Demaryius Thomas might want to reconsider his decision to skip the opening week of the Denver Broncos' voluntary workouts.
NFL.com reported that Broncos general manager John Elway lashed out at the team's star wide receiver, who was designated with Denver's franchise tag for 2015, over his absence.
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"To be dead honest with you, I see absolutely zero value with him being away from here," Elway said. "Him being away from here there is zero value not only to us, but to him. To me it makes no sense.''
The Broncos designed the franchise tag on Thomas in March after the two sides failed to come to an agreement on a long-term deal, USA TODAY Sports reported. He is scheduled to make $12.8 million in 2015 if he and the team can't agree on a deal by July 15.
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USA TODAY Sports added that the Broncos have been able to sign their last two players designed with the franchise tag - offensive tackle Ryan Clady in 2013 and kicker Matt Prater in 2012, by the July deadline.
Clady also skipped the Broncos' offseason program in 2013.
"You kind of try to just workout and leave the rest to your agent. Just think about just improving your body and [continue] working out in the offseason," Clady said recently, according to USA TODAY Sports. "That's kind of the approach you've got to have. You want to hope that you can get something done by mid-July. But if not, you just have to go into it one day at a time and try to stay healthy."
When asked whether injury was a valid concern for a player with a franchise tag, Elway took exception.
"That makes no sense to me," Elway said, according to NFL.com. "Him not getting hurt? If he gets hurt here, he's covered. If he gets hurt somewhere else, he's not. Tell me why that makes sense, that he wouldn't be here working out with us. I don't understand it all. That's part of the game, but it makes no sense for him not to be here."
The Broncos' GM added that the team still is trying to work out a long-term deal with Thomas, who caught a career-high 111 passes for 1,619 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. In fact, Thomas is averaging 99 catches for 1,494 yards and almost 12 touchdowns over his last three seasons.
But that has come under quarterback Peyton Manning. And Thomas should note that Tim Tebow led the Broncos to a playoff win, and Elway replaced him with Manning. After wide receiver Eric Decker left the Broncos before 2014, Elway signed Emmanuel Sanders, who had 101 receptions for 1,404 yards and nine scores this past season.
Though Thomas and his $12.8 million tag would seem to have the upper hand in negotiations, Elway could have other ideas.
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