New Orleans Saints

Fresh off signing a record-setting extension, New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas had his sights on remaining in black and gold for as long as possible.

"I'll be back to do a third deal," Thomas told Saints general manager Mickey Loomis after signing his extension, per ESPN's Mike Triplett.

Thomas signed a five-year, $96.25 million deal—which can reach $100 million—on Wednesday, giving him the highest average annual average ($19.25 million) by a receiver in NFL history.

Since being drafted in the second round back in 2016, Thomas started his professional career in a way the NFL had never seen before. He has recorded three consecutive 90-catch, 1,100-yard seasons. His 321 receptions are the most by a player through his first three seasons in league history.

The 6'3", 212-pound wideout led the league with 125 receptions last year for 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns.

And while the two-time Pro Bowler has already established himself among the NFL's elite receivers, he does not intend to get complacent now that he has secured the bag. 

"So now it's on to the next goal. Now you're the highest-paid, and now you gotta go earn it," Thomas said, per Triplett. "So that's the biggest thing I'm trying to do. I'm trying to earn every penny of it."

Thomas will be 32 years old by the time his extension is currently scheduled to expire. It's certainly possible, though, that the two sides could tack on additional years between now and 2024. And judging by his comment to Loomis, that appears to be something Thomas would have interest in at some point down the road.

The New Orleans Saints and wide receiver Michael Thomas reportedly agreed to a five-year, $100 million contract extension Wednesday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.  

The deal makes Thomas the highest-paid wide receiver ever and the first non-quarterback offensive player to receive a $100 million pact, per Rapoport. The reporter added Thomas' contract contains $61 million in guaranteed money.

The 26-year-old has established himself as one of the NFL's most potent offensive weapons. He's amassed 321 catches for 3,787 yards and 23 touchdowns over his first three seasons for New Orleans, which drafted the ex-Ohio State Buckeye 47th overall in 2016. His 125 receptions led the NFL in 2018.

More importantly, Thomas is arguably the game's most efficient pass-catcher. He caught 85.0 percent of passes thrown his way in 2018, which was by far the best among his position group. No other wideout with at least 100 targets accumulated a catch rate better than 74 percent. Notably, he saw 147 targets—or more than nine per game.

The 6'3", 212-pound wideout has also formed an excellent partnership with quarterback Drew Brees, so the extension was a no-brainer with one season left on his four-year rookie deal. ESPN's Dianna Russini reported on June 18 that New Orleans was "comfortable making him the highest-paid receiver in the game."

Although Thomas is locked up, the Saints still have a few important questions to answer regarding their offensive personnel.

The 40-year-old Brees, who showed no signs of slowing down en route to completing a career-high 74.4 percent of his passes last season, will be a free agent after 2019.

Third-year running back Alvin Kamara, who had 3,146 scrimmage yards and 31 touchdowns in his first two seasons, will be a free agent after 2020.

What isn't in question is the status of defensive end Cameron Jordan, who inked a three-year, $52.5 million extension in June.

He and Thomas are Saints for the near future, which looks bright with those two staying in black and gold into the 2020s.   

Wide receiver Michael Thomas and the New Orleans Saints are expected to reach an agreement on an extension "soon," according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

Florio reported Friday that the two sides were "close" to reaching a deal.

As the 2016 second-round pick enters the final year of his rookie deal, Thomas has been holding out from training camp as he seeks a new deal. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported last week that the two-time Pro Bowler wants to be the highest-paid receiver in the league, seeking an average annual value of $20 million:

Florio noted that New Orleans has been willing to go into the $19 million AAV range. Cleveland Browns star Odell Beckham Jr. currently holds the highest AAV among receivers at $18 million. 

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis discussed Thomas' contract situation during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Monday:

"It's always been the business of football," Loomis said. "I'd like to be able to say, 'Hey, we're close, we're not close.' These things, it's not always just financial. There's structure and there's guarantee. There's a lot of moving elements. Hopefully we'll get this resolved fairly quickly, but not yet."

Last week, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reported last week Loomis had grown frustrated with the negotiations:

Thomas has been among the most productive wideouts in the NFL since he debuted in 2016. He has started his career with three consecutive 90-catch, 1,100-yard seasons. His numbers have steadily increased with each passing season, as he led the league with 125 receptions last year for 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns.

Per Pro Football Reference, he tops all players in receptions (321) and is fifth in receiving yards (3,787) since entering the league.

