“[Earl] Thomas has deserved to be paid like a marquee NFL safety since he entered the league”
-Kenneth Arthur, Field Gulls
Quotable: Earl Thomas gets paid like a marquee safety
The Seattle Seahawks gave Earl Thomas a four-year, $40 million contract extension on Monday.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Seattle Seahawks gave free safety Earl Thomas a long-term contract extension on Monday. Thomas was given a four-year deal worth a whopping $40 million, with $27.725 million guaranteed. Getting Thomas signed to an extension was something many thought might not be possible given the big contracts the Seahawks still have to give out.
Seattle gave Kam Chancellor a big deal last season, and they're working on one for cornerback Richard Sherman. On top of that, quarterback Russell Wilson will command top dollar when he's up for a new contract. Thomas is more than deserving of this pact, and the fact that the Seahawks pulled the trigger on it likely shows they feel confident in getting Sherman and Wilson signed.
“It’s not fair for anybody to go around punching people just doing their job.”
-Kenneth Johnson, victim of alleged assault
Chicago Bears wide receiver Josh Morgan is potentially facing charges after an alleged incident outside of a Washington, D.C., nightclub on Sunday. Morgan reportedly punched a valet, Kenneth Johnson, after the valet looked at the two women Morgan got out of the car with. Johnson said that he "was just standing there, and I looked up, and in the blink of an eye he just punched me right in the mouth."
Johnson said he did nothing to provoke Morgan, who also claimed that he did nothing wrong and isn’t worried about the accusations. Morgan stated that he did not touch Johnson at all, according to NBC Washington. The Bears have released your standard “we’re looking into it” statement regarding the incident.
"[Michael Vick is] going to be the Jets' starting QB. He's way better than Geno Smith."
Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy was asked about both the New York Giants and New York Jets on Monday, and he had a few choice things to say about both teams. When asked about the Jets, McCoy told Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post that Michael Vick will win the starting job over second-year quarterback Geno Smith.
“He’s going to be the Jets’ starting QB. He’s way better than Geno Smith. Way Better. That’s no contest,” McCoy said. When asked about the Giants, he told Hubbuch that he’s “not paying attention to the Giants,” and suggested they haven’t done much this offseason to worry him.
"The Falcons are clearly seeding the ground for something."
-Dave Choate, The Falcoholic
The Atlanta Falcons are open to trading down or up in the upcoming 2014 NFL Draft. We've known that Thomas Dimitroff is a man who likes to deal on draft day, but reports on Monday suggested that the Falcons moving up from No. 6 to somewhere within the top four is a "very real" possibility.
The folks over at The Falcoholic are taking the reports seriously. They already knew that Dimitroff was willing to deal, especially given that he’s already said so, but they’re taking a closer look at the reports and figure that the chances of Atlanta actually being around when pick No. 6 comes up are very low. At this point, seeing them move in either direction -- whether it be up for defensive end Jadeveon Clowney or down for more picks -- would be the least shocking thing to happen in the first round.
"Saddle [Sammy Watkins] on the opposite side of Josh Gordon -- wow!"
-Ray Farmer, Browns GM
Cleveland Browns general manager Ray Farmer held a pre-draft press conference on Monday, and Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins’ name came up, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Watkins is considered the top receiver in a draft that might be better than we’ve ever seen at the position.
“It would be big, big, ginormous (to get him),” Farmer said. He went on to say that putting Watkins opposite explosive playmaker Josh Gordon would be a great combination. Watkins going to Cleveland has been a popular choice in many mock drafts, though he doesn’t exactly meet their primary need of a new quarterback.
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