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There’s some good news. Friction between New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton and superstar wide receiver Michael Thomas came to a head on the eve of training camp, but both sides recently met for a chat to smooth things over. And now we’ve got an idea of what came from that conversation.
The Times-Picayune | Advocate’s Jeff Duncan reports that Thomas is expected to join Payton and his Saints teammates on the sidelines for their first preseason game with the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night. Injured players rarely travel with the team (especially for exhibition games) and Thomas is still recovering from ankle surgery in June, but it appears they plan to make an exception. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill and ESPN’s Mike Triplett confirmed that Thomas has joined the team in Baltimore.
And it’s worth the effort. Thomas and the Saints are always going to be better off together, and while it isn’t impossible to see a division a year or two down the line, it’s in everyone’s best interests for them to put on a public front of unity.
No more vague song lyrics tweets. No more angry comments in press conferences. Just Thomas being a good teammate and showing support, probably standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Payton at times. Maybe we get a bro-hug or a handshake at some point. What happens in the future is anyone’s guess, but for I’m betting on Thomas working hard to recover and get back on the field.
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