DETAILS RELEASED OF MICHAEL THOMAS’ SUSPENSION BEING THE RESULT OF CLASHING WITH SEAN PAYTON, OTHER COACHES
October 13, 2020
By
Darrelle Lincoln
Writer for Total Pro Sports Since
August 31, 2015
(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
We may very well be seeing a divorce of Michael Thomas and the Saints after his behavior in the last week.
The New Orleans Saints wide receiver’s one-game suspension following a fight with teammate C.J. Gardner-Johnson in practice Saturday was reportedly a result of insubordination toward head coach Sean Payton and the coaching staff.
Jeff Duncan of The Athletic reported Tuesday that Thomas “talked back to coaches, including Payton, and obstinately refused counsel” after the confrontation with Gardner-Johnson. That is what sparked the team’s decision to sit him out of Monday night’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Saints overcame a 20-3 deficit to score a 30-27 win over the Chargers in overtime.
“We had an incident and Sean addressed it and many of the leaders have spoken with Mike as well,” Brees
told reporters after the victory. “We’re going to be all good.”
The suspension came after what Duncan described as a “pattern of troubling behavior,” which included instances where the wideout “barked at team trainers for failing to tape his ankle properly and accused one administrative staffer of illegally going through his mail.”
This is concerning for a player they signed to a five-year, $96.25 million contract extension in July 2019.