Michael Thomas Unhappy with Saints – NYG Barkley is Back

When a team loses its franchise quarterback, the transition is always going to be rough. But the Saints and their star wide receiver are also at odds, and the once-great offense in New Orleans may be missing multiple parts in 2021.

Thomas missed a large part of the 2020 season, and when it ended last January, it was reported that he would be having surgery. Pretty common for an NFL player who is beginning the offseason. What is far less common is for that player to ignore the calls from the team, trainers, and doctors and wait until June to have that surgery, as has been reported about Thomas.

If true, that would be a pretty egregious dereliction of a player’s responsibility to his team. Thomas, however, says that those reports are simply one side of the story, and it’s being told with the sole purpose of damaging his reputation. On Twitter, Thomas wrote: “They tried to damage your reputation. You saved theirs by not telling your side of the story.”

The message isn’t subtle. And it was written in the comic sans font, making it even worse. But don’t ask Sean Payton about it. He’s not interested in addressing the situation.

“No. I don’t want to have a press conference based on social media,” said Payton.

Just two years ago, Thomas and the Saints agreed on a five-year contract that pays him a record $100 million. His happiness seemed secure, as did the Saints wide receiving corps. Thomas had just gone for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns.

But injuries have besieged him, and he’s now angry at the team for revealing that he didn’t follow their instructions, and whoever wins the quarterback competition in camp is going to begin the new season without the team’s best receiver.

Already a longshot to win Most Valuable Player honors in the 2021-22 season at 150-to-1, Thomas’ price crashed recently on the sportsbook’s NFL MVP odds board to 250-to-1 — putting him in the bottom-tier of listed players.

Saints Looking to Add Cornerback

On the other side of the ball, the Saints also find themselves a little short-handed after the offseason departure of cornerback Janoris Jenkins. The defense was a strength in New Orleans last year, and as the team transitions to a new offense, they need that defense to remain near the top of the league.

Word is that they are looking to trade for a cornerback, and the Jags C.J. Henderson, for whom Jacksonville is actively shopping, is an intriguing possibility. Just one year ago, the Jags spent the ninth overall pick on Henderson, meaning that not only would he add talent to a Saints defensive backfield, but he would also come with a rookie contract that still contains several years.

The Saints did draft Paulson Adebo in the third round this year, and in free agency, they added veteran Prince Amukamara. But neither of those players has the potential upside of Henderson.

Why Henderson is available so soon after the Jaguars’ investment is somewhat complicated. He began his rookie season looking like a star, but he ended the year on injured reserve. He missed time with a strained groin and needed labrum surgery after the season. He then missed the opening of camp with COVID-19, came back, but then left again for “personal reasons.”

Still, there is talent there, and that will get him another shot, be it with the Saints or another team.

Saquon Barkley Back at Practice

It’s nothing but smiles at Giants camp with Saquon Barkley now off the PUP list and back on the field for the first time since tearing his ACL last year. Barkley was out there with his teammates on Monday and was more than happy to talk about it.

“It felt great. I know it’s not a huge step, it’s a small step in my rehab process. I felt good running, I felt good cutting. But now I have to start simulating against NFL athletes, seeing guys shed blocks and react off of them and get to a point where I get hit and get tackled.

“It’s kind of like riding a bike. Once it happens, you get right into the flow of things.”

With all respect to Barkley, it is a big step. It’s been 11 months since he tore his ACL, and he’s now on the field and running again. For Giants fans and everyone in the NFL community, it’s a huge and welcome step. Barkley meanwhile saw his NFL MVP odds boost up from 200-to-1 before training camp to the current number of 125-to-1.