Zion Williamson might be the toast of New Orleans at the moment, but Drew Brees remains the king in the Big Easy.

Brees cemented his status Monday at the New Orleans Saints' practice facility. Williamson was on hand to participate in a quarterback challenge that involved Brees, Alvin Kamara and other Saints players. The event included a series of shots with a basketball and two football throws from 30 and 50 yards.

A sudden-death playoff saw Williamson hit the front rim on a three-pointer. Brees, on the other hand, was money to earn the victory.

Anybody who watched Williamson at Duke knows long-range shooting isn't his specialty.

When the basketball season starts, he should challenge Brees to something a little more up his alley: a dunk contest.

The New Orleans Saints have reportedly released receiver Cameron Meredith, according to Herbie Teope of the Times-Picayune.

Meredith seemingly announced the news on his Instagram account Sunday with a post that said, "It's been fun."

The 26-year-old only appeared in six games with the Saints last season before going on injured reserve with a knee injury. The issue also kept him off the field during both organized team activities and minicamp this summer.

This comes after Meredith missed all of 2017 with a torn ACL as a member of the Chicago Bears.

The veteran agreed to a significant pay cut in the offseason, dropping his base salary from $3.4M to $1.3M, per Field Yates of ESPN. However, the change wasn't enough to keep him on the roster heading into the preseason.

Meredith could still provide value to a team when healthy—he totaled 888 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 2016 with the Bears—but he first needs to prove he can stay on the field.

Meanwhile, the Saints could have a problem with depth at receiver.

Though Michael Thomas is one of the best in the NFL at his position, no other receivers on the roster had more than 500 yards last season.

New Orleans is banking on Ted Ginn and Tre'Quan Smith to provide Drew Brees with some help in the passing game.

Searching for a new home as teams have opened up training camp, running back Theo Riddick will reportedly meet with the New Orleans Saints. 

Per ESPN's Rob Demovsky, Riddick's first visit will be with the Saints. It doesn't specify when the two sides are scheduled to meet. 

The Detroit Lions announced Saturday they released Riddick, along with the signing of defensive tackle Mike Daniels.  

The Saints aren't lacking talent at running back. Alvin Kamara is one of the best pure talents at the position in the NFL with 3,146 yards from scrimmage and 31 total touchdowns over the past two seasons. 

Mark Ingram did leave as a free agent to sign with the Baltimore Ravens. Latavius Murray and Javorius Allen are expected to be the primary backups to Kamara this season. 

Head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees do a great job of spreading the ball around to all of New Orleans' playmakers. Five players had at least 35 touches in 2018, and Ingram's absence opens up a lot of opportunities to get others involved. 

Riddick would have no problem fitting in Payton's offense if the Saints decide to make him an offer. The 28-year-old has primarily been used as a receiver throughout his career. He has recorded at least 53 receptions in each of the previous four seasons.

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton is "optimistic" the team will reach an agreement on an extension with star wideout Michael Thomas in the not-too-distant future.

"I think it's something that hopefully will be resolved soon," Payton told reporters Thursday. "...His agent, [Saints general manager] Mickey [Loomis], those guys are working on it. I'm optimistic it'll be done fairly soon."

Thomas is currently holding out of training camp as he seeks a new deal. The 2016 second-round pick has just one year remaining on his rookie contract, and he will make $1.1 million next season.

He has outperformed his contract and then some to this point. The 6'3", 212-pound wideout has started his career with three consecutive seasons of 90-plus catches and 1,100-plus yards. Per Pro Football Reference, he tops the NFL in receptions (321) and is fifth in receiving yards (3,787) since entering the league.

Thomas led the league with 125 catches last season while piling up 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns.

That performance not only earned him a second consecutive Pro Bowl nod, but he was also named first-team All-Pro.

With training camp getting underway this week, Thomas took to social media to quote the late Nipsey Hussle: 

Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson reported Monday that the Saints had offered Thomas an extension with an average annual value in the $18 million to $19 million range, which would make the 26-year-old the highest-paid receiver in the league:

Per Robinson's report earlier in the week, Thomas is looking to reach the $20 million AAV mark in his new deal. Cleveland Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr. currently holds the honor of being the top-paid wideout with an AAV of $18 million.

As Robinson noted, Thomas' motivation could be tied to the fact that the Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones, the Kansas City Chiefs' Tyreek Hill and the Dallas Cowboys' Amari Cooper, among others, are all in line for big paydays as well:

Cincinnati Bengals star A.J. Green is also up for an extension.

