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Earl Thomas holding out: 5 reasons he’s smart to hold out from Seattle Seahawks camp

By George Stockburger

SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 07: Earl Thomas #29 of the Seattle Seahawks stands on the field prior to the NFC Wild Card game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions at CenturyLink Field on January 7, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 07: Earl Thomas #29 of the Seattle Seahawks stands on the field prior to the NFC Wild Card game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions at CenturyLink Field on January 7, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – NOVEMBER 13: Eric Berry #29 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after a play against the Carolina Panthers in the 1st quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – NOVEMBER 13: Eric Berry #29 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after a play against the Carolina Panthers in the 1st quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

1. He’s not the highest paid safety in the league

Earl Thomas enters this season with an $8.5 million base salary with a $1.9 million signing bonus. Thomas’s $10.4 million cap hit is the fourth-highest among free safeties behind Eric Berry, Devin McCourty, and the franchise tagged LaMarcus Joyner.

In addition, Thomas’s base salary is fifth among free safeties behind Joyner, Berry, Malcolm Jenkins, and Jimmie Ward.

For someone who is widely considered the best all-around safety in football with six Pro Bowls, three All-Pros, and a Super Bowl ring, Thomas deserves to be paid like the best at his position.

Joyner and Ward have never been Pro Bowl or All-Pro selections, nor have they won Super Bowls. Berry has five Pro Bowls and Jenkins has two Super Bowls along with two Pro Bowls, but both are older than Thomas.

If you’re going to be the best, you need to be paid like the best, and that’s what Thomas wants.

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