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Vance Joseph: Demaryius Thomas Has 'Got to Move On' After Trade to Texans
November 8, 2018
Demaryius Thomas voiced some displeasure about the way his tenure with the Denver Broncos ended last week, but his former coach believes the new Houston Texans wideout needs to stop worrying about the past.
"He's got to move on. We've got to move on," Denver coach Vance Joseph said on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Jeff Legwold. "He's no longer a Bronco, and I can't spend any time worrying about that. But as far as reading that stuff, I'm disappointed it was presented that way, I really am."
Thomas, who was drafted by the Broncos in the first round back in 2010, was traded to the Texans at the deadline on Oct. 30 in exchange for a fourth-round pick.
After spending the first eight-plus years of his career in Denver, Thomas admitted he felt "hurt" by the way things played out. In his eyes, he felt as though he was misled throughout the process.
Thomas aired his frustration to Orange & Blue 760 AM on Monday, via 9News' Mike Klis:
"I walk into the job and Vance Joseph walks up to me and says, 'Don't listen to the trade talks, it's not true.'
[...]
"So, we're telling stories to each other now? I thought we were going to be men about this. Leading up to the Kansas City game, that's when this all started—the emotional everything, because I knew it was something. I knew something was going to happen, but I still had to grind it out, play their game and get through it, because I didn't know.
"I played the game like I was going to be here, but I didn't know. Listening to that from him, and then another couple coaches coming up to me and saying, 'Oh yeah, it's all fake.' Then it really happens, it's like, 'Man, it is what it is.'"
Not only that, but the four-time Pro Bowler also wasn't happy that he was allegedly being blamed for the team's struggles on his way out the door:
"You know what bothers me—I don't want to stir any pot—but it bothers me...I had people from Denver saying like, 'They really said they got rid of you because you were the problem on offense and they said they wanted to better the offense,' I'm like, 'Really, bro?' People just kept stirring it on.
"I heard they were saying that Vance was saying something, and Elway was saying something. I did so much for this organization and never had nothing bad to say about anybody—none of the players I played with. I just did my job and kept it as professional as I could. For you all to say that I was one of the reasons that the offense wasn't going, and say this and that, man, that hurt."
Joseph heard about his ex-player's comments, and he didn't necessarily agree with what was being said.
"I think it's a little frustration on his part, but I'm disappointed in how it came out, because I don't recall it being discussed that way," Joseph added, per Legwold. "And that's OK."
While Thomas got some things off his chest, he did note that it was an "honor" to play for Denver.
Oddly enough, he didn't have to wait long to face the organization he spent nearly a decade playing for. His first game as a Texan came against the Broncos, and he hauled in three catches for 61 yards in a 19-17 victory.
Now that he has a game with Houston under his belt and a meeting with his former team is out of the way, Thomas can truly start to move on. His bitterness may not vanish anytime soon, but he can instead focus on helping the AFC South-leading Texans make a deep postseason run.