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The New Orleans Saints receiving corps got a lot better this offseason with the addition of Emmanuel Sanders, the two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who boasts 11 playoff appearances in his career.
One player eager to get to work with his new teammate is Michael Thomas, the NFL’s all-time leader in receptions during a single season. Thomas spoke about what Sanders brings to New Orleans during a recent conference call with local media.
“I know he comes from championships,” Thomas said. “He’s played in championships. He’s won championships. He’s played at a high level for a long time. He’s a great vet. He’s played in some big-time games, so he knows what it takes. That was just adding another great piece to the puzzle and I can’t wait to see how it enhances our offense.”
One of Sanders’ children has a compromised immune system, so he’s taken extra precautions in light of the coronavirus pandemic. He hasn’t yet talked with Thomas personally, but the Saints’ leading receiver isn’t worried. Actions speak louder than words, and Thomas is excited to see what Sanders will be able to do once the Saints meet for training camp later this summer.
Sanders should be a significant upgrade for the Saints. The numbers he’s averaged in his career — 4.2 receptions and 54.8 receiving yards per game — would have ranked highly for New Orleans last year, where Thomas outpaced the next-best wideout by more than 100 catches.
On paper, adding a talented veteran like Sanders to the equation should only create more opportunities for Thomas. But he’s keeping any speculation on how defenses might cover him differently tight to his vest: “We’re going to find out. Like I said, I’m going to figure it out at the end of the day, but I guess history or things have shown that having another guy on the outside could help you do a lot of cool things. So we’ll find out.”
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