Michael Thomas Ready to Justify His Record-Breaking Contract

The highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL, Michael Thomas, declared himself ready to justify the massive contract he received. The player and the New Orleans Saints reached an agreement yesterday, which will keep him in Louisiana for the next five years, worth $100 million.

The 25-year-old stated earlier today that he intends to prove his worth and show everybody that he deserves such a big contract.

“So now it’s on to the next goal. Now you’re the highest-paid, and now you gotta go earn it,” Thomas said. “So that’s the biggest thing I’m trying to do. I’m trying to earn every penny of it.”

The player was present at the practice today, as he concluded a holdout which lasted for six days. During that time, Thomas was negotiating with the Saints and wanted to create leverage during the talks, which he eventually managed.

In those six days, the Saints’ WR was stationed in San Diego, where he had individual training sessions. According to his words, the intensity and quality of those training weren’t below the ones in Saints’ training camp. But what did make a difference is the fact that he missed competing his teammates. It is something which always motivated Thomas to be better and develop as a player, which is why he feels happy to be back on the team.

The former Ohio State member said that he listened to his agent while the negotiations lasted and that he didn’t want to wait on his new deal anymore. If he did, there is a huge possibility that the deal could be even higher, because other elite WRs are still waiting for the market to start. Among them are Amari Cooper, A.J. Green, Julio Jones and all of them are patient.

Many experts are saying that these guys and their new contracts are going to set the standards for wide receivers’ salaries. It indicates that Thomas’ deal could have been much bigger. However, it seems that the player and his agent wanted to secure their future and sign the contract before all others.

Thomas also mentioned his uncle, Keyshawn Johnson, the Super Bowl champion in 2002 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Johnson was the No.1 overall pick in the 1996 NFL draft and a 3-time Pro Bowl. Thomas now has something to compete with his uncle and is eager to try to make a better career than Johnson’s.

“I come from a competitive family. My uncle was the first receiver drafted in 1996, overall No. 1 … and I went second round, 47th….. And now we both have a little something to talk about, we’ll see which one holds more weight,” Thomas said.

New Orleans’ coach Sean Payton told the media that he didn’t have any doubts about Thomas’ physical condition, and that he expected to see him in excellent shape.

Drew Brees also praised his young teammate, saying that he brings energy into the locker room and on the field, which just a few players have.

There’s definitely a presence, an attitude, a swagger to what he brings on the field,” Brees said. “You know when he’s out there; there’s no half-speed rep. Everything is a thousand miles an hour.”

The Saints are playing their first preseason match against the Minnesota Vikings on August 10. The regular part of the season for them begins on September 10, and the first opponents are the Houston Texans. Both games will be played in New Orleans.