Archives for February 2007

Thurman Thomas 1

Thurman Thomas 2

Thurman Thomas / Jim Kelly 1

Thurman Thomas / Michael Irvin

Thurman Thomas / Jim Kelly 2

Thurman Thomas / Daughter

Thurman Thomas / Jim Kelly 3

Thurman Thomas / Marv Levy

‘Thomas becomes the seventh Bill to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, joining O.J. Simpson (1985), Billy Shaw (1999), Marv Levy (2001), Jim Kelly (2002), James Lofton and Joe DeLamielleure (both 2003).’

‘Also cut on the first vote were punter Ray Guy, wide receiver Andre Reed and offensive linemen Russ Grimm, Bob Kuechenberg and Gary Zimmerman.’

‘”It’s just an unbelievable day for me,” said Thomas. “It’s just a beautiful day for my wife, my kids, my mom, the Buffalo Bills organization and the fans in Buffalo. Like I’ve always said we didn’t win a Super Bowl, but this is my Super Bowl gift to the Bills fans. Without the fans cheering us on and cheering me on this would not have been possible.”‘

‘Not surprisingly in every interview I’ve done this week everybody wants to know who I think is going to win. All I’ll say is you never know until they kick it off. I’m the perfect guy to know that. You can go in and play great and lose and you can go in and play crappy and win. What you’ve got to do is play it like a normal game all the while knowing that there’s no tomorrow. You keep your head on a swivel and if an opportunity comes up you jump on it.’

‘”Like I’ve always said, we didn’t win a Super Bowl, but this is my Super Bowl gift to the Buffalo Bills fans,” he said. “I’m happy to be among the NFL greats.”‘

Thomas was the league’s most valuable player in 1991, when he gained more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage. His 13 seasons with 50-plus receptions, nine of them in a row, are exceeded only by Jerry Rice. He joins Jim Kelly, who made the Hall of Fame in 2002, from the Buffalo teams that won four straight AFC titles before losing in each Super Bowl.

‘Former Bills running back Thurman Thomas will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2007 class alongside Michael Irvin, Charlie Sanders, Roger Wehrli, Bruce Matthews and Gene Hickerson. Former Bills wide-out Andre Reed did not make the final 10.’

‘Thomas should enter the Hall not for starring on those four Buffalo Bills Super Bowl teams, though he was every bit as good as Jim Kelly, but because he’s one of the five finest multipurpose backs ever seen.’

‘But there’s no misunderstanding the response from Cole’s Restaurant in Buffalo and Brennan’s Bowery Bar in Clarence. The taverns are asking patrons to bring in No. 21 McGahee jerseys to be ripped into bar rags. They’re offering a $20 tab to anyone who donates a jersey.’

‘"After Jerry Rice, it is my contention that Andre Reed is the greatest run-after-the-catch receiver ever in the NFL," Levy said.’

You envy sometimes what it would feel like to be in a locker room after winning the Super Bowl,” reflected Kelly, 46, “because you go from such a high of winning your AFC Championship Game to finally getting into the Super Bowl and then to such a devastating low when you don’t win it. It sits with you until you strap on your chin strap the next year. Even longer. It lasts a lifetime.

‘Goodell was asked about possible franchise shifts and expansion – including a direct question about whether Toronto was in line for an NFL team – and the new commissioner said the league is committed to its current 32 franchises, which seemingly be good news to Ralph Wilson and the Bills.’

‘I think Thurman will get in and I hope Andre gets in. You never know, nobody is in that room except the guys that vote. I think Paul Tagliabue will get in and I think Bruce Matthews will get in too. Other than that I’d be guessing.’