Earl Thomas has been released from the Ravens. Despite Thomas being a Hall-of-Fame lock and coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2019, the Ravens seemingly had to get rid of him. Here is a full breakdown on what Earl’s release means for the Ravens:
What led to this?
Earl Thomas got into a training camp fight with fellow starting safety Chuck Clark. This fight didn’t spark the release though, it was just the final nail in the coffin. Since Thomas joined Baltimore last season, he’s been involved in multiple incidents.
He fought with starting DT Brandon Williams last season, had a domestic dispute with his wife during the offseason and failed to fully understand defensive schemes. He also allegedly skipped meetings and walkthroughs. His teammates and the organization grew more upset with him and it led to him being released.
Who takes over?
Releasing Earl Thomas leaves an obvious void in the Ravens’ defense. However, 3 year safety Deshon Elliott is ready to step up. He’s shown glimpses, but has never gotten much playing time due to injuries. He’s finally starting and is hungry to not only fill Earl’s void, but make the defense better.
Yes, Earl Thomas is a talented safety, but the team felt keeping him wasn’t worth the risk. They decided to choose team culture over talent and while it might not look smart now, this could be a big win for Baltimore and the team’s moral in the long run.
Photo: AP
