Earlier today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Ravens were parting ways with Free Safety Earl Thomas after just one season with the team. Schefter also reported that the Ravens would try to trade Thomas and if they couldn’t find a trade partner, the Ravens were prepared to release Thomas.
The Ravens have since announced that they have released Thomas for “personal conduct that has adversely affected the Baltimore Ravens”. This language is specifically worded to indicate that the team intends to void the guarantee of Thomas’ $10M base salary.
Plenty has been reported about what led up to the Ravens’ decision, so there’s no reason to belabor that here, other than to say that those details will be the crux of the team’s argument for voiding Thomas’ guaranteed base salary.