although on the surface it’s a distinction without a difference, the difference between a fine in the amount of one game check and a one-game suspension means that $27.95 million in future guarantees have not been voided.

The apparent goal was to get the attention of the player without utilizing the close-to-nuclear option of wiping out his guarantees, or at least trying to. The Saints may have chosen not to pick a $27.95 million fight with Thomas and the NFL Players Association, since the matter undoubtedly would have gone to a grievance — and the Saints quite possibly would have lost. Also, attacking the guarantees could have caused Thomas to reach his own breaking point with the team, resulting in a possible trade demand.

Regardless, Thomas wasn’t suspended. He was fined. If he doesn’t change his behavior, a suspension (along with the voiding of guarantees) could happen. For now, though, his guarantees remain intact.

 

[kungfoodude]

I hope this all ends in tears for them.

[Mr. Scot]

I haven't been following his story, so I don't know what his "conduct detrimental" is supposed to be.

I do know that, even considering he makes a load of money, getting fined $58,000 would suck dead rhino balls.

Does sound like that's shaping up to be a mess...

[Pantherxtreme]

Reading the Saints board it seemed it was more than just a fight. Thomas was acting erratic overall. Cussing out coaches, accusing equpment guys of going though his mail etc...

[Mr. Scot]

I forgot about the fight.

Even so, fights happen all the time. For it to be worth that big of a fine, you'd have to think there was more.

[Burnout189]

[joemac]

9 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

I haven't been following his story, so I don't know what his "conduct detrimental" is supposed to be.

I do know that, even considering he makes a load of money, getting fined $58,000 would suck dead rhino balls.

Does sound like that's shaping up to be a mess...

He pulled a Smitty and punched one of his teammates in practice.

[KSpan]

Sounds similar to the first steps that Vegas (then Oakland) took against AB last year.

[kungfoodude]

10 minutes ago, Pantherxtreme said:

Reading the Saints board it seemed it was more than just a fight. Thomas was acting erratic overall. Cussing out coaches, accusing equpment guys of going though his mail etc...

Please let him go full Antonio Brown.

[LinvilleGorge]

Their cap situation is fuged and the cap could actually shrink next season.

In just saying, the Saints always somehow someway find a way to make their cap work...

[Riverboat Ron]

11 minutes ago, Pantherxtreme said:

Reading the Saints board it seemed it was more than just a fight. Thomas was acting erratic overall. Cussing out coaches, accusing equpment guys of going though his mail etc...

There might be a connection between Thomas becoming the advertising spokesman for 19th centry Beaver hats and being batshit crazy.

[TrevorLaurenceTime22]

9 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Their cap situation is fuged and the cap could actually shrink next season.

In just saying, the Saints always somehow someway find a way to make their cap work...

Even with Thomas off the books they would still be 60m over next seasons cap.... 

[Kuhndog94]

It was only a matter of time before he exploded like this. He has that AB syndrome. 

[sml1950]

Anyone related to Keyshawn Johnson has a screw loose somewhere.