Category: Michael Thomas

Watch: The best catch Michael Thomas made in every game during 2019

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas made NFL history by setting a new receptions record in 2019, but some plays shine brightest.

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Michael Thomas caught a lot of passes for the New Orleans Saints in 2019, but which one was your favorite? Which was the most memorable? What moment comes to mind first when you reflect on the reigning Offensive Player of the Year?

To help sort out those thoughts, the NFL’s official Twitter account shared a highlight reel featuring Thomas’s best play from every game he played in 2019. It’s a lot to sit through, but you won’t find many better highlights around the league. It just goes to show how consistently Thomas beat up his opponents in his latest All-Pro campaign, despite the extra attention he earned from defenses.

You can watch the video where we’ve embedded it below, or by following this link:

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Michael Thomas calls Emmanuel Sanders ‘another great piece to the puzzle’

New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas is excited to get to work with Emmanuel Sanders, a talented veteran with two Pro Bowls behind him.

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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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Michael Thomas reacts to new CBA’s 17-game NFL season

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas commented on the NFL’s soon-to-be expanded regular season, which won’t take place until 2021

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The NFL Players Association voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement this weekend, which will run through the next decade and introduce several big changes to the game. Maybe the most significant new feature is the expansion of the regular season to 17 games, extending the regular season another week (the preseason, however, will be limited to just three exhibition games). This big shakeup will not come into play until the 2021 season at the soonest, but some players aren’t happy with the development.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas can be counted in that number. Thomas responded to the news of this change from his official Twitter account, joking that it’s “time to start load management,” referencing the popular NBA practice of resting key players during lengthy road trips. Thomas also shared a tweet from New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who noted that he’ll have to schedule six massages each week instead of just four during the new, extended regular season.

Professional football is one of the most physically-demanding sports in the world, and few of today’s players know that fact better than Thomas. He set a new NFL record for receptions in a single season last year (149), taking on punishing hits from defenders each week.

He ended up being limited in practice with a hand injury late in the season, which Thomas later revealed to include a fractured bone. Even if receivers and cornerbacks don’t take as many hits as, say, running backs and linebackers, they do experience the rigors of the game all the same. And it’s important to remember that an additional regular season game doesn’t just mean an extra work week for these athletes; it carries a real, physical cost that they must put in more effort to manage.

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Michael Thomas excited to get back to work with Drew Brees

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas reflected on his 2019 season and his partnership with all-time great quarterback Drew Brees.

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It almost doesn’t seem to matter who’s throwing to Michael Thomas — he’s still going to catch the football. But while he’s had success when targeted by Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill, Thomas does have a favorite quarterback to play with in Drew Brees.

Thomas made an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio, where he reflected on his insane 2019 season (which earned him Offensive Player of the Year recognition) and cast an eye towards his future. While Brees has reiterated that he intends to play for the Saints in 2020, he hasn’t yet signed a contract extension ahead of the March 18 deadline (when $5.4 million accelerates onto his 2020 salary cap hit).

But Thomas isn’t worried. He’s seen the success he and Brees have had together, and he anticipates more of the same, saying, “I was a man on a mission and I am still a man on a mission.”

Hopefully the Saints can build a better supporting cast around Thomas, who paced the league last year with an NFL-record 149 receptions. While it’s great that Thomas was able to thrive under such a heavy workload, it would be great if the Saints can identify a strong number-two option to take advantage of the attention Thomas draws from defenses. Thankfully, this appears to be a draft class set up perfectly for the Saints to address that need.

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Michael Thomas previews custom Jordan cleats celebrating his 2019 season

New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas, one of the top ambassadors for Nike’s Jordan brand, received custom cleats celebrating his 2019 season

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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas is a superstar, and he knows it. He celebrates his many catches with a quick biceps flex and signal for a first down, and takes pride in the hard work he’s put in to accomplish goals like earning the award as 2019’s Offensive Player of the Year.

