Your opinion on signing Earl Thomas after week 1

[fivetwos]

I think they are waiting until after week one to sign him.

I feel that a condition of McCarthy's "buy in" was having the ability to cut the player at the first sign of trouble. No guarantees after week one allows him to do just that.

But we will soon see. Thomas may just be so toxic that nobody wants him.

Well now that every team HAS waited past week one, that tells us that no one has plans to give him much of a guarantee, as far as big money bonus etc.

Just because week one is gone doesnt mean he still isnt demaning a guarantee though (up front cash), and it could be to where teams dont find him worth it. People here expect him to accept a minimum deal...and that in itself may backfire on the team if he did. If he is anywhere near the point of accepting that, good for him.

Jerry of course is a risk taker, Thomas wants to play in Dallas, and the team desperately needs a safety, so a deal makes plenty of sense.

At this point I'm anticipating average to poor safety play tonight, but I'm hoping for two things....

Signing Thomas isnt done based on only that, and more importantly....Jerry doesnt do it without the blessing of MM and goes ahead and strains things already.

Part of me thinks the team is split on signing him, which makes it a no....and part of me thinks it makes too much sense not to do it.

Hopefully he signs somewhere tomorrow and ends this either way.

 

[Stash]

Well now that every team HAS waited past week one, that tells us that no one has plans to give him much of a guarantee, as far as big money bonus etc.

Just because week one is gone doesnt mean he still isnt demaning a guarantee though (up front cash), and it could be to where teams dont find him worth it. People here expect him to accept a minimum deal...and that in itself may backfire on the team if he did. If he is anywhere near the point of accepting that, good for him.

He's in no position to "demand" anything. And if he is, he can sit and rot, because that means he's still screwed up in the head and out of touch with reality. If that's the case, I want no part of him anyway. He nuked his career in Baltimore, and he can either try to repair his reputation, or he can be a former NFL player.

Jerry of course is a risk taker, Thomas wants to play in Dallas, and the team desperately needs a safety, so a deal makes plenty of sense.

At this point I'm anticipating average to poor safety play tonight, but I'm hoping for two things....

Signing Thomas isnt done based on only that, and more importantly....Jerry doesnt do it without the blessing of MM and goes ahead and strains things already.

Part of me thinks the team is split on signing him, which makes it a no....and part of me thinks it makes too much sense not to do it.

Hopefully he signs somewhere tomorrow and ends this either way.

I think that rather than a "split", that there are certain conditions that the coaching staff wants, in this case, no guarantees and the ability to cut bait at the first sign of trouble. Waiting until after week one does exactly that. And I think that it would represent a collaboration and consideration by all parties, in other words, a good thing.

I don't think anyone came right out and said "No!", I think that all parties communicated their position and their concerns, and the pluses and minuses that could come with the move. Again, I consider that a good thing.

But as you said, we will soon see. If it doesn't happen after week one, I doubt it happens at all in Dallas.

 

[gjkoeppen]

My question is "will they" not "should they" sign him.


I don't think waiting until after week 1 is an issue.

They could sign him to a Greg Hardy type contract where the majority of the pay is from a weekly bonus.

Example:
Salary: 1M
Per Game Bonus: 500K

That's 9M total but only 1M is guaranteed.

If they waited until after week 1, then 25% of his salary is still guaranteed.
- If the contract was 8M, then 2M would be guaranteed.

I don't think they're interested in ET at this point.

I think that would only change if they lose game 1 with the top problem being the play of the Safeties and even then it still seems unlikely.

First that 25% if signed after week 1 is if later they are cut and that 25% only pertains to his salary and not any bonus money not guaranteed. That 1mil salary or 66.66K per week for 15 weeks and say after week 6 he gets cut the Cowboys would be on the hook for only 16.66K for those last 11 weeks or 183.3K total.

That being said, I very seriously doubt the Cowboys are interested in signing him because of his personal quirks he's developed the past couple of years. His being late for meetings or just blowing them off and his constant arguing with coaches and his sucker punching a team mate.
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[mperfection]

I find it verrry interesting that with all of the Cowboys DB’s on the 53-man roster and the 16-man practice squad roster, NO ONE wears #29–at present...

 

[gjkoeppen]

The total silence from the ET side is what sways my opinion. To me, they must have a something in place or they would be out and about making a little noise and looking for a landing spot. I think they have been told to stay quiet until after week 1 and ET will finally get what he has wanted all along. I think Dallas wanted the negativity surrounding his departure from Baltimore to die down a little and the week 1 salary rules help them as well. I just don’t see how they can pass on this situation if they are serious about winning. If he acts up, you cut him. If he straightens up because he is finally happy, you are much closer to winning a super bowl than you are today. I think it’s getting done and everything is already in place. That’s really the only thing that makes sense and explains the entire situation since he was released.

That may be the only thing that makes sense in your mind but here's something that blows that theory up. No other teams have shown ANY interest in signing him. The Cowboys aren't the only team that may need help at safety. The problem probably isn't related to his on the field play although if he was still that Pro Bowl type player I doubt that the ravens would have cut him. The problem is probably personal issues like missing meetings or just blowing them off and constantly arguing with coaches and then the sucker punching of a team mate are the reasons.
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[fivetwos]

He's in no position to "demand" anything. And if he is, he can sit and rot, because that means he's still screwed up in the head and out of touch with reality. If that's the case, I want no part of him anyway. He nuked his career in Baltimore, and he can either try to repair his reputation, or he can be a former NFL player.



