Saints do not plan to pay RB Thomas much

The New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas was one of the key parts in Saints’ trio-RB scheme, but since becoming a restricted free agent earlier this offseason he has been asking for a salary raise and has not received anything other than a one-year, $1.7 million tender offer.

The No. 23 Saints jersey has not been seen in Saints’ practice facility for several days since the beginning of first minicamp. Comparing to Thomas’ positive attitude towards his contract at first offseason workouts, he is now far away from being happy and optimistic. He is not expecting a lucrative long-term deal like the one given to guard Jahri Evans, but he thinks he is at least worth a four-year, $11 million contract, which, however, on Saints’ side is too much for a backup running back.

Yeah, that’s the point. The Saints take Thomas as a backup running back, and the franchise has not tradition to pay much for a backup player. They know well that a backup player lacking starting experience could hardly find a new job of good pay with another team. And they are confident that Thomas will anyway return to the team, just like safety Darren Sharper. Even if Thomas is determined to leave, the team still has exclusive right on the restricted free agent and owns the right to negotiate any possible trade.

Saints RB Pierre Thomas sipped minicamp

The New Orleans Saints began the team’s first mandatory practices on this morning, but their leading running back Pierre Thomas was not seen, neither was two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jammal Brown. Reports said that both skipped the minicamp for unhappiness with the slow negotiation on their new contracts.

According to Saints head coach Sean Payton, Brown was expected to be absent because he had been unavailable for the all the previous practices after having an offseason surgery, and Thomas’ absence was neither a surprise as he already skipped last weekend’s optional practices. Both of the absent players are restricted free agents yet to sign their tender offer while negotiating with the team on new contracts. Under such condition, the two won’t be fined for missing mandatory practices as they are not applied to any contract terms. However the head coach still hopes the two to wear back their Saints jerseys for offseason team practices as he does not think missing workouts is the best way to show unhappiness with contract.

To fans’ gladness, tight end Jeremy Shockey did appear for the minicamp. He suffered a seizure last weekend and was sent to hospital shortly afterwards. His absence from Friday’s practice caused a lot of doubts and now that he appeared for the mandatory practices, we could be assured that he has been really fine for the new season.