Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos Headed in Opposite Directions?

Oct 5, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) reacts to his second touchdown in the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos offseason is in full swing – somebody tell Demaryius Thomas it is time to check in for work. It is safe to assume that most Bronco fans are counting down the days until the start of the 2015 season. Of course, this offseason has had its ups and downs already, and there are mixed emotions about the state of Broncos Country at this time.

Ian St. Clair and Adam Malnati have a discussion about the Denver Broncos. http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/137943

Of course, with Thomas choosing to stay away from the team during contract negotiations, there is a big hole right in the middle of the offense. There are people who like to argue whether or not he is truly an elite wide receiver, but for the sake of this argument, let’s all just assume that he is a top five talent. OK, good. Now, is he worth it?

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Thomas and Peyton Manning have a connection. With the size and skills that Thomas brings to the field, it would be impossible for Manning not to have a major connection with him. However, haven’t we seen Manning create connections with guys throughout his whole career. Isn’t Manning the reason his receivers are successful? Even if it is a symbiotic relationship, isn’t Manning the most important part of that relationship?

Thomas is looking for a long-term deal that will make him one of the highest paid players in the NFL. I say get your money, but is that what is best for this Denver team. John Elway has said all along that this team is about winning. Not winning just this year, but every year. Is it smart to tie up $11 to $12 million in a wide receiver? I’m not a salary cap guru, but that looks like a lot of money for a guy who relies on someone else to get him the ball.

But this is not about Thomas. This is about the Denver Broncos and winning Super Bowls.

Manning has proven he can throw the ball to just about anybody. Emmanuel Sanders took the league by storm with the Broncos in 2014. Cody Latimer is seen as a player that could develop into a great talent. He is probably better than Austin Collie or Anthony Gonzalez ever were (Google it if you don’t know who I am talking about).

So, if not a long-term deal for Demaryius Thomas, is there a trade out there that makes sense? With the Ryan Clady injury, maybe a left tackle is out there that the Broncos covet. Maybe draft picks are the thing that gets it done. If Elway is truly interested in winning for more than just 2015, a trade makes more sense than a big deal for a player that is only involved if the quarterback decides to involve him.

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Demaryius Thomas is a guy who polarizes Broncos country. He is supremely talented. He is a fan favorite. Who doesn’t remember him making Tim Tebow look good? But this is not about Thomas. This is about the Denver Broncos and winning Super Bowls. Can they win Super Bowls tying up all that money in a wide receiver?

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