The Facts:
The Saints have made one long-term contract offer to Thomas since the Super Bowl, and the value was not close to what the club's leading running back was seeking, Thomas' agent said. "The Saints have refused to negotiate with us. They've given us one proposal," agent Lamont Smith said Wednesday. "Pierre made the NFL minimum [salary] the last three years and was their leading rusher the last two. He made all the plays necessary. ... He's done all the right things. He played his [first] contract out."
Reported by ESPN.com
Fantasy Football Diehards Line:
Thomas, who signed a three-year contract with the Saints as an undrafted rookie in 2007, is a restricted free agent. The Saints tendered him a one-year offer of about $1.7 million. Because the period when Thomas could sign more lucrative offers from other teams has passed, the Saints have Thomas' rights for 2010. And now they're playing hardball. According to New Orleans Times-Picayune staffer Jeff Duncan the Saints plan to reduce Thomas' $1.6 million tender offer on June 15 if he's still unsigned. They could take his salary down to $500,000. It'll be interesting to see how Thomas reacts to that, especially given the fact Reggie Bush will earn $8 million in 2010.
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