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It's July of 1996 and Jimmy Johnson is running his first official training camp as the Miami Dolphins' coach. The standout -- the guy Jimmy can't stop talking about -- is a rookie fifth-round draft pick named Zach Thomas, a linebacker from Texas Tech."He does everything. He senses everything. He's just good,'' Johnson said. "Not just for a rookie. For anyone.''
That was Thomas' career. Over 14 seasons, the first 12 of them with the Dolphins and the last with the Cowboys (plus one preseason in Kansas City), Thomas just kept making plays. He started 182 of 184 games, made more than 1,700 tackles and was voted to seven Pro Bowls. So, as is the case these days, when he retired Thursday, the first question that comes up was, "Should he be in the Hall of Fame?''
As a voter, my answer is probably not.
Look, Thomas was an outstanding player. He also was a prototype, proving that a linebacker listed at "5-foot-11" -- probably closer to 5-9 -- can play in the NFL at a high level. Scratch that -- Sam Mills was the first, but he was before his time. Guys like London Fletcher and Antonio Pierce followed Thomas and proved that middle linebackers don't have to be 6-2 or 6-3 or 6-4. It's a position that calls for brains and instincts, and Thomas had both, along with a motor that didn't stop.
But the Hall of Fame, as I keep telling people, is for very special players, not the guy that Al Michaels spotlights in every Sunday night broadcast (it used to be Monday).
Right now there are 2,500 players on NFL rosters, and during the regular season, close to 2,000 will set foot on a field. There are 259 people in the Hall of Fame -- players and contributors.
Zach Thomas? A very, very good player. A leader. A prototype in a way. And one of my favorite linebackers. A Hall of Famer? Probably not.
As a voter, I try to approach candidates with an open mind. I rarely say "yes'' (OK, Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith) and I rarely say "no'' to a guy who's made seven Pro Bowls (although we all know that Pro Bowl voting can be a popularity contest.) But when I worked for The Associated Press, I told all our football writers to never use "future Hall of Famer'' in referring to a player, because it was assuming too much in a quirky system.
But that's why I never say no.
If someone can convince me Zach Thomas belongs, I might eventually vote for him.
Right now? He's borderline at best.
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