So What's Up With Earl?

[RiverDog]

Judging by the comments coming out of the Hawks, they don't seem to have much interest in resigning Earl Thomas and that it's likely turning into a rather ugly divorce. Now I read an article that says he's seeking a $15M per year contract, which would exceed Eric Berry's amount and would make him the highest paid safety in the league.

https://nfltraderumors.co/earl-thomas-r ... 2pP6lFQkqg

I have a hard time believing that even Jerry Jones isn't that stupid.

Do we have any options at this point? Do we dare use the FT to try to leverage something out of a team like the Cowboys? Or do we need to keep the FT in our pocket in case we can't come to terms with Frank Clark? Does Earl even want to play here anymore?

[c_hawkbob]

Already said my goodbyes to Earl and I believe the team has as well. Nothing in this story's new visit to the new cycle has changed that.

[NorthHawk]

Cowboys don't have the Cap room going forward.
They will have Prescott and Elliot to sign for top $$, so ET is out of their salary range.
He'll probably end up in SF or Oakland for the most money, but I doubt it exceeds Berry's contract.
But you never know with teams wanting a big name presence or who have a large Cap room.

[burrrton]

What Bob said.

[RiverDog]

Yea, kinda my sentiment, too. Earl has moved out of the Seattle area and John Schneider has been unusually blunt when asked about ET, so he's not coming back. My only thoughts were if we had any kind of leverage to either control where he goes or get something for in return for the rights we hold.

[Aseahawkfan]

Earl's done in Seattle. He maybe has a few more good years in, but he can't take the brutal NFL any more with his style of play. Intense guys like Earl and Kam are amazing, but that style of play takes its toll. Earl's best bet is to become an amazing coverage safety and hopefully get a few more good years of high pay.

[jshawaii22]

Seahawks and ET are divorcing. It's over and he wants 13m a year at 30 years old. Forget it. Clark and other FA's much more important right now.

[idhawkman]

Earl's finger is going to cost him a lot in free agency and it's sealed his fate in Seattle

[Rambo2014]

Just heard he is coming to the Rams and also Clay Matthews and Weddle

Rams # 1

[idhawkman]

Just heard he is coming to the Rams and also Clay Matthews and Weddle

Rams # 1

That would be absolutely great for us. I hope that actually happens.

[NorthHawk]

They signed Weddle.

[NorthHawk]

According to this article in PFT, he wants $14 million/year.
With all of the good Safety's on the market I doubt he gets close to it.
Unless, that is, a team looking to make a splash and has lots of Cap
Space takes the bait, but he's been too injured the last few years
to justify that salary.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2 ... on-a-year/

[mykc14]

According to this article in PFT, he wants $14 million/year.
With all of the good Safety's on the market I doubt he gets close to it.
Unless, that is, a team looking to make a splash and has lots of Cap
Space takes the bait, but he's been too injured the last few years
to justify that salary.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2 ... on-a-year/

I don't know Matheau just got 14 mil/per. I wonder where ET falls in the S market, but he's obviosly lower on the list that Honey Badger! I hope he doesn't get the market that he thinks he should. I want all of the Hawks who helped ruin what could have been an awesome long-term SB contender to wish they would have stayed with the Hawks (I know probably not going to happen and probably petty of me but too bad!).

[c_hawkbob]

I wonder where ET falls in the S market, but he's obviosly lower on the list that Honey Badger!

I don't think that's such a given. Mathieu's younger, but that's all he's got over Earl. Unless there are complications with that injury ET's still the better player right now.

[RiverDog]

I wonder where ET falls in the S market, but he's obviosly lower on the list that Honey Badger!

I don't think that's such a given. Mathieu's younger, but that's all he's got over Earl. Unless there are complications with that injury ET's still the better player right now.

I agree that as a safety that Earl has an edge over Mathieu. But Honey Badger also plays cornerback as well as safety, so he's a little more of a jack of all trades than Earl is, which could be an important consideration as a team tries to mix and match to cover for injuries.

[NorthHawk]

The normal price trajectory at this time of the year is downward.
Meaning as the days go by, the price goes down. Maybe ET will be
an outlier this year, but there hasn't been a lot of talk about him
being in demand (at least public talk), so after today it may be
doubtful that he gets his wish to be paid around $14 million.

[mykc14]

I don't think that's such a given. Mathieu's younger, but that's all he's got over Earl. Unless there are complications with that injury ET's still the better player right now.

What I meant by my comment, and this is pure conjecture on my part, is that if ET is looking for a $14 mil/yr contract and KC gave 14 mil to Honey Badger then they valued HB over ET. Obviously there is way too much that we don't know- maybe KC offered more or the same to ET and he turned it down. Maybe ET has higher offers from others. Maybe ET is just waiting for Dallas to give him is $$ and then sign with him.

[mykc14]

I’m predicting that he signs with the browns. They are making big moves and now have a hole at S. I wouldn’t be shocked if they give him that 14 mil/yr he’s looking for too.

[idhawkman]

I don't think that's such a given. Mathieu's younger, but that's all he's got over Earl. Unless there are complications with that injury ET's still the better player right now.

I would argue that he's not only got age on ET but a better injury history than ET. That would count a lot in my book if I were a GM (but... I'm not a GM so what do I know?)

[NorthHawk]

That, and the way he ended his tenure in Seattle might put some teams off a little.
Enough to not want to spend the top $$ they might otherwise do.
There's a fine line between looking out for yourself and being selfish and in some
circles his wooing the Cowboys and giving the FO the finger may have crossed
the line.
But if a team thinks the last missing piece to the puzzle is a FS with a lot of
experience and range, they might pay up. Otherwise he might end up in SF
for less than he wants or expects.

[RiverDog]

That, and the way he ended his tenure in Seattle might put some teams off a little. Enough to not want to spend the top $$ they might otherwise do. There's a fine line between looking out for yourself and being selfish and in some circles his wooing the Cowboys and giving the FO the finger may have crossed the line.

Agreed. Lots of players have contract disputes with their teams, but most are enough of a professional to separate the business aspect of the game from their emotions. Earl's middle finger, combined with his holdout, may have hurt his marketability.

[c_hawkbob]

Earl's guaranteed money (the true value of any NFL contract) is $32M, bettering that of Collins at $26M, making Earl the real highest paid Safety in the league now.

[RiverDog]

Yup, and once again, I was wrong.

[mykc14]

Earl's guaranteed money (the true value of any NFL contract) is $32M, bettering that of Collins at $26M, making Earl the real highest paid Safety in the league now.

Yeah it looks like he basically got what he was looking for. I don't know exactly how much Honey Badger got guaranteed but you have to believe on a 3 year contract it would be less than 32. Eric Berry's was like 30 mil. I wonder what we would have offered him had he handled his business differently.

[c_hawkbob]

Yup, and once again, I was wrong.

You're right more than you're wrong man.

[RiverDog]

Yup, and once again, I was wrong.

You're right more than you're wrong man.

Whether or not it's accurate, I appreciate the spirit of your complement. Thanks, my friend!