John Elway Not Happy With Demaryius Thomas Staying Away
By Adam Malnati
Oct 5, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) during the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Denver Broncos executive vice president of football operations/general manager, John Elway, is not afraid to speak his mind. After placing the franchise tag on Demaryius Thomas, the wide receiver made it clear he would not be attending any of the Broncos offseason activities. When asked, Elway seemed to be less than happy about Thomas and his decision to stay away from the team.
More from Broncos News
- Denver Broncos dream coaching staff for DeMeco Ryans
- Denver Broncos: “Sleeper” David Shaw checks every box
- The Broncos’ coaching search likely has not gone to plan
- Special Chiefs Suck Offer: Bet $5, Win $150 if Joe Burrow Passes for ONE YARD vs KC
- 3 reasons Sean Payton should not coach the Broncos
With Thomas set to earn over $12.5 million in the 2015 season, there is a split in Broncos Country about the worth of the wide receiver. Most experts around the league would call him an elite talent. The numbers seem to bear that out, and Elway seems to be ready to reward Thomas for his production. However, Elway is confused by the decision to skip OTA’s.
Elway has every right to be upset with Thomas. This team has a real shot at being great this year. With a new playbook to learn, time with the team is imperative. The implementation of a new offense requires everyone to be on the same page. Thomas did not have a great start to his 2014 campaign. This could be a set back in his ability to grasp the new offense.
Aside from signing 400 tight ends, working out a longterm deal for Thomas should be his only focus.
Then again, Thomas is an elite player, with elite skills. Whatever he may be missing out on in offseason activities can probably be picked up pretty quickly. This seems more like an executive getting frustrated with a player who is choosing to stay away until his contract issues are worked out. The fact is, these activities are voluntary, and Thomas is not obligated to be there.
Elway and the Broncos have not made any earth shattering moves in the offseason. Aside from signing 400 tight ends, working out a longterm deal for Thomas should be his only focus. Whether you agree with the decision to spend crazy money on a wide receiver or not, Elway has put his eggs in the Thomas basket. Something needs to get done.
Live Feed
All for Tennessee
To his credit, Thomas has said he will be at training camp. He is just staying away while a deal gets worked out. There may be “zero value” to Thomas being away in Elway’s mind, but it seems to be working for Thomas. If it bothers Elway this much, maybe it means Thomas and his agent are winning the negotiations. Elway sounds like a guy who is frustrated with more than just a player not coming to offseason workouts. He sounds like a GM who is failing at the negotiating table too.
Next: Denver Broncos Schedule: Games That Could Determine Their Fate