It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right...

PART 1 - A Tribute to #54

As a Dolphins fan I have been through a lot these last six years. No playoff berths. The endless search for the next Dan Marino. A revolving door of players and coaches. The Ricky Williams saga. The Nicktator. A 1-15 season. You would think that last one would be the lowest low of everything recently. It's not. Nothing hurts more, as a Dolphins fan, than the loss of Zach Thomas.

Zach Thomas wasn't supposed to make it. He was a 5th round draft choice after all (154th pick in 1996). However, he started every game his rookie season (in fact he started every single game of his illustrious Dolphins career, which spanned 12 seasons) and registered 157 tackles (126 solo). The triple-digit tackles would become a Thomas specialty. He registered 100+ tackles in his first 11 seasons in the NFL (only two other players have done this). He has more tackles after 12 seasons than anyone in the Pro Football Hall of Fame had in their entire career. Seriously. He studied hours upon hours of game tape...after the team sessions were over. He would sometimes be at the practice facility before the coaches and would be the last to leave as well. His intangibles are vast. But besides his on the field prowess, he had the off-field characteristics that make you proud to say "You're my idol". He was friendly with the media (he phoned every reporter he was in contact with over these last 12 years and thanked them personally). He was involved in numerous charity events. He was grounded and humble. The list goes on and on.


In case you haven't figured it out, Zach Thomas is my favorite football player. Ever. Seeing him leave Miami actually hurts, as much as sports story can hurt. Knowing he will be in another uniform soon sucks. Hopefully he latches on with a team that has a chance to win the big one. He deserves it. After everything he has been through with the Dolphins and the skill and class he brings to the game, he deserves a Super Bowl ring. The teams that are rumored to be interested in his services include the Saints, Jets, Bills, Cowboys, Chargers, Colts, and Patriots. Crap. Let's see...hate the Bills. Check. Jets? Yep. Patriots. OH HELL YEAH. But in the end, I want him to win. While I don't think that will happen within the next 2 or 3 years in New Orleans, New York or Buffalo, it could happen in Dallas, Indianapolis, San Diego, or New England. As much as it would hurt to see him playing for the Patriots he would have his chance at the Lombardi. Above all, that's what I, as a Zach Thomas fan, want.

I hope you've had the time of your life, Zach. It was fun while it lasted. Good luck wherever you may land.

PART 2 - An Argument for the Hall of Fame

Zach Thomas is one of the greatest linebackers in the history of the game. Don't believe me? Try watching an old Dolphins game. He, along with Jason Taylor, was a team leader. He could change games. He made great plays and hit hard (one more for fun). He will be in the Dolphins Honor Roll and very well could have his number retired. And he should be enshrined in Canton.

If you count Chuck Bednarik and Alex Wojciechowicz as linebackers (they were also centers), then there are currently 18 linebackers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The first linebacker inducted (after two way players Bednarik and Wojciechowicz) was Joe Schmidt of the Detroit Lions (Class of 1973). The most recent addition is Andre Tippett, the former Patriots star and part of the Class of 2008.

If you'd ask the casual NFL fan, or possibly even some fanatics, who are the best linebackers in the NFL today you'd probably hear these names (in no particular order): Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, Shawne Merriman, DeMarcus Ware, Lance Briggs, Patrick Willis, or Derrick Brooks. I'm not making this up; I've seen this argument on many message boards. I have seen this done bye supposed experts from CBS and ESPN. Could someone please answer me this question: WHY IS ZACH THOMAS NOT ON THIS LIST?!?!?

I don't have an answer for that. But I do have an answer as to why he should be on that list. This is strictly statistics base because all of the other assets, such as intangibles and character, can not be measured; they are simply demonstrated. I compared active players ach Thomas, Ray Lewis, and Brian Urlacher with Hall of Famers Mike Singletary and Lawrence Taylor (I wanted to include others, such as Jack Lambert and Dick Butkus but couldn't find complete statistics). The first image shows their career statistics to date. The second image is all of the players extraploated to 184 games played, the amount that L.T. played. Click on the images to enlarge the statistics.

Career Statistical Comparisons

Extrapolated Statistical Comparisons

NOTE: FFs are forced fumbles and PDs are pass deflections.

As you can see, Zach Thomas clearly is a stud linebacker. He has more tackles than any of these players (and any currently in the Hall of Fame). I know it depends on scheme, position (outside vs. inside), and even what era we are in, but tackling is the most important part of a defender's game. It is clear that he makes the tackles when needed. He is one of the best.