Thomas also earned recognition from one of his top sponsors — Nike’s Jordan brand sneakers, who sent him an outstanding pair of new sneakers celebrating last season’s achievements. The cleats are are stylized in white, black, and gold, and feature details such as his NFL-record 149 receptions in a single season and famous Twitter handle (@cantguardmike). See them for yourself:

We can expect Thomas to put these on display somewhere in his home, likely in his crowded trophy case, but the jury’s out on whether he’ll wear them into a game. The Jordan brand ambassador has made a habit of gifting sneakers to coaches and teammates, with Saints head coach Sean Payton wearing them during the Zurich Classic golf tournament. But Thomas outdid himself last season by landing a shipment of sneakers for the entire Saints locker room.

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Michael Thomas named NFL’s 2019 Offensive Player of the Year

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas was named the NFL’s 2019 Offensive Player of the Year, and was presented by Drew Brees.

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New Orleans Saints superstar Michael Thomas became just the second wide receiver in NFL history to be named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year, joining Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Jerry Rice (who did it twice, in 1987 and 1993). Thomas was presented with the award at the NFL Honors ceremony in Miami, and was introduced by none other than his quarterback, Drew Brees (who won this recognition in 2008 and 2011).

Thomas broke the NFL’s all-time single season record for receptions (149), while also leading the league in receiving yards (1,725). He caught 9 touchdown passes in 16 games, ultimately playing 942 of 1,063 snaps on offense — the most of any Saints player besides the offensive linemen. He posted the second-best catch rate of his career (80.5%) and appears to already be on a Hall of Fame-bound trajectory. It’s going to be fascinating to see where his Saints career goes next.

Here are how all of the 2019 NFL Honors awards shook out:

  • Offensive Player of the Year: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas
  • Defensive Player of the Year: New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, while the
  • Comeback Player of the Year: Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
  • Offensive Rookie of the Year: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray
  • Defensive Rookie of the Year: San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa

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Michael Thomas salutes Tyrann Mathieu for getting a shot at Super Bowl LIV

New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas shouted out Kansas City Chiefs DB Tyrann Mathieu for his AFC title game win and shot at Super Bowl 54.

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Game recognizes game, and Michael Thomas is here to celebrate that fact. The first-team All-Pro wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints took some time out of his Sunday to congratulate Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Tyrann Mathieu for his team’s victory in the AFC Championship Game against the Tennessee Titans, which will propel them to Super Bowl LIV. All that stands between Mathieu and the Lombardi Trophy is the red-hot San Francisco 49ers.

Mathieu has come a long way from his impressive play with the LSU Tigers to a parting with the team due to off-field issues, then being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals. He spent a year with the Houston Texans before landing a three-year, $42 million contract with the Chiefs, and so far, he’s earned every penny. Thomas shouted out Mathieu, who also joined him on the AP All-Pro first team, from his official Twitter account. Mathieu replied with words of admiration; you can view the exchange where it’s been embedded below, or at this link. It’s crystal-clear who Thomas will be pulling for when the Chiefs and 49ers kick off in Miami on Feb. 2, and it should be an easy decision for Saints fans to follow his lead.

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Cameron Jordan invites Vikings to watch the rest of the playoffs from his couch

New Orleans Saints players Cameron Jordan and Michael Thomas offered a spot on their couches with the playoff-eliminated Minnesota Vikings

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Who does Twitter better than Cameron Jordan?

The New Orleans Saints defensive end followed up a career-best 15.5-sack season by getting voted into the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro second team. And even if his squad exited the playoffs sooner than expected, he hasn’t allowed 24-hour ribbing from Minnesota Vikings fans to get him down.

So when the Vikings were eliminated in a one-sided 27-10 loss on the road to the San Francisco 49ers, Jordan did what any neighborly soul would do: he offered a spot on his couch to the Vikings and their fans, who are now stuck on the outside looking in just like he was. How’s that for spinning a negative into a positive?

