The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Judith Benjamin
Standout Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas has been hitting the weight ro ahead of what he and New Orleans are hoping will be a return season for the ages.
Thomas posted a video to social media Monday of him putting up deadlifting 575lb for five reps.
The 6-foot-3, 212lb wideout also fired a shot at his haters in an ensuing Instagram story, writing; ‘They was hatin (sic) on 530×1 back in mid April so there go 575×5 go smoke that.’
Thomas is referring to a video he posted deadlifting 530lbs in April as he geared up for Saints training camp.
Earlier this month, Thomas was at Saints practice for the first time since September after playing just three games in the 2022 season, owing to a dislocated toe.
Saints All-Pro wide receiver Mike Thomas put up five reps of 575lb in an impressive display
Thomas also took a shoot on his haters after lifting 45lbs lighter during a video two months ago
Considered one of the best wideouts in the NFL, Thomas has played just 10 games since 2019
The two-time First-team All-Pro has played just 10 games in the previous three seasons after posting a career-high 1,725 receiving yards and nine touchdowns in 2019.
Thomas, now 30, is now in a leadership role at the Saints as he looks to help young receivers such as Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed adjust to their sophomore season, and first with former Raiders quarterback Derek Career.
‘We’re kind of like the “Big Three,” Thomas told NOLA.com this month. ‘Or whatever. I wouldn’t say “Big Three” because we have other receivers and everyone will contribute that has to contribute.
‘But those are two rookies that I took under my wing and was involved with.’
Thomas also revealed this month, via ESPN, he was ‘involved’ in the offseason process wherein the Saints acquired Derek Carr to replace Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston.
‘I always knew I was going to be here,’ Thomas said. ‘I knew I would be the receiver. I knew our priorities for the offseason was to get a quarterback and put some pieces around us. So I was always involved.
‘He wants to win just like I want to win,’ Thomas added . ‘He’s just very disciplined. He’s on top of his stuff. He came here for a reason. That’s the same type of confidence I hear in his voice — he came here for a reason, he came here to win.
‘You can feel the sense of urgency. He loves ball. It’s not hard working with him… He tells me what to do, I tell him where I’m going to be, and we’re on the same page. We can execute at a high level.”
