The Baltimore Ravens made headlines on Sunday when it was reported that they would be releasing former All-Pro safety Earl Thomas. Thomas is just one year into a four-year(s)/$55 million contract after signing from the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent last off-season. His release comes following a number of incidences that the Ravens believed were detrimental to the team due to “personal conduct that has adversely affected” the team. Thomas was coming off a season in which he helped the Ravens finish as the league’s fourth-ranked total defense and third-ranked scoring defense. He was also named to his seventh Pro Bowl team in 2019 at age 30.
We have terminated S Earl Thomas’ contract for personal conduct that has adversely affected the Baltimore Ravens.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 23, 2020
Earl Thomas Cut by Baltimore Ravens
Thomas’s issues with the Ravens started early into his first year with the team. Following the Ravens 2019 Week 4 loss to the Cleveland Browns, Thomas got into an altercation with long-time Raven defensive tackle Brandon Williams. The argument stemmed from Williams being inactive for the loss that dropped the team to 2-2. Baltimore’s defense gave up the fourth-most yards (530) in team history that day and was dominated on the ground by Nick Chubb and his 165 rushing yards. The only reason the altercation did not turn physical was that a number of teammates of the two stepped in the way.
During the 2020 off-season, Thomas was then involved in a domestic violence incident in which he was listed as the victim. In the incident, it was reported that Thomas’s wife pointed a loaded gun to his head after coming to confront her husband about cheating.
Thomas’s last strike for Baltimore came after a practice dispute with Ravens starting strong safety Chuck Clark. The two got into a heated argument after Clark reportedly called out Thomas during a blown coverage. The outburst between the two escalated and saw Thomas sent home for the day. Thomas then released footage of the play on Instagram with his explanation of why the bout transpired. The video was taken down shortly after. Thomas was officially released two days following the altercation.
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