But Jordan wasn’t the only Saints player to take some time to laugh at the Vikings’ expense. Wide receiver Michael Thomas also lit up his Twitter timeline, bringing the jokes and welcoming Minnesota to a long, cold offseason. Maybe he and Jordan will host a playoff-viewing party for all their opponents who also won’t be playing in Super Bowl LIV.

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Michael Thomas says he caught 7 passes last week with a broken hand

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas took some happiness in seeing the Minnesota Vikings fall, and shed some light on his injury.

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The Minnesota Vikings were steamrolled by the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs, losing 27-10 on the road just a week after they beat the New Orleans Saints in a big upset.

Few people were as happy to see Minnesota fall on its face as Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, the two-time first-team All-Pro who led his team with seven catches for 70 yards in the wild-card round. Thomas had himself a ball going back-and-forth with Vikings fans on social media, but added an interesting detail — he says he played with a broken hand last week.

It’s possible he’s telling the truth. Thomas was limited in practice for two weeks with an unspecified hand injury, and his production in his final two games noticeably trailed off from his season averages. In those last two matchups with the Vikings and Carolina Panthers, Thomas caught just 11 passes for 107 yards; he averaged 9.3 receptions per game and 107.8 receiving yards per game in the 2019 season. So a broken hand would explain the drop-off.

However, the other part of Thomas’s statement isn’t exactly correct. He called out the Vikings receiving corps for failing to show up against the 49ers, joking, “I don’t think anyone got more than (one) catch,” but the truth is that Stefon Diggs (two receptions) and Adam Thielen (five catches) combined for as many completions as Thomas posted a week ago. That isn’t exactly ideal, and their struggles against a 49ers secondary that Thomas and his teammates dropped 46 points on does a lot to explain why this one was so lopsided.

Now, here’s hoping Thomas spends his offseason healing up and getting his body right. He took a lot of hits while breaking the NFL single-season record for catches (149), and appears to have even broken his hand. The Saints should be right back in Super Bowl contention next season, and they’ll need Thomas to lead them again if they’re going to reach that goal.

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Michael Thomas one of two unanimous selections for first-team All-Pro

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas and New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore were the only unanimous NFL All-Pros.

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The Associated Press announced its NFL All-Pro teams on Friday, and the New Orleans Saints had six players represented on the two lists. Wide receiver Michael Thomas, right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, linebacker Demario Davis, and returns specialist Deonte Harris were each selected as first-team All-Pros. Edge rusher Cameron Jordan and special teams ace J.T. Gray made the All-Pro second-team.

Interestingly, Thomas was one of just two players to be unanimously selected by the 50-strong panel of voters. He was joined by New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who tied the NFL lead for interceptions (6) on the league’s leading defense for total interceptions (25). That’s rare company for Thomas to join, but as the NFL’s king in both receptions (149) and receiving yards (1,725) there’s no doubting his qualifications. Depending on how the playoffs turn out, there’s a good chance Thomas and Gilmore may line up against each other in Super Bowl LIV.

The full list of Saints players who received All-Pro votes go as follows:

  • Wide receiver Michael Thomas, 50
  • Right tackle Ryan Ramczyk, 30
  • Punt returner Deonte Harris, 29 (plus 2 votes at kick returner, and 1 at special teamer)
  • Linebacker Demario Davis, 18
  • Edge rusher Cameron Jordan, 12
  • Special teamer J.T. Gray, 3
  • Kicker Wil Lutz, 3
  • Left tackle Terron Armstead, 2
  • Cornerback Marshon Lattimore, 1 (plus 1 vote at defensive back)

So this highlights a few issues with the Associated Press ballot. The biggest problem is that there are inconsistencies between position designations used by different voters, meaning Harris received nominations at punt returner (where he’s done most of his damage), kick returner, and special teamer. Similarly, Lattimore earned votes at both cornerback and defensive back. Until the Associated Press buckles down and makes it more clear which players are qualified for which positions, there are going to be more incongruities. At least Pro Bowl snubs like Davis and Ramczyk got their due.

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