I think that rather than a "split", that there are certain conditions that the coaching staff wants, in this case, no guarantees and the ability to cut bait at the first sign of trouble. Waiting until after week one does exactly that. And I think that it would represent a collaboration and consideration by all parties, in other words, a good thing.

I don't think anyone came right out and said "No!", I think that all parties communicated their position and their concerns, and the pluses and minuses that could come with the move. Again, I consider that a good thing.

But as you said, we will soon see. If it doesn't happen after week one, I doubt it happens at all in Dallas.

Just because he is in no position to do something doesnt mean he isnt.

 

[Mr_437]

Hope GM Jerry doesn't sign him cause I don't think Big Mike wants him, but in the end Earl Thomas will be a Cowboy soon.

All the reasons the Ravens cut him are the reasons I think DAL should pass: blowing coverages, lack of tackling, lost a step, not being locked in to the preparation of a game.

 

[Swanny]

Nfl football is 100% entertainment. I am all for signing ET. Would be entertaining

 

[Aviano90]

I wish the NFL would rule on his contract grievance with the Ravens. His $10 million was guaranteed for 2020 but the Ravens are trying to get out of the guarantee.

That contract does have offset language so if the NFL rules the Ravens have to honor the $10 million guarantee, they would get reimbursed any amount Thomas’ new team would pay him up to that amount.

Thomas could really take a minimum contract with a new team and stick the Ravens with his guaranteed salary if the NFL rules in his favor, but since the $10 million is in limbo, Thomas may be trying to get a new team to give him as high of a contract as possible in case the Ravens are able to escape paying him his $10 million guaranteed.

 

[slick325]

Mike Fisher, in his video discussing Skip Bayless, alluded to there being something else with Earl Thomas that is keeping the Cowboys and possibly other teams from signing the former All-Pro safety. Something other than the camp fight and behavior in Baltimore. Something other than the middle finger given to Pete Carroll as he was carted off the field as a Seahawks player. Something more than the incident with his brother and the women at the Air BnB. Fisher stopped short of saying anything because as a journalist he hadn't investigated things fully himself.

One thing over looked in the entire incident involving his wife, is something Nina Thomas stated in the police report given once arrested. Here is a quote from an article providing info on what was in the police report: "Nina claims Earl, 30, left their home earlier in the day after an argument over the NFL player's drinking."

The final six words of the sentence is what I speculate NFL teams are looking into or have looked into. This, if true, could be the cause of the behavior he has exhibited since signing in Baltimore.

I have no clue regarding the veracity of Nina Thomas's statement but the same article purports that Earl Thomas told a similar story regarding the events that led up to the incident that night with his wife. Maybe that is what has caused a holding pattern along with not wanting to guarantee the vet player's contract, thus waiting until after week 1 to sign him.

Speculation on my part. Admittedly.

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

I am all for them signing Earl after week one, with no guaranteed cash. If he acts up. Cut him.

Yup. How much damage can a guy do in a lockeroom in one week. Just cut him if he starts acting funny

 

[Stash]

Just because he is in no position to do something doesnt mean he isnt.

Well then, as I said, if he is, I want no part of him anyway so it's not a factor in my mind. I think every team in the league would laugh in both his and his agent's faces at the mere idea of a player in his position making "demands".

 

[fivetwos]

Well then, as I said, if he is, I want no part of him anyway so it's not a factor in my mind. I think every team in the league would laugh in both his and his agent's faces at the mere idea of a player in his position making "demands".

Semantics.

Call it...."wanting to get paid." I still have a tough time believing he will sign soon for little money.

 

[Stash]

Semantics.

Call it...."wanting to get paid." I still have a tough time believing he will sign soon for little money.

He can “want” as much as he wants. The fact is that he is in no position to dictate anything to anyone.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Two things we have to remember......Jerry's recent comment that ET talent isn't a question with them and we were willing to give up a 2nd round pick AND sign him a major deal just two years ago. In other words, they loved the player a lot and wanted him here real bad. So what's changed other than the flare-up with the Ravens.....he was PFF 6th rated safety last year. My point, as I've said before, If ET owns the F-up with the Ravens and convinces them that's not who he is, this gets done. In fact, don't be surprised it's not 1-year deal but 2-3 years where they can cut him after year 1.

 

[johneric8]

You guys are completely over analyzing this ET situation. He is light years better than our current safeties, and the cowboys have always coveted him, so if he can be had reasonably, and be cut for behavioral issues he will be signed point blank.

 

[cern]

he has shown himself to be a mercenary. are we prepared to make the highest offer for his services? i hope not.

 

[fivetwos]

He can “want” as much as he wants. The fact is that he is in no position to dictate anything to anyone.

Not at all.

I'm speculating that he may be there still. If there is no news on this by Tuesday I would think that's the case.

There should be plenty of teams that will have him on a prove it deal.

I'm still figuring he wants 10m to sign, plus a salary.

 

[Flamma]

I'll hold off until after the game. I'm pretty sure that's going to determine whether or not Dallas Signs ET.

 

[jterrell]

I think 1 of 2 things is true.

Either
1. Earl and Dallas already have an agreement and are just waiting until week 2 to sign it.
Or
2. Earl's issues extend far and wide and are well known throughout the league.

I lean heavily to 2 because of logic TBH but 1 wouldn't shock me.
What Logic?
Well Earl has always signed for the most money he could
He has taken all of 1 visit since his release and is easily the highest rated guy available.
So there has to be some major concerns that have driven teams off even trying him out or having him visit the facilities and staff.
Unless ... he does have a secret deal and has chosen not to visit folks.
But Earl likely knows to keep his options open and seek the best deals possible right up til signing because promises mean zero.