Demaryius Thomas won’t attend Denver Broncos offseason workouts
Demaryius Thomas won’t be working out with Peyton Manning and is skipping the Denver Broncos offseason workouts after he was given the franchise tag earlier this offseason.
Peyton Manning has had Demaryius Thomas as his favorite target during his time with the Denver Broncos, but he’ll have to adjust his offseason workouts this year with Thomas boycotting them after he was slapped with the franchise tag.
More from Denver Broncos
- NFL Power Rankings: Who is the best quarterback in each division?
- Future fires unmistakable NSFW shot at Russell Wilson in new song
- Russell Wilson gets key update on important weapon
- NFL Rumors: D-Hop’s top offers, Cowboys secret sauce, and Russ catches a break
- NFL Power Rankings: Which teams will have the best rushing attacks this season?
Manning has worked out at Duke University the last few offseasons and plans to do again this offseason, but according to Jeff Legwold, Thomas isn’t planning on making the trip to Durham, N.C. to run some routes and catch some passes from the future Hall of Famer.
This isn’t unorthodox for players who are given the franchise tag to skip offseason workouts or at the very least threaten to hold out from offseason workouts, so this is hardly a surprise.
Just spoke to Demaryius Thomas -- in L.A for Call of Duty charity event ... he won't work out at Duke w/Mannjng or be at offseason program.
— Jeff Legwold (@Jeff_Legwold) March 30, 2015
The next step for Thomas is continuing to workout in Atlanta and getting his body right and working through some soreness in his Achilles and working toward a contract extension before the July 15 deadline.
Demaryius Thomas said he hopes new deal gets worked out -- "I want it to" -- has been working out in Atlanta.
— Jeff Legwold (@Jeff_Legwold) March 30, 2015
A new deal for Thomas could be made easier if the Dallas Cowboys come to an agreement with their franchised wide receiver, Dez Bryant who could set the market for his fellow receivers.
The Broncos could have the framework set for an extension if Bryant agrees to an extension before the July 15 deal, but it’s not a prerequisite for the Broncos to work out a deal for Thomas.
NFL.com’s Chris Wesseling writes an extension for Thomas could pay him as much as $30 million in guaranteed money and pay him $13-15 million per year.
With that much money waiting for Thomas it is easier to understand why Thomas would be hesitant to workout with Manning or for the Broncos and risk losing that cash. Sure, he’s getting $12.8 million for signing his franchise tender, but NFL players need the long-term security that isn’t there on a one-year tender offer.
Not attending the offseason workouts doesn’t mean he’s not going to put up Pro Bowl numbers again or any type of acrimony between he and Manning or the organization. He’s simply making a business decision just like the Broncos made a business decision when they franchised him.
Thomas set career-highs in receptions with 111 and yards with 1,619, which both ranked second in the NFL and caught 11 touchdowns in 2014 en route to making his third straight Pro Bowl team.
More from FanSided
- Joe Burrow owes Justin Herbert a thank you note after new contract
- Chiefs gamble at wide receiver could already be biting them back
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- Yankees: Aaron Boone gives optimistic return date for Aaron Judge
- MLB Rumors: Yankees-Phillies trade showdown, Mariners swoop, India goes to Seattle