Ravens release Pro Bowl safety Earl Thomas for conduct detrimental
After failing to find a trade partner, the Baltimore Ravens have terminated the contract of perennial Pro Bowl safety Earl Thomas on Sunday just one year after signing a massive four-year contract worth $55 million in free agency last season.
Thomas was dismissed from practice on Friday after he got into a fight with fellow starting safety Chuck Clark over a missed assignment that led to a blown coverage in full-team drills.
“We have terminated S Earl Thomas’ contract for personal conduct that has adversely affected the Baltimore Ravens,” the statement read.
Thomas issued a statement of his own via Instagram shortly after the team issued theirs.
“Appreciate the Ravens organization for the opportunity,” Thomas began. “Had a great run. Wish things would have ended different but you live and you learn. Thank you, Eric DeCosta, and everyone else who played a role in bringing me to B-More. Wish you guys the best.”
According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the team will attempt to recoup the $10 million that Thomas was slated to make this season. Per the wording of the statement announcing his release, the conduct adversely detrimental to the team would be the reason that the Ravens would seek his 2020 salary.
As far as salary cap implications, Thomas will count for $5 million in 2020 and $10 million in 2021 in terms of dead money on the Ravens’ salary cap, assuming the team can support voiding his $10 million in guaranteed salary this year, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported. Thomas and his representatives could choose to file a grievance and the team would carry an additional $4 million in dead cap until the grievance is resolved Pelissero also reported.
Apparently, there won’t much love lost between Thomas and his now-former teammates because according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Ravens’ player leadership supported the release of the three-time All-Pro. On Saturday, Garafolo reported that the team leaders communicated to management that they would be behind a trade or release.
The Ravens swift action with Thomas shows the kind of zero-tolerance distraction policy of a team that focused solely on the business of winning a championship in 2020 and are willing to cut bait with anyone who threatens to interfere with those goals no matter how prestigious the pedigree.
This is an unfortunate development for the 31-year old Thomas who reported to training camp in terrific shape, looking leaner and meaner than he has in years. However, don’t expect him to stay on the open market for long. As soon as rumors that he was available via trade, there reportedly several teams interested.
One team, in particular, was the Dallas Cowboys who have been trying to get Thomas on their roster since he was still a member of the Seattle Seahawks. Maybe the Texas native would be willing to take a bit of discounted rate to play for his favorite team growing up for at least the 2020 season since they are slated to play both of his former teams this year and it would give him two cracks at revenge.
In his lone season in Baltimore Thomas appeared in and started 15 games in the regular season recording 47 tackles, two interceptions, his first two career sacks, six quarterback hits, four pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and earned his seventh career Pro Bowl nod. In the Ravens’ lone playoff game against the Tennessee Titans, he recorded seven combined tackles, a sack, a quarterback hit and a tackle for loss.
During Thomas’ absence, third-year safety DeShon Elliott has been running with the first team in his stead but now that the seasoned veteran is no longer part of the equation, it remains to be seen whether Elliott will be the permanent solution at the other safety spot next to Clark.
Elliott was a sixth round pick out of Texas in 2018 and has had both of his first two seasons in the league cut short by season-ending injuries. He has flashed playmaking potential in the times that he has been on the field in practice, in the six regular-season games he appeared in last year and definitely in the preseason in both 2018 and 2019 where he has received his most extensive looks in live-action.
