Report: Michael Thomas held out of Chargers game and fined, not suspended by Saints

Pro Football Talk obtained a copy of the letter that the Saints sent to Michael Thomas this weekend regarding his punishment that led to his inactive status Monday night.

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The subject line of the letter, according to PFT, uses the phrase “Fine for Conduct Detrimental to the Club” and only specifies a fine with no official suspension.

“[T]his letter is to notify you that you have been fined in the amount of $58,823.53 . . . for engaging in conduct detrimental to the club.”

PFT explains that the key difference between a fine in the amount of one game check based on his current salary before a $11.6 million jump in base pay for 2021 and a one-game suspension means that $27.95 million in future guarantees have not been voided.

In other words, the Saints are working toward a resolution with Thomas rather than a break up after giving him a long-term contract extension in July 2019 worth nearly $100 million.