Thomas skips start of Seahawks voluntary workouts

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Earl Thomas apparently has sent the first of what may become multiple messages that he won’t play for the Seattle Seahawks this year without a new contract. Or a trade.

Seattle’s three-time All-Pro free safety began his final contract year by skipping the start of Seattle’s voluntary offseason workouts on Monday, according to Brock Huard of the Seahawks’ flagship radio station KIRO AM.

The Seahawks cannot fine Thomas because these conditioning workouts and exercises with the team’s training staff are optional, per the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement. So are the organized team activities that begin May 21.

The only mandatory event of the offseason is the Seahawks’ veteran minicamp on June 12-14. The team could fine Thomas for missing that, and for missing any portion of training camp, which begins in late July.

The Seahawks have had stars skip these offseason workouts in previous springs. Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett used to stay at his winter home in Hawaii then show up for the mandatory minicamp and training camp.

Thomas, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, turns 29 next month. He has been talking about wanting an extension from the Seahawks since August — on the day Seahawks general manager John Schneider gave safety Kam Chancellor a contract extension with $25 million guaranteed — at age 29.

“I was watching very closely,” Thomas said of Chancellor’s negotiations with the Seahawks. “You want to see, because I feel we are all right around the same age. You know, they brought a lot of new guys in.

“If the writing is on the wall, you know, I want to be able to see it. Because I know I’ll be next. … And when that time comes, it comes.”

That time apparently has arrived — at least in Thomas’ mind.

He said in an ESPN interview at his sixth Pro Bowl, in January, that he didn’t see himself playing the 2018 season under his current contract.

“As far as my future in Seattle, I think if they want me, you know, money talks,” Thomas said. “We’ll get something accomplished. Other than that, I’m just taking it one day at a time.”

Thomas has said “money talks” before, including after he walked into the Dallas Cowboys’ locker room following Seattle’s win in Arlington, Texas, on Christmas Eve and told Dallas coach Jason Garrett to “come get me.”

Thomas explained minutes later that day he meant after the Seahawks were done “kicking me to the curb” in the next year.

The Cowboys released veteran wide receiver Dez Bryant on Friday, saving $8 million against their salary cap in 2018. That move has fueled speculation Dallas is preparing an attempt to trade for Thomas.

Thomas has a base salary of $8.5 million this year, with a $10.4 million cap charge. The Seahawks would save $8.5 million in cap space by trading him. They have been asking for two high-round draft choices — and perhaps more — for Thomas.

In the meantime, Thomas has started using whatever leverage he has. At least while it isn’t costing him anything.