Demaryius Thomas has 70 million reasons to be happy. He has 70 million reasons to show up and work out with his teammates and 70 million reasons to prove his game is defined by more than just his stats.
Yesterday afternoon, Thomas and the Denver Broncos finally agreed to a long-term extension. John Elway locked up his leading receiver from a year ago with a 5-year, $70 million deal. Thomas can now claim the title of third-highest paid receiver in the NFL. It’s a title well earned by No. 88, but it doesn’t mean he has nothing to prove.
From a statistical standpoint, Denver has received everything they wished for out of Thomas the last three years. He’s averaged 99 catches, 1,494 yards and 11 touchdowns, which is the reason Elway and the Broncos have invested so much money in the Georgia Tech product. But, as you know, stats only paint a partial picture.
The Brinks truck backing up to Thomas’ doorstep comes with more than cash; it comes with the responsibility of being a leader – not only a leader in the locker room, but on the field, as well. There were instances last year when Thomas failed at both.
Thomas was noticeably “off” the first three weeks of the season last year. It was apparent to anyone watching that DT’s head wasn’t fully in the game. Then, during the week four bye, Thomas admitted that his play on the field was suffering because his contract situation was weighing heavy on his mind. That’s understandable to a degree, NFL players have a very short window to maximize their earning potential, but completely unacceptable.
As one of the best players suiting up for the orange and blue, it was a great opportunity for Thomas to lead by example. Being in contract limbo is part of the business in the NFL. The best players need to be able to compartmentalize their off-field business from their on-field business. And that starts with players at the top of the food chain.
Of the players on the 53-man roster Thomas arguably had the least to worry about when it came to signing a long-term deal. He was going to get paid by someone, barring a freak accident. Most of his teammates can’t make the same claim. If his attitude the first three weeks of the season (I’m not playing my best until I get paid) had spread throughout the locker room it could have been toxic.
Thomas needs to prove that mentality is behind him. As the second-highest paid Bronco, he can no longer let external issues affect his play on the field. But that’s only one part of the equation. The burden Thomas now bears in the locker room is greater, as well.
Championships are won on the field, but a championship mentally starts off of it and last year that’s what the Broncos were missing. Thomas himself acknowledged that when talking about the heartbreaking loss to the Colts on radio row at the Super Bowl. “I feel like some guys, you know, didn’t have the fight or whatever it was,” he said. DT didn’t stop there.
“I think one thing was, I feel like guys kind of looked over the Colts,” Thomas expounded. “You had guys always talking the night before the game, you had, ‘Oh, I don’t want to go to New England and play New England.’ And I think that was one of the big things.”
Looking back, those comments are haunting. That’s how the Broncos played (including Denver’s $70 million dollar man): uninspired and scared. Thomas and the rest of the team were checked out against the Colts. They put on an embarrassing performance and it’s clear why. Not a player in that locker room felt they had a chance to go into New England and beat the Patriots.
Attitudes like that start at the top with your best players. Even if Thomas didn’t feel that way, he certainly didn’t step up and inspire a different mentality. If anyone thinks that Denver’s star receiver wasn’t part of the negative groupthink before the Colts game, they are blind. Thomas’ play against Indy was shameful. Plainly stated, it wasn’t worthy of $70 million.
That all has to change now because DT is no longer looked at as A guy in the locker room, he’s looked at as one of THE guys in the locker room. Thomas has been thrust into a leadership role, whether he likes it or not. He has to set the tone on and off the field because his attitude will rub off on the rest of the team now more than ever.
Thomas has to be the player that can cancel out the white noise and perform no matter what. He has to be the guy in the locker room rallying the troops, making everyone believe they can beat anyone, anywhere, anytime. Those are the expectations and responsibilities that come with a $70 million contract.
Demaryius Thomas has the stats to justify his new deal, now it’s time to prove he has the intangibles as well.
