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Report: Demaryius Thomas wants Calvin Johnson money, and good luck with that

Let it be known that Demaryius Thomas is a fine wide receiver, one of the 10 best in the NFL and maybe one of the top five at his position.

You're starting a team today ... would you take Thomas or Odell Beckham Jr.? Thomas or Julio Jones? Antonio Brown? You get the idea: You might be able to name 4-5 receivers you'd rank higher, but any more than eight or nine would be tough.

The Denver Broncos placed the franchise tag on Thomas because they believe he's a special talent, and one they want to keep for as long as possible. But the report from the Denver Post that Thomas is seeking Calvin Johnson money — that's more than $16 million per year, with more than $48 million guaranteed — opens your eyes to the divide in the negotiations right now.

Thomas is unsigned, and there are a mere eight days left until he and the team can come to a long-term deal until next year. It feels unlikely right now. It's a better bet that Thomas will sign his franchise tender and play one year for a fully guaranteed $12.82 millon and readdress the situation next offseason.

Could a deal for Dez Bryant with the Dallas Cowboys in the next days create a more realistic ballpark for Thomas? Sure. And there's no question both Bryant and Thomas deserve more than the No. 2 earning wide receiver, Mike Wallace, whose contract has created umpteen headaches for NFL negotiators the league around.

Thomas can want Johnson money, but as the Stones told us, you can't always get what you want. And Thomas won't. There's no shame in getting Wallace-plus money when you consider the man once signed a five-year, $60 million deal with $30 million guaranteed.

Split the difference between Johnson and Wallace, and we're talking something in the five-year, $70 million ($36 million guaranteed) range. We shall see if that's something Thomas is interested in taking, but the clock is ticking quickly.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!