Earl Thomas will skip Seahawks minicamp and probably much more

Earl Thomas announced today he will sit out the Seahawks minicamp this week. He may sit out a lot longer, and Seattle better be ready for that.

Early Sunday morning, Earl Thomas wrote that he would not attend the Seahawks minicamp this week. That isn’t too surprising. Just the other day we wrote about the likelihood of Thomas skipping this week. After all, what’s $84,000 to a guy who’s negotiating for millions? That’s the fine for missing minicamp – actually $84,435, but who’s counting that far down?

Minicamps are mandatory, unlike the OTA which Thomas previously missed; hence the massive deterrent. That fine probably equals what Thomas earns from a few weeks of Chef’s Cut sales, so I doubt he’s too concerned about the fine.

I know someone who is concerned, though. I’m pretty sure Pete Carroll is very concerned. Both he and John Schneider have said more than once that Thomas had assured them he would be in camp this summer. If you don’t believe me, I know you’ll believe Bob Condotta. As he reported in the Seattle Times a few weeks ago,

"But unlike in the case of Thomas — who has stayed away from any activity with the team all offseason as he makes an apparent statement about his contract situation — Clark and Maxwell were thought just working out on their own for now. Both have participated in other team activities during the offseason. He is entering the final year of a contract due to pay him $8.5 million in 2018 and said in January he would consider holding out if he did not have an extension by the 2018 season. Seahawks general manager John Schneider, though, has said on several occasions the team has been told Thomas will not hold out."