what happened with Earl Thomas

from Earl Thomas ‘had to go’: Inside the Ravens’ stormy year with star safety and the road to his release

Jason La Canfora

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/earl-thomas-had-to-go-inside-the-ravens-stormy-year-with-star-safety-and-the-road-to-his-release/

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There was a sense on that defense that Thomas was not part of the group and did not care to really be part of the group. He had eroded too much trust to really be accepted anymore, and his teammates saw his skills deteriorating and missteps magnifying.

A year ago, with the team winning every week (almost) and the defense improving once Clark took over starting duties and wore the headpiece in his helmet to communicate the calls from the coaching staff, the Ravens were willing to put up with Thomas, because of his track record and because he was coming off a significant injury. Maybe he would get better on the field and play himself into better shape and adapt to the group over time. Maybe he would clean up his act.

But it didn’t work, and things were not getting better. His first few weeks back in the building this summer went largely as they did a year ago, team sources said, and there was a mounting sense among the club’s veterans that they would be better off without Thomas than with him. Addition by subtraction. Cap issues be damned.

“This has been coming for a long time,” said one team source. “Guys have been frustrated about this situation since last year and it was only getting worse. He had to go.”

“Easily the most disliked guy in that locker room,” said one source who has been in contact with a multitude of Ravens about Thomas. “Not even close. They put up with a lot last year but it’s all about trying to win a Super Bowl there now, and guys did not want him around. It was really bad way before the thing with Chuck Clark.”

Indeed, multiple sources said the Ravens’ Leadership Council made it abundantly clear to management last week that they strongly believed the team would be better off without Thomas, as we first reported over the weekend. There was no debate who was at fault in the physical altercation with Clark, and the dichotomy between the universal support for Clark, and the candid remarks from player to coaches about wanting Thomas gone was lost on no one in that organization.

“The Council was pretty unanimous that they were better off without Earl Thomas,” another source added.

Another team source put it this way: “If you don’t make doing things the right way a priority, the players don’t appreciate it at all and neither do the coaches.”

So, at that point, the Ravens had no choice. Thomas had to go.

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