Before he inked a lucrative contract with the Ravens, Earl Thomas thought he was heading to Kansas City. The veteran safety told the team website that he was set to sign a one- or two-year deal with the Chiefs before Baltimore came calling.
“I thought I was going to go Kansas City on like a two-year deal, one-year deal, and I was just going to bet on myself and hit the market again [next year or in 2021], and then my agents called me,” Thomas said (via Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com). “They said that Baltimore has made a deal for you. I said, ‘Hell, yeah. That’s where I’m going.’”
Thomas ended up signing a four-year, $55MM deal ($32MM guaranteed) with Baltimore. The 29-year-old was hoping to become the highest-paid safety in the NFL, and he came relatively close to achieving that. While his $13.75MM average annual value is higher than Thomas’s $13MM asking price, it still trails the new contracts signed by Landon Collins (Redskins) and Tyrann Mathieu (Chiefs).
Speaking of Mathieu, it’s uncertain if the Chiefs were pursuing Thomas before or after they added their free agent acquisition. The team presumably could have slid both Mathieu and Thomas into the starting lineup, especially after Kansas City let go of veteran Eric Berry. As of right now, Eric Murray is projected to start opposite Mathieu. The Chiefs have also added safeties Dontae Johnson and Harold Jones-Quartey this offseason.
Thomas, 29, spent nine years in Seattle as arguably the premier safety in the NFL, but his final years with the Seahawks were tinged with his displeasure at not receiving a new contract. After angling for a trade or new deal prior to the 2018 campaign, Thomas suffered a broken leg in Week 4, ending his season prematurely.
So basically he flat out admitted it was not about going to a team that he felt could win a Super Bowl but more the team who made the biggest offer? Used to be a fan of this guy but being money is his driving force have to question his passion for winning.
he’s already won a superbowl and just got 4 times what the chiefs were offering plus with a championship caliber organization. Pretty sure he made a good decision…just sayin
Yeah, Chiefs fan here. Couldn’t agree more – with this set of offers, Baltimore was his only choice.
Championship caliber organization? The Ravens. Now that is funny. They aren’t winning anything soon. Good organization but not Championship Caliber. Bahahaha. He chased the $$ and I get that but don’t make it out to be something that is laughable.
he didn’t take 50mil from the Giants, Redskins, Dolphins etc. showing he didnt just ‘chase’ the money. He went to a legit contender year in and year out plus got the way better contract was my point. Win win for him…
He’s already won, he needs to make money and set himself and his family up for the future at this point of his career especially with football being a sport where you can be cut after a year and all that money you thought you were getting can be all of a sudden gone. A fan of his okay regardless, one of the best safeties I’ve seen play the game and I hope him continued success in Baltimore and I don’t blame him one bit for wanting more money. And I also don’t think going to Baltimore means he won’t win, they always find a way to be in the playoff hunt.
He’s on his third contract. He’s made over $50 million easily.
When are fans gonna realize that you can’t invest super bowl rings into your 401k, unless you sell them. When players start playing for free, then you can say the play for the love of the game or winning. Yes, some players will take “slightly” less, but money is always a factor. You probably aren’t a fan of any pro athletes if you feel this way.
Lol only weirdos try and rip a guy for making him and his family set for life over a “passion for winning”.
This isnt 1950 dude. Its all about the money. He made the decision thats best for his wallet , not you…
How dare he.
Uh… yeah, most players sign contracts for the money.
That’s nearly every player’s priority, as it should be. Teams can cut you at moment’s notice– take their owner’s money first.
Who is the ‘other’ thomas that his deal is higher than…can you people proof read?
It should just read “his,” as it was the asking price he announced prior to free agency.
When his agent called and said the Ravens offered him a deal he said,hell yea,that’s where I’m going,well saying that says to me that he really didn’t wanna go to Kansas City
show me the money!!!