Michael Thomas was one of the best players in the NFL, then he disappeared from football. So what really happened to Michael Thomas? (3 Viewers)

[Epic Brownie]

Twitter happened.

 

[bclemms]

Ego destroyed Michael Thomas.

Payton's ego trying to run up the score led to Thomas' injury. Thomas' ego removed his chance to hang around the league longer.

It sucks but it happens a lot, particularly at the WR spot for whatever reason.

 

[Goatman Saint]

There’s a wisdom for pulling players and letting the backups get reps. Between the 20s you’ll notice a lot of teams will pull guys and swap for some of the better backups for resting the starters and to let your high value backups get in the game. And yes, when the score gets where you can, get those key players out. There is no reason your number one receiver your offense runs through to be in on a late running out the ball play. Somewhere on your roster is a wr that can block just fine in that situation.

But then again, there’s also the thought that if an injury is going to happen it’s going to happen. Who’s to say those ligaments in MT foot weren’t already having issues and that play was just when they went. I remember this week McCaffery is out with Achilles tendinitis. I wouldn’t be surprised in the least when he comes back that Achilles snaps. The damage is there, just waiting. Tua’s head same way. Just waiting to happen again.

 

[Elvis]

This is just wrong. Taking out your best players after they've secured your team a win is just smart. We're talking about what 4 run plays, or ultimately what should have been 4 kneeldowns. You think pulling them out of game for that will really do something to their mindset and put fear into their heads? You think that happens in the preseason too? Because those plays were just as meaningless as preseason snaps.

I'm far more concerned about my best guys getting rolled up on during a meaningless snap than I am worried about an off chance that fear is put into their head. Pretty odd take.

Why play them in preseason at all with your logic? Or practice? Better keep them away from sharp objects too. Probably should hire some expendables to hold their hands crossing the street. Let’s get some helicopter coaches to hover over our star players to keep them all safe at all times.

 

[bobad]

But then again, there’s also the thought that if an injury is going to happen it’s going to happen.

Fans get frustrated, unreasonable, and even emotional about injured players because there is little control over them and no meaningful solutions. We can talk about injury management, but that's after the fact.

 

[bobad]

Why play them in preseason at all with your logic? Or practice? Better keep them away from sharp objects too.

Because they have to, if they want to win. After the win is secure, you can pull them. Snaps for young players is highly underrated too...

 

[Jesse Custer]

Why play them in preseason at all with your logic?

So your QB doesn't pull a Bryce Young and suck out loud in the first game of the season.

I get what you mean, though; and I can see both sides of the argument. Some of us are more bitter about seeing a guy who up until that point really hadn't been a problem and was on a Hall of Fame career trajectory who seems to have had that ruin on a meaningless play in a game that was already out of reach. Then again, if the Saints' ortho staff was better, they might've advised CGM and the team to just go with the surgery immediately instead of, "let's rehab it and see how it goes." Sorry, the Saints' internists are some of the best in the biz, but the ortho staff is NOT good.

 

[jasonsw]

The Saints need to resign him and give him a chance. He needs to be in the league. He deserves another chance if you ask me.

Hes done. The NFL has deemed it so.

Lets be honest about MT, Brees was the only qb in the league that could use him fully. He was Brees perfect match. Short accuarate quick, slant passes. Thats what he was best at. He was too slow to be a downfield threat.

 

[SigFreudianSlip]

Hes done. The NFL has deemed it so.

Lets be honest about MT, Brees was the only qb in the league that could use him fully. He was Brees perfect match. Short accuarate quick, slant passes. Thats what he was best at. He was too slow to be a downfield threat.

He’s an awesome vertical threat at TE in my 19 Madden franchises. He’s my first FA acquisition in all of em. lol

 

[Merl]

So your QB doesn't pull a Bryce Young and suck out loud in the first game of the season.

I get what you mean, though; and I can see both sides of the argument. Some of us are more bitter about seeing a guy who up until that point really hadn't been a problem and was on a Hall of Fame career trajectory who seems to have had that ruin on a meaningless play in a game that was already out of reach. Then again, if the Saints' ortho staff was better, they might've advised CGM and the team to just go with the surgery immediately instead of, "let's rehab it and see how it goes." Sorry, the Saints' internists are some of the best in the biz, but the ortho staff is NOT good.

They did recommended the surgery but he decided to consult an outside Ortho doc that said he could try rehab for a month. He never went back and ghosted the team until June when he ended up getting the surgery.

 

[Noble Saint]

Great player. Left it all on the field. Mentally troubled.

 

[Noble Saint]

Hes done. The NFL has deemed it so.

Lets be honest about MT, Brees was the only qb in the league that could use him fully. He was Brees perfect match. Short accuarate quick, slant passes. Thats what he was best at. He was too slow to be a downfield threat.

He had some of the strongest hands I’ve ever seen. He rarely got separation but Drew could throw it back shoulder and MT would just over power the ball and the db.

 

[jasonsw]

He had some of the strongest hands I’ve ever seen. He rarely got separation but Drew could throw it back shoulder and MT would just over power the ball and the db.

Watching those catches was awesome. It really was amazing work and choreography. Its as if those two knew each others mind perfectly. Watching those two together was a true joy. You could see the love and respect those two had for each other.

 

[SuperSaint]

Injuries. Pretty much it. The social media part is just a very tiny reason.

Agree for the most part, but teams are reluctant to add a player who has a history of being a problem off the field.

 

[Chopper Man]

MT put in some valuable years as a #1 WR for the Saints. I am not going to turn on him because he was not resigned by the team and just because he is a declined version of his former self. Mike was a great Saint when he could play and before the injury and I will leave it at that. He caught everything that touched his hands and hung on after some jarring hits. He will be in the Saints Hall of fame and will be fondly remembered just like Jimmy Graham is now.