Dolphins, Flores stay thankful
Will former Miami Dolphins great Zach Thomas, an undersized overachiever at middle linebacker, finally get in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?
Thomas, who was a member of the NFL’s all-decade team for the 2000s, was named a semifinalist for the second consecutive year on Tuesday.
After former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher was inducted in 2018 on the first ballot, it was believed it was just a matter of time before Thomas would get in as they had comparable careers.
The knock on Thomas was that he was never named the league’s defensive player of the year — like Urlacher — and that he played on a team with little playoff success.
But former New York Jets star Kevin Mawae made it perfectly clear that he believes Thomas belongs in the Hall of Fame.
During his Hall of Fame induction speech in August, Mawae said Thomas is the one player he can name that deserves to wear
the gold jacket and have a bust of himself in Canton, Ohio.
“Zach Thomas was my nemesis,” said Mawae, who played 16 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets and Tennessee Titans. “My first year with the Jets before the first game we played 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 — players I ever faced,” said Mawae, an eight-time Pro Bowl center. “He loved the game, had fun when he played and brought the best out in me. When people ask me, ‘Who is not in the Hall of Fame that I think should be?’ — it’s easy for me, number 54 from the Miami Dolphins.”
Thomas was a fan favorite during his 12-year career (1996-2007) with the Dolphins. Thomas, a fifth-round draft pick, was a seven-time Pro Bowl player and five-time All-Pro. He also was the AFC’s defensive rookie of the year in 1996.
Thomas, who averaged 136 tackles a season, had six seasons with more than 150 tackles. He also had 17 interceptions — including four returned for touchdowns — and 20 1⁄2 sacks during his career.
The former Texas Tech standout spent the 2008 season with his hometown Dallas Cowboys before retiring.
As part of the NFL’s celebration of its 100th season, the Hall of Fame expanded the number of potential inductees in 2020. Thomas was among 25 semifinalists of the modern era. The list will be cut to 15 on Jan. 2. Five of those players will be elected to the class of 2020 on Feb. 1, the day before the Super Bowl, which will be held at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Hall of Fame also will induct 10 senior candidates, three contributors and two coaches in a special centennial class in 2020.