While topping Beckham's figure would put Thomas in the top slot, it could be a short-lived stay at No. 1 for the Saints star if he doesn't raise the bar to an insurmountable total.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas didn't report to the team Thursday for training camp, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.

Thomas is in the final year of his contract and looking for a long-term extension with New Orleans. Rapoport tweeted "the two sides are not there yet" and that the two-time Pro Bowler won't participate in training camp without a new deal.

ESPN's Adam Schefter noted the financial penalties Thomas might face:

Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson reported Monday the Saints had offered a contract that averaged between $18 million and $19 million annually. However, Thomas was looking to get $20 million a year.

According to ESPN's Jeff Darlington, that's the number the Atlanta Falcons could potentially give Julio Jones, who's also in search of an extension.

At the least, it's safe to assume Jones, Thomas or both will reset the market for elite pass-catchers. Odell Beckham Jr. ($18 million) is the highest-paid at the position in terms of average salary, per Spotrac.

Thomas has proved to be one of the NFL's best receivers. He caught a league-high 125 passes in 2018 for 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns. Since entering the league in 2016, he's first in receptions (321) and fifth in receiving yards (3,787), according to Pro Football Reference.

Thomas saw a team-high 147 targets in 2018. Running back Alvin Kamara (105 targets) was second, and tight end Benjamin Watson (46 targets) was third. The Saints can only ask so much more of Kamara out of the backfield, while Watson is no longer on the team.

Were New Orleans to let Thomas walk as a free agent next offseason, his departure would create a massive void in the passing game, giving the team every reason to meet his demands.

The New Orleans Saints have offered wide receiver Michael Thomas a contract extension that would average between $18 million and $19 million annually, according to Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson.

Robinson reported Thomas is hopeful of earning $20 million a year.

Absent a new deal, the two-time Pro Bowler is set to be a free agent after the 2019 season.

Odell Beckham Jr. ($18 million) is the highest-paid receiver in terms of average salary, per Spotrac, so Thomas is poised to possibly reset the market for elite pass-catchers.

Julio Jones might beat him to the punch, though. ESPN's Jeff Darlington reported Monday on SportsCenter that an extension for Jones is likely "imminent" and that his new contract with the Atlanta Falcons could hit the $20 million mark per year.

Robinson noted how the implications of Jones' and Thomas' next contracts will be far-reaching:

Whatever the final terms, the Saints have every reason to make Thomas one of the best compensated at his position. Over the last three seasons, he leads all players in receptions (321) and is fifth in receiving yards (3,787), according to Pro Football Reference.

Football Outsiders ranked Thomas third in DYAR (defense-adjusted yards above replacement) among receivers with at least 50 targets in 2018. Any lingering doubt about his standing as an elite pass-catcher is gone.

ESPN's Dianna Russini reported in June the involved parties were looking to resolve Thomas' situation by the start of training camp. The Saints' camp officially opens Friday, leaving the team with a few more days to iron out the final details.

New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson was sentenced to six months in jail Thursday after being accused of inappropriately touching two women.

According to Davis Potter of the Casper Star-Tribune, the ruling comes after Granderson had reached an agreement with prosecutors on a plea deal, which would have included one year of unsupervised probation. After previously pleading not guilty, Granderson opted to plead no-contest to one count of sexual battery and one count of unlawful contact, per Potter. 

District court judge Tori Kricken, however, rejected the terms of the plea deal on Thursday. Potter noted the two women had believed Granderson would plead guilty under the terms on the deal, and they would not have accepted a plea deal under any other circumstance. 

According to Potter, Granderson made unwanted contact with the two women in November 2018 as the three slept at an off-campus apartment near the University of Wyoming. One woman told police he touched her breast multiple times and also put his hand down her pants, and the second woman said he put his hand in her pants and touched her genitals and buttocks.

The 22-year-old was initially charged with felony third-degree sexual assault as well as misdemeanor sexual battery.

Granderson has been ordered to immediately begin his six-month sentence. Per Potter, Kricken also handed down a one-year jail sentence on the sexual battery charge, though it will be "suspended with one year of supervised probation once he has completed his six months of incarceration."

Granderson went undrafted in the 2019 NFL draft back in April. He signed a free-agent deal with New Orleans, with Saints coach Sean Payton saying the team "felt real comfortable with everything we knew."