Demaryius Thomas thanks President Obama for commuting family’s prison sentences

After 16 years on the inside, Demaryius Thomas’ grandmother Minnie Pearl — sentenced to life in prison — will be released on December 1.

Thomas is grateful to President Obama for giving both his mother and grandmother a second chance, by commuting part of their prison sentences.

The commutations come as part of a series that the President has handed out during his second term, targeting primarily non-violent drug offenders whose sentences would have been far less severe if their crimes had been committed today.

Both women were arrested for drug trafficking when the Denver Broncos star was only 11 years old. Last year, it was his mom who got the good news.

Today, it was Thomas’ grandmother’s turn.

“I just found out right when I came in from weights,” Thomas said after the morning’s training camp practice session. “I had no idea. I was surprised. I was excited, too, it came this early. I heard 200-plus people get to have a second chance, and for my grandmother to be one of them, it’s a blessing.”

Following the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 win earlier this year, Thomas delivered the President a handwritten thank you note for releasing his mother.

“I still remember when we were at the White House,” Thomas told the Denver Post. “I was talking about my mom and saying thank you, and the fact that he mentioned my grandmother, I knew something was going to happen… I’m happy. I’m excited. In the past two years, I’ve got my grandmother and my mother out.”

must read: Rockies Claw Their Way Back Into The Playoff Picture

For more of the latest Denver-area sports news, remember to follow Mile High Maniac on Facebook and Twitter.