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Pierre Thomas contract situation (1 Viewer)

keisersose

Footballguy
Supposedly they are "far apart". I will be surprised if they don't come to terms, but what options do the saints have for a workhorse back if Thomas doesn't sign?

 
I'm a little worried, because it sounds like he's asking for way too much money. Hopefully he'll come to his senses.

 
I'm not worried yet. Its still only June, now if he doesn't have a new contract come August then I'll be worried.

 
I'm not worried yet. Its still only June, now if he doesn't have a new contract come August then I'll be worried.
I think the RFA's have until Tuesday to sign their tender offers. After that the team has the right to drop the contract amount, and it could get ugly.
 
zed2283 said:
I'm a little worried, because it sounds like he's asking for way too much money. Hopefully he'll come to his senses.
Saints front office needs to come to their senses. Reggie Bush's base salary is 8 Million dollars and then add in all the guaranteed bonus he is receiving. Why should Thomas be the workhorse for the Saints and still get paid like a backup?
 
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iirc, the Saints offered $11M over four years

ETA: that is a low-ball first offer. Thomas feels his value is much higher

 
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zed2283 said:
I'm a little worried, because it sounds like he's asking for way too much money. Hopefully he'll come to his senses.
From the numbers I have read, if Jeff T's numbers above are correct, these two are very, very far apart. I think he's dreaming, asking for the money he is, but the Saints offer is so low as to wonder if they want him.Really, that needs to be considered as well. Maybe the Saints think a lot of workman-like backs could play well behind that line, in a rotation with Bush and Lynell. Their money is in the passing game, I think Pierre wants 'build your offense around this guy' money. The Saints are a passing team, the running game feeds off of that. Maybe they think he is worth closer to 4 mill a year.
 
I see both sides of this issue. Thomas has been great, but has yet to carry the ball 150 times in a season. Here is a link/article:

http://www.nola.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/...ierre_thom.html

With contract negotiations between his client, Pierre Thomas, and the New Orleans Saints at an impasse, agent Lamont Smith went on the offensive Wednesday.



Smith said reports he and Thomas have sought a deal similar to the six-year, $44.8 million contract Steven Jackson received from the St. Louis Rams two years ago are inaccurate.

"We're not asking for Steven Jackson money, " Smith said by telephone from his Denver, Colo., office. "We just want a fair deal."



Negotiations have stalled since the sides exchanged offers in mid-May. The Saints' initial offer was a four-year, $11 million deal, according to an NFL source. They have not budged from that offer, even after receiving a counter proposal from the Thomas camp shortly thereafter.

There is motivation for Thomas to complete a deal. The Saints offered Thomas a one-year, $1.684 million qualifying contract in March. If he doesn't sign the tender by Tuesday, the Saints could drop the tender to 110 percent of Thomas' 2009 base salary, or roughly $500,000.

Thomas has not participated in any of the team's offseason workouts after originally saying he planned to do so. Thomas cannot be fined for missing this camp because, technically, he's not under contract.

"He's 25-year-old and in the prime of his career, " Smith said. "He's been the team's leading rusher the last couple of years. He's done everything the right way; he's made no money in his career. He could have very easily made a big deal about it at this time last year, but he was adamant about not doing that."

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis declined to comment on the talks other than to say they remain in contact with Thomas' camp and will continue to negotiate in good faith.

The sides clearly value Thomas differently.

The Saints see Thomas as a role player, a valued rotational back but something less than a Deuce McAllister-type franchise back. Consequently, their offer compares more favorably to recent deals by LaDainian Tomlinson and Thomas Jones. Those deals averaged between $2.5 million and $2.8 million per season.

Smith, however, believes Thomas as an emerging talent, a lead back on the verge of a career breakout. He believes Thomas could blossom the way Michael Turner did in Atlanta once he became a full-time starter. The Falcons signed Turner to a six-year, $34.5 million contract in free agency in 2008.

