Pete Carroll wants people to cut injured safety Earl Thomas some slack.
Thomas was carted off of the field during Seattle’s 20-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Thomas, playing despite wanting to resolve his contract (via trade or extension), fractured his leg in the fourth quarter. While being taken to the dressing room, Thomas flipped off his own team.
Earl Thomas’ reaction after being carted off the field. pic.twitter.com/Lpqgu7rJJ9
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 30, 2018
Many pointed out Thomas’ injury was exactly the reason NFL stars like Le’Von Bell hold out during contract demands.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll spoke to 710 ESPN Seattle, where he suggested people should cut Thomas some slack.
“Give him a little slack. This is a very, very difficult moment that most people would never understand what this is all about.”
The statement matches Carroll’s sadness over the injury, as he told reporters after the game Thomas’ injury “breaks my heart.”
“We were just turning things around; everything was going in a really positive direction,” Carroll told reporters. “It breaks my heart that we’re talking about this right now.”
Thomas flipping the bird might not have been appropriate, but to see him get hurt is, as Carroll put it, heartbreaking. He didn’t have to show up to camp or put on the pads until his contract negotiations were settled. Now, he’s stuck in contract limbo as he’ll have to recover from a serious injury. It’s a cautionary tale when it comes to contract talks.
Be mad Thomas crossed a line with his reaction, but it’s hard to blame him. Carroll understands that and isn’t going to point a finger at him.
