Zach Thomas a HoF Finalist!
42 replies
GalantForum VeteranOP
"Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves – from our recklessness or our greed. God sent into the world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general, important though they are, but a Saviour, with the power to forgive... It is my prayer that on this Christmas day we might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels and for the love of God through Christ our Lord." (Christmas message, 2011)
KeyFinForum VeteranAwesome news...he definitely belongs there but he's also one of those "fringe HOF players" that's not a sure thing. Definitely wish him luck!
Winning football games at any level comes down to winning in the trenches.
Dol-Fan DupreeForum VeteranMy five picks are
Steve Hutchinson
Zach Thomas
Troy Polamalu
Issac Bruce
Edgerrin James
Holland is a huge upgrade over McCain
I want to be alive, I am alive! Alive, I tell you! Mother, I love you, those are no longer just words. I want to hold you, I want to run in a stream, I want to taste ice cream but not just put it in my mouth and let it slide down my throat but really eat it. - Robot Morty
Phin McCoolForum VeteranHow many get inducted out of that list? I can only see Atwater, possibly Wayne who would run Zach close.
Good luck Zach. All the best, you deserve to be in there.
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TheHighExhaultedForum VeteranKevin Mawae got the ball rolling during his speech last year.
The_Dark_KnightForum VeteranIf a 7 time pro bowler doesn’t get into the HoF, I don’t know who does.
You deserve it Zach!!!
“The person you will spend the most time with in your life is yourself, so you better make sure you’re someone interesting”
Fin DForum VeteranFor my money, best LB to ever play the game, because he had considerably less physical attributes than guys like Lewis, Urlacher, Seau, etc. but is right there in the conversation with them due to head, heart and hustle.
Tin IndianForum Veteran"TheHighExhaulted wrote:
Kevin Mawae got the ball rolling during his speech last year.
Didn't hear it. Did he give Zach an endorsement of sorts?
Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys.
Tin IndianForum VeteranWhen I saw the list came out it was the 1st thing I looked for, to see if he was on it. He certainly deserves to be in it, 5 Time All Pro. I don't think guys with that kind of cred DON'T get in!
Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys.
Puka-headSupporter"Tin Indian wrote:
Didn't hear it. Did he give Zach an endorsement of sorts?
https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/kevin-mawae-zach-thomas-should-be-in-the-hall-of-fame
“Zach Thomas was my nemesis,” Mawae said about three-quarters into his 27-minute Hall of Fame speech. “My first year with the Jets before my first game we played against each other, (Coach) Bill Parcells told me in front of my entire team, ‘If you don’t block Thomas, we won’t win the game,’ and for the next 16 matchups I never forgot that.
“Zach was one of, if not the smartest player I ever faced. He loved the game, had fun when he played and brought the best out of me. When people ask me who’s not in the Hall of Fame and that I think should be here, it’s an easy one for me: number 54 from the Miami Dolphins.”
Tin IndianForum Veteran"Puka-head wrote:
https://www.miamidolphins.com/news/kevin-mawae-zach-thomas-should-be-in-the-hall-of-fame
“Zach Thomas was my nemesis,” Mawae said about three-quarters into his 27-minute Hall of Fame speech. “My first year with the Jets before my first game we played against each other, (Coach) Bill Parcells told me in front of my entire team, ‘If you don’t block Thomas, we won’t win the game,’ and for the next 16 matchups I never forgot that.
“Zach was one of, if not the smartest player I ever faced. He loved the game, had fun when he played and brought the best out of me. When people ask me who’s not in the Hall of Fame and that I think should be here, it’s an easy one for me: number 54 from the Miami Dolphins.”
Pretty strong. I don't normally watch the induction ceremonies nor do I pay much attention to them. Sorry I missed that now.
Thanks for that!
Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys.
PhinFan1968SupporterWould love to see him get in...richly deserved.
Brian Flores when asked about tanking: “Again, no we’re not (tanking). We’re going to try to win every game. I think that’s disrespectful to even say that.”
:rimshot:
"Phin McCool wrote:
How many get inducted out of that list? I can only see Atwater, possibly Wayne who would run Zach close.
Good luck Zach. All the best, you deserve to be in there.
Holt, Bruce, James, Faneca and Hutchinson are all deserving of consideration as well IMO
The_Dark_KnightForum VeteranLooking at the list of nominees...I find it so incredibly difficult to believe that some of the "seniors" aren't already in the HoF...
Dick Anderson?
Roger Craig?
Drew Pearson?
LC Greenwood?
Jim Plunkett?
