Dallas Cowboys Trade Rumor: Michael Thomas of Saints 'Calls In Sick' - Conspiracy Theory?
ARLINGTON - This phenomenon occurs quite often in the NBA, less so in the NFL: A guy on the verge of being traded tomorrow is a healthy scratch for the game tonight, because of course neither teams wishes to ruin the swap with an injury to that player.
Maybe we're being conspiracy theorists here. Maybe Michael Thomas really is sick. That's right: Hours ahead of Sunday's Week 8 meeting between his New Orleans Saints and the Colts, Thomas has been moved into an "injury'' category with a last-minute "illness'' that may impact his availability.
It is certainly possible that he is truly sick, of course. Or, tin-foil hats perched on our NFL heads ...
The Dallas Cowboys do not necessarily think of themselves as being "in need'' of help at wide receiver. But there are plenty of observers who disagree with that self-evaluation and are therefore pushing for "America's Team'' to make a deal before the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline.
The most common names kicked about include receivers from two clubs that CowboysSI.com has reported to be "sellers'': The Broncos, the Panthers and the Titans.
In Denver, we know that the Broncos will listen offers on receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton. In fact, a year ago, Dallas bid on Jeudy with a pitch featuring a second-round pick that fell a bit shy. Sutton, meanwhile, is a Texas guy and a big body (6-4, 216) who might fit even better than Jeudy in Dallas' offense.
In Tennessee, we know that the new signing of veteran Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins has gotten them nowhere. Dallas wasn't very interested in him over the summer. In a fire sale (which the Titans deny is their plan), can that change?
Michael Thomas and the Cowboys
And now along comes a new suggestion. Fox Sports analyst and former NFL and Cowboys star Keyshawn Johnson envisions New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas as a target.
Thomas, 29, has fantastic credentials. And at 6-3, 212, he has something in common with the 28-year-old Sutton: He's big and physical, maybe helpful in the red zone, where Dallas has struggled.
Thomas happens to be Keyshawn's nephew, but that's not the point here. (Nor is the trade cost, which would surely be cheap if New Orleans opts to sell; FS1 host Skip Bayless demonstrates how woefully out of touch he is when he wonders if the trade cost would be "a first-round pick.'')
One thing about Sutton that is palatable: He is due the prorated remainder of his $14 million base for this year (about $9 million left now) and is under contract for $27.5 million over the next two years. That makes him a "$13 million receiver'' - same as Michael Gallup, who is presently underperforming for the Cowboys.
But Thomas is even more palatable for 2023 in that he's a $10 million receiver this year, and playing on a one-year deal; that's remarkably affordable, and obviously automatically escapable following this season.
Thomas has experienced major injury issues, but as recently as 2019 was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. A two-time All-Pro, this year through seven games he's got 34 catches for 371 yards and a touchdown.
The major obstacle - and maybe Keyshawn knows something here that we don't - is that there is almost no way at this point that New Orleans views itself as a "seller.'' The Saints are just 3-4, but they sit only one game behind the Atlanta Falcons for first place in a very winnable NFC South. New Orleans, with a playmaking defense and Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave and a healthy Thomas on offense feature the division's most proven collection of star power.
But if Thomas isn't "healthy'' in whatever form? Let's just say, "Conspiracy theorists, unite!'' while we keep an eye out for the latest from Saints vs. Colts.
