Earl Thomas Gives Finger Toward Seahawks Sideline After Leg Injury

#Seahawks safety #Earl_Thomas was carted off the field in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Cardinals after getting injured on Arizona's game-tying score.

Thomas had a cast on his left leg and was taken to locker room to get X-rays on it. After the game, coach Pete Carroll said Thomas had a lower leg fracture, but gave no update on his timetable for a return.

BREAKING! #Seahawks safety Earl Thomas has a lower leg fracture, per Pete Carroll.

— Liz Mathews (@Liz_Mathews) ٣٠ سبتمبر ٢٠١٨

Thomas held out this offseason in hopes of getting an extension on his contract. His is currently in the last year of a four-year deal and is set to become a free agent this offseason.

As Thomas was coming off the field, he gave a middle finger to the Seattle sideline. Thomas has been vocal about the fact that he wanted the contract extension because he was afraid of suffering a major injury while the team was not committed to his future.

Earl Thomas leaving the field looking across the field to the Seahawks sideline. pic.twitter.com/aoIkUYu88f

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The full video, the injury, the cart, the finger to the #Seahawks sideline.pic.twitter.com/GqLe8S2NFj

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) ٣٠ سبتمبر ٢٠١٨

Thomas was injured in the fourth quarter by a pass from Cardinals Josh Rosen to receive Chad Williams. A set of air was placed on his left leg and players from both teams
"I love Earl, I've always loved him," Carroll said after the game. "I loved everything he did for us."

After entering the final year of his contract, Thomas signed up with the offseason team before deciding to report the regular season after the team refused to oblige his request to trade or extend.
He missed one of the exercises last week and two others before his team beat Dallas Cowboys last week, saying he would refuse to participate if he did not feel the job.

"I need to make sure my body is 100 percent and I invest in myself," Thomas said. "But if I feel that I have anything, even if it is small, if I have a headache, I do not practice, but I do not want to do it the wrong way - I know I will be fined."

Carroll said on Sunday he did not know Thomas's gesture, but said he believed the player and the organization had "managed matters" about the conflict.

An ugly situation between Thomas and Seahawks

Thomas has been sitting out some practices with what could be considered minor ailments. He explained that he was investing in himself because the team didn’t want to give him more financial security.

Thomas’ holdout got ugly. He didn’t show up until Week 1. The team was holding out for a lot in a trade; a report Sunday said they were not giving him up for anything less than a second-round pick. Thomas didn’t want to play for a team that didn’t show him the respect he thought he deserved, the Seahawks were willing to hang onto him and get what they could out of him, and perhaps trade him if someone was willing to meet their price. If Thomas’ injury is significant, the latter won’t be happening anymore.

It has been a bad situation for the Seahawks and one of the greatest players in team history. It got much worse with the injury, and Thomas’ gesture as he left on a cart.