By Van Wade

The Orange Leader

Seattle Seahawks and former West Orange-Stark standout safety Earl Thomas is holding out from the team’s mandatory training camp because he’s unhappy with his contract, and his agent, David Mulugheta, had a few general words to share about players’ contracts.

“The fact that NFL fans side with teams worth billions instead of players, that put their bodies on the line day in and day out, never ceases to amaze me,” Athletes First agent Mulugheta wrote on Twitter.  “Teams can cut players anytime but players are expected to honor contracts. Capitalism is obviously reserved for certain people.”

While Mulugheta didn’t reference Thomas directly, ESPN reported the belief around the league is that Thomas is preparing to sit out through training camp and into the regular season unless he gets a new deal or trade.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday that the Seahawks informed Thomas and his reps that the team will not address his contract demands during offseason activities. The report adds: “It was specific and clear. Whether or not Thomas came in to camp has zero impact on it.”

Thomas, who is entering the final year of his contract with a base salary of $8.5 million, has skipped the Seahawks’ entire offseason program (including mandatory minicamp and OTAs), and he was absent when camp opened Thursday.

Coach Pete Carroll was asked about Thomas’ absence Thursday and said, “He should be here.”

“He’s been here for a long time. We always expect him to be here, it’s kind of how it is,” Carroll said, per The Seattle Times . “So he should be here and he’s not. It’s really about the guys that are here now, and we’re going to keep moving and put it together. It’s unfortunate.”

Thomas has been very vocal about his desire for a new deal as he enters the final season of a four-year, $40-million contract.