Denver won the SB in 2015 season, Thomas' first year of his new contract. 13.2mil cap hit in 2015. Averaged a little more over three years, then a dead cap hit of 11mil more over two years after he left.
That's the best example I've heard. But that it came in the first year of a contract, with dead money left over.
https://overthecap.com/player/demaryius-thomas/17/
And if we look at the *game*, that was all defense, and Thomas certainly didn't deliver the win. 1 catch on 6 targets for 8 yards.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201602070den.htm
And if we look at his season, it was pretty meh too. First time he didn't make the Pro Bowl in a while. 7.4 ypt that year, although Manning was pretty crappy too, if I recall right, especially by the SB.
Thomas did make the Pro Bowl in 2016, but again, 7.5ypt. Not good. Not elite.
Was his contract a good investment from his performance. Doesn't look like it.
And again, that's the question. If paying huge money to WRs a good investment. Doesn't look like it.
And asserting that cap hits don't matter is to deny the fundamentals of what matters in a capped league.
Maybe the rest of the team doesn't screw up if they have more money to spend on the rest of the team.[/QUOTE]
So are you saying that if Julio was making less money Dan Quinn and Kyle Shanahan would not have had their collective brain fart against New England? Or if Fitz was making less money the Cardinals defense would have held onto the lead he had JUST given them? My philosophy is that paying huge to ANY player is a good investment if he helps you win games. Playmakers help teams win games. Thomas was not going to have a great game in the Super Bowl with Manning throwing the ball because Peyton's arm was shot and the Panthers had a pretty good defense. Wasn't that the season that got Josh Norman paid? Either way it's a pretty good bet Denver doesn't secure HFA and get to that Super Bowl without Thomas' 105 catches and 1300+ yards. And that was with Brock friggin Oesweiler starting 7 games not to mention Manning's arm falling off at mid-season. He helped them win a Super Bowl.. I suspect Mr. Bowlen would consider his contract money well spent. If we win one with Cooper as our #1 I guarantee you Jerry will feel the same way.