Reggie Bush's monster rookie contract with New Orleans has indirectly affected the contract talks. Bush is scheduled to earn an $8 million base salary in 2010 as part of the six-year, $52.5-million contract he signed as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Thomas, meanwhile, has earned base salaries of $285,000, $370,000 and $460,000 after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2007.

Thomas led the Saints with 793 rushing yards last season and 625 yards in 2008. His 12 touchdowns in 2008 were the most by a Saint since 2002, when McAllister had 16.

The Thomas camp has calculated the production of the Saints' top two backs to illustrate the disparity.

Bush was paid an average of $20,739 per rushing yard and $21,438 per receiving yard the past two seasons. In the same span, Thomas earned an average of $513 per rushing yard and $1,275 per receiving yard.

"(Pierre) has played three years for the league minimum (salary) and received a $5,000 signing bonus, " Smith said. "If not now, when will he get security?"

Asked what he would do if the Saints held firm in their stance, Smith said, "We have a plan."

 
i hate people who cry poor and make more than $400K a year. i know its not enough by nfl standards, but it doesn't look good to the public.

 
I'm not worried - yet.

I love Lynell Hamilton but I don't know he's ready to be the dependable guy in this offense's ground attack. I think PT's request for more money is fair, but I think he's been hurt too often to ask for a ton.

Right now I think they get something done. In a month if we're still far apart..... I'll start worrying more.

 
i hate people who cry poor and make more than $400K a year. i know its not enough by nfl standards, but it doesn't look good to the public.
He wants paid more appropriately toward the "work" he'll be doing. Nobody is saying he'll wind up in the poor house on this deal. but he wouldn't have to for it to still be considered a bad deal.
 
I think the Saints probably realize that while Thomas has been a great contributor to the offense, he's not irreplaceable. How much of his production is based on what he can uniquely bring to the table and how much is based on the opportunities afforded by playing RB in one of the best pass offenses in NFL history?

I think Thomas is basically a somewhat souped-up Dominic Rhodes. When the Saints want to really commit resources to the running game, they'll probably draft someone they are smitten with like the Colts did with Addai and then Brown, as opposed to break the bank to keep Thomas. If Thomas is willing to accept Derrick Ward money (4/17), more than 4 yr/11 mil, but not starter money, then they'll get something done, but I dont think the Saints are going to come up much from their offer, nor should they.

 
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I think the Saints probably realize that while Thomas has been a great contributor to the offense, he's not irreplaceable.
I think that's it. They just don't value him as much as most of the fantasy football community does. Is their eyes, he's just a dime a dozen guy, or at least not much more than that. He sure looks talented to me, but I'm no talent scout?
 
Feeling a little better about trading away Pierre and 1.04 for Miles Austin and 1.06 (full dynasty). My worry with Pierre is that he's always going to share because he's not durable enough to be a workhorse back. Looks like the Saints might think the same.

We'll see how it plays out, if this deal gets done Pierre could have a nice season, and Miles has his risks with Dez, Witten, Jones and Barber potentially bringing him back to earth...

 
I think the Saints probably realize that while Thomas has been a great contributor to the offense, he's not irreplaceable. How much of his production is based on what he can uniquely bring to the table and how much is based on the opportunities afforded by playing RB in one of the best pass offenses in NFL history?I think Thomas is basically a somewhat souped-up Dominic Rhodes. When the Saints want to really commit resources to the running game, they'll probably draft someone they are smitten with like the Colts did with Addai and then Brown, as opposed to break the bank to keep Thomas. If Thomas is willing to accept Derrick Ward money (4/17), more than 4 yr/11 mil, but not starter money, then they'll get something done, but I dont think the Saints are going to come up much from their offer, nor should they.
As Viking fan, I wish the Saints gave the ball to the 8 Million Dollar Man when it was 4th and 1 in OT rather than to Mr. Replaceable. I pretty sure he would of been stopped in the backfield. Since the Vikings play the Saints in game 1, I hope Mr. Replaceable continues his holdout.
 
