In a message posted on his Twitter account, Earl Thomas announced his decision to skip Seattle Seahawks' 3-day minicamp. The minicamp is mandatory to all contracted players heading into the 2018 NFL season. Thomas and Seahawks' management have been worlds apart in negotiations over a longterm extension. The Safety is entering the final year of his four-year, $40 million deal, and is looking for a pay increase that'll put him in elite company with the best at his position.
Earl Thomas made certain to air on the side caution in his post, pleading with his teammates to understand his decision. "I hope my teammates understand where I'm coming from," Thomas wrote. "I believe this is the right thing to do." By league standard, skipping minicamp generally carries penalties of $14,070 for the first day, $28,150 for the second day and $42,215 for the third day, for a total of $84,435.
Anticipating these issues beforehand, Thomas became the subject of trade rumors late in the season. Seahawks' general manager John Schneider none the less shot down those rumors in an radio interview with Seattle's Sports Radio 950 KJR in April. Earl Thomas remains steadfastly committed to sticking it out in Seattle for the long haul, the team could hardly afford lose another member of their leadership core.