With the deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term deals set for 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, there hasn’t been much activity on that front.
One of the players dead set against playing under the tag is Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who is in the midst of a major contract stalemate with the team. Absent from off-season activities, there is a decent chance the talented pass catcher could hold out heading into training camp later this month.
And if this latest report by ESPN’s Adam Schefter is any indication, Thomas and the Broncos are not necessarily close to getting a long-term deal done.
With clock ticking, interesting to note Broncos and Demaryius Thomas have not exchanged any proposals nor had any dialogue in over a month.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 14, 2015
This runs contrary report on Monday suggesting Denver has offered Thomas a contract that would make him the second highest-paid receiver in the NFL, far surpassing the $12 million annual mark that Minnesota Vikings receiver Mike Wallace is earning.
Though, that report didn’t necessarily specify when the contract offer was made.
Thomas, 27, is reportedly asking for a deal that would top the $16.2 million that Detroit Lions star Calvin Johnson is receiving on an annual basis. This indicates that he’s also demanding well north of $40 million in guaranteed cash. That’s a far cry from the $12.8 million Thomas would make on the one-year franchise tender Denver threw his way back in March.
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