NFL star Michael Thomas rips journalist over release report, accuses Saints of trying to ruin players’ value

Michael Thomas has experienced his fair share of highs and lows throughout his eight-year NFL career. He received offensive player of the year honors following his standout 2019 season, but he has also faced multiple injury setbacks. 

A foot injury forced him to finish the 2022 season on injured reserve, and an injury also limited him to 10 games this past season. Thomas signed a one-year $10 million restructured contract extension with the New Orleans Saints in 2023. On Thursday, The Times-Picayune columnist Jeff Duncan reported that the Saints plan to release the veteran wide receiver next week at the start of the NFL’s new league year.

Thomas took issue with the report and took to social media to dispute how his pending release was characterized. Thomas took aim at Duncan in a series of inflammatory posts on X, the company formerly known as Twitter, and suggested his upcoming separation was simply the result of his expiring contract.

“How they planning on releasing me if I was on a 1 year deal,” Thomas wrote in one of the posts.

Thomas also accused Duncan of attempting to “ruin players value.”

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“The Saints leak information to him to try to ruin players value but see I’m not broke so I can speak on it,” Thomas said.

The Saints had no comment when asked by Fox News Digital about Thomas’ post.

According to information from Over the Cap, Thomas’ contract was structured in a way that allowed the Saints to have flexibility. Releasing Thomas will likely save New Orleans just over $1 million against the team’s 2024 salary cap.

The Saints selected Thomas in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He finished his rookie campaign with 1,137 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

Thomas became one of the most reliable possession receivers in the league, and he ended each of his first four seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. 

Thomas’ last four years have been particularly injury-riddled, with the wideout appearing in 20 games over the past four seasons.

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