Report: Saints' Payton, Thomas work on issues amid trade buzz

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas and head coach Sean Payton had positive talks during a recent meeting as the pair tries to resolve lingering concerns between them, sources told Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson.

Reports surfaced last week saying that before rejoining the Saints in June, Thomas ignored calls from his coaches for three months after they discovered he'd require an ankle surgery that will sideline him for at least the start of the regular season. The story emerged just days after Payton said Thomas should've undergone surgery sooner this year.

The star wideout then apparently addressed that report with a cryptic tweet.

"They tried to damage your reputation. You saved their lives by not telling your side of the story," wrote Thomas, who was limited to just seven regular-season appearances last campaign due to an ankle ailment.

The unsolved problem quickly fueled speculation about a potential trade involving the 28-year-old, who's established himself as one of the NFL's top receivers since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2016.

The 2019 Offensive Player of the Year inked a five-year extension with New Orleans in July 2019 worth $96.25 million.