“The person you will spend the most time with in your life is yourself, so you better make sure you’re someone interesting”
The voters will have a tough time - from that list, I could easily vote in 5 just from the defensive side of the ball. Polamalu is a lock, so that leaves 4 openings for a lot of deserving players.
Unlucky 13SupporterFive players can get in from the 15 on the finalist list. That doesn't mean that five will, but that's usually what happens. So Zach essentially has a 1 in 3 chance now. If I were to choose five from this list, they would be:
Zach Thomas
Troy Polamalu
Reggie Wayne
Steve Hutchinson
John Lynch
"Unlucky 13 wrote:
Five players can get in from the 15 on the finalist list. That doesn't mean that five will, but that's usually what happens. So Zach essentially has a 1 in 3 chance now. If I were to choose five from this list, they would be:
Zach Thomas
Troy Polamalu
Reggie Wayne
Steve Hutchinson
John Lynch
It's a tough list because a lot of them are similar in ability and none are head and shoulders above the others.
For example I'd probably say Holt and Bruce were both better WR than Wayne, but it's so close I can't even argue you putting him there.
I'm borderline on Lynch though. He was always a top safety to me, but I never considered him a HOF type player.
Unlucky 13Supporter"AGuyNamedAlex wrote:
It's a tough list because a lot of them are similar in ability and none are head and shoulders above the others.
For example I'd probably say Holt and Bruce were both better WR than Wayne, but it's so close I can't even argue you putting him there.
I'm borderline on Lynch though. He was always a top safety to me, but I never considered him a HOF type player.
With the WRs, it really comes down to personal preference and subjectivity. Wayne played almost his entire career with Peyton, so he has that built in advantage, but I just love his skillset, professionalism and character. And he's of course tenth all time in rec yards.
Lynch was certainly 5th of 5 on my personal list. Interesting guy, since he did basically nothing his first three seasons before Tony Dungy got there. But from 96-03, he was elite in that defense, and then also a really good player in Denver for four years afterwards. Again, subjectivity. He's the type of player that I love at SS, and for me, the mould for that position during his career.
"Unlucky 13 wrote:
With the WRs, it really comes down to personal preference and subjectivity. Wayne played almost his entire career with Peyton, so he has that built in advantage, but I just love his skillset, professionalism and character. And he's of course tenth all time in rec yards.
Lynch was certainly 5th of 5 on my personal list. Interesting guy, since he did basically nothing his first three seasons before Tony Dungy got there. But from 96-03, he was elite in that defense, and then also a really good player in Denver for four years afterwards. Again, subjectivity. He's the type of player that I love at SS, and for me, the mould for that position during his career.
Oh trust me I'm not trying to downplay Lynch. He was a great player and I'd have taken him on our defense in a heartbeat.
How I feel about him is probably how other teams fans feel about Zach honestly. Knowing he was an elite player but unsure if he was HOF level.
Unlucky 13Supporter"AGuyNamedAlex wrote:
Oh trust me I'm not trying to downplay Lynch. He was a great player and I'd have taken him on our defense in a heartbeat.
How I feel about him is probably how other teams fans feel about Zach honestly. Knowing he was an elite player but unsure if he was HOF level.
I guess I just can't understand how people could look at someone like Urlacher or Lewis and see them as clearly better than Zach. Take away the media hype, and they all had very similar careers.
"Unlucky 13 wrote:
I guess I just can't understand how people could look at someone like Urlacher or Lewis and see them as clearly better than Zach. Take away the media hype, and they all had very similar careers.
Oh trust me as a Dolphin fan, I feel that 100% too.
I just know on the whole he doesnt get the same respect.
Puka-headSupporterThe guy who knocks on doors to let inductees know they are in the Hall just came out on set and let Bill Cowher know he's in. Pretty cool moment, always respected Cowher and his teams. He did things right. Congrats Coach.
Just one more week and we'll be seeing #54 on TV.
texanphinaticForum Veteran"Unlucky 13 wrote:
I guess I just can't understand how people could look at someone like Urlacher or Lewis and see them as clearly better than Zach. Take away the media hype, and they all had very similar careers.
Lewis - off the field issues aside - was the gold standard for his era. Didn't hurt that he got a ring and had a stellar postseason. Urlacher is the better comp imo. Excellent statistical careers without a ring or extensive post-season action.
Unlucky 13Supporter"texanphinatic wrote:
Lewis - off the field issues aside - was the gold standard for his era. Didn't hurt that he got a ring and had a stellar postseason. Urlacher is the better comp imo. Excellent statistical careers without a ring or extensive post-season action.
I didn't feel that Lewis' play was better than Zach's. I just didn't, both with the stats or the subjectives.