It was very clear that the New Orleans Saints needed wide receiver Michael Thomas last season.
Their passing game struggled, and Alvin Kamara ended up carrying a heavy load on their offense.
Despite the struggles they faced, the Saints nearly made the playoffs with a 9-8 record.
Thomas knew deep inside that he let his teammates down.
He could have opted for an earlier surgery on his ankle but chose to accept the diagnosis that he would heal naturally.
That lapse in judgment caused him to miss New Orleans’ entire 2021 campaign.
But as the 2022 NFL calendar is about to start, Thomas is dropping hints that he’s rededicating himself to become the top-flight wideout he once was.
I went missing on a mission just perfecting the craft
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) February 17, 2022
The two-time First-Team All-Pro member tweeted “I went missing on a mission just perfecting the craft.”
In other words, he is undergoing personal training away from the public eye.
He’s had non-football issues in the past and perhaps he has come to the realization that he must put football first.
Thomas also followed Kyler Murray‘s lead and left two posts on his Instagram account.
But what’s fascinating is that one of those posts was a video of the late Kobe Bryant with the caption “2022 demon mode.”
That’s a bold declaration that will catch the attention of all defensive backs in the league.
Can’t Guard Mike
His Twitter and Instagram handles are very appropriate because no one can guard him if he’s at his best.
Thomas was the league’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2019 when he had an NFL record of 149 receptions for a league-leading 1,725 yards.
He easily surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first four seasons.
He’s also a three-time Pro Bowler and receptions leader twice.
If he fulfills the demon mode he promised, it’s possible that he will have a season comparable to Cooper Kupp‘s performance in 2021.
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