Feeling a little better about trading away Pierre and 1.04 for Miles Austin and 1.06 (full dynasty). My worry with Pierre is that he's always going to share because he's not durable enough to be a workhorse back. Looks like the Saints might think the same.We'll see how it plays out, if this deal gets done Pierre could have a nice season, and Miles has his risks with Dez, Witten, Jones and Barber potentially bringing him back to earth...
my god that's a great trade.
 
Adam Schefter twitter:

A score in New Orleans: Saints running back Pierre Thomas signed his restricted free agent tender today

 
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Adam Schefter twitter: A score in New Orleans: Saints running back Pierre Thomas signed his restricted free agent tender today
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says running back Pierre Thomas has signed his restricted free agent tender, but Thomas’ agent says he still wants a better deal.Thomas’ agent, Lamont Smith, says the running back is not expected to show up for the Saints’ remaining voluntary offseason practices this week. He added that Thomas only signed an offer from the Saints to preserve options.The Saints had tendered Thomas about $1.7 million for one season, but if Thomas hadn’t signed by midnight Monday, the club would have had the right under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement to reduce the offer.Smith says Thomas wants a more lucrative and longer-term deal that gives him financial security while he’s still in his prime.
 
thomas was smart, but this doesn't mean he's going to be suiting up in week one. i think this is just a smart decision in terms of continuing to bargain. it ensures he gets X rather than a significantly lower number (see Vincent Jackson). but if he doesn't get what he wants, he still could sit out.

 
http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/07/0...ng-for-new-deal

Saints RB Thomas waiting for new deal

Posted July 08, 2010 @ 9:25 a.m. ET

By Dan Parr

After putting off signing his tender offer until June 14, the day before the Saints could reduce their original offer by more than $1.1 million, RB Pierre Thomas reiterated that he still wanted a longer and more lucrative contract from New Orleans before training camp. Thomas, who was a restricted free agent, is under contract for one year and he is due to make $1.684 million during the 2010 season.

Thomas' agent, Lamont Smith, denied a rumor that Thomas is looking for a contract similar to the six-year, $44.805 million deal the Rams' Steven Jackson signed almost two years ago, but Thomas is clearly looking for a significant raise, and the Saints would like to keep Thomas around for the foreseeable future.

With about three weeks to go until training camp, it appears Thomas would like more than the Saints are willing to give. There's still enough time for the two sides to find common ground, however.

The Saints' initial offer to Thomas this offseason was reportedly a four-year, $11 million deal. When asked if he had a preference about whether Thomas plays on a one-year tender or a longer contract this season, Saints head coach Sean Payton said he's just glad Thomas is under contract.

"Well, you try to move the biases or preferences out," Payton recently told PFW. "(Thomas is) somebody that, first off, we're proud of. The journey he's come from, as a free agent, undrafted out of Illinois, and he came in and beat out a fourth-round pick (for a roster spot) that same season. He's pretty much earned everything he's gotten. There's always a special place for guys that have worked that hard. I think he's someone that has endeared himself to our fan base, and certainly he's a great teammate.

"In the end, I think our league does as good a job as any league in any sport in paying attention to that and rewarding those types of players. As a preference, what I'm happy most about is that he's back and he signed his tender."

Thomas, who led the team in rushing in each of the past two seasons, may not be happy until he gets the reward he and Smith believe is deserved. The fourth-year back stayed away from some offseason practices while he was unsigned, but he will be fined if he doesn't report to training camp on July 29.

 
"Well, you try to move the biases or preferences out," Payton recently told PFW. "(Thomas is) somebody that, first off, we're proud of. The journey he's come from, as a free agent, undrafted out of Illinois, and he came in and beat out a fourth-round pick (for a roster spot) that same season. He's pretty much earned everything he's gotten. There's always a special place for guys that have worked that hard. I think he's someone that has endeared himself to our fan base, and certainly he's a great teammate.
Wow, talk about a ringing endorsement! :confused: "hard worker", "great teammate" ... sounds like a description of a very good special teams player, no?
 

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