Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas did not report for the start of training camp according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Thomas has been in negotiations with the Saints for weeks but apparently he has decided not to show up until a deal gets done. The 2016 second-round pick out of Ohio State reportedly seeking upwards of $20 million annually in contract talks, which would make him the highest-paid receiver in football. In contrast, he is set to make a paltry $1.15 millon in the final year of his rookie deal.
And it could be argued that no wideout in football is more important to his team’s offense than Thomas.
The 26-year-old led the NFL with 125 catches last season with 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns while garnering All-Pro status at wide receiver. The Saints have every intention of getting a deal done but seem to be waiting for Julio Jones and Amari Cooper to set the wideout market.
It seems doubtful that Thomas’s holdout could carry on into the regular season but it is a situation worth monitoring.