Saints’ Michael Thomas Fires Back At Reports That He Clashed With Coach Sean Payton After Punching Chauncey Gardner-Johnson In Practice

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Michael Thomas is trying to clear the air after a series of incidents kept him out of the Saints’ Monday night game against the Chargers.
Over the weekend it was reported that Saints WR had been suspended for punching teammate Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.

According to The Athletic’s Jeff Duncan, Thomas was not suspended for his fight with Gardner-Johnson but because he clashed with coach Sean Payton

Via The Athletic

Officially, Thomas was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. Unofficially, the Saints sat him because of insubordination.

Multiple sources said the suspension had less to do with Thomas’ role in a fight with teammate C.J. Gardner-Johnson during practice on Saturday than it did his actions after the fracas. Thomas, they said, talked back to coaches, including Payton, and obstinately refused counsel afterward.

The Saints were left with no other recourse than to ice their best receiver 24 hours before kickoff.

After The Athletic’s report made the rounds, Thomas took to Twitter to fire back at all the negative press he’s been getting.