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Thomas May Get Hall Call
Feb. 3, 2007
For Chiefs fans hoping the third time will be the charm for the late Derrick Thomas and his bid to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame, consider this.
It wasn’t for franchise greats such as Bobby Bell, Willie Lanier, Buck Buchanan and Len Dawson. All waited four or more years from the time of eligibility until they finally were granted admission.
The answer on Thomas comes today. The Hall of Fame selection committee meets today in Miami to determine this year’s class and whether Thomas, who failed to gain admission in each of his first two tries, finally gets in.
The Chiefs’ representative on the committee is Bob Gretz, who works for the team’s radio network. He indicated that he couldn’t determine whether Thomas’ bid to gain the necessary 32 of 40 votes has any more momentum.
“I think he’s got a good shot,” Gretz said. “But I can’t say it’s any better or any worse than it was last year or two years ago.”
Thomas’ bid should be stronger this year simply because of decreased competition. The selection committee is obligated to choose no fewer than three new Hall members but no more than six.
Two years ago, Thomas was competing for a spot with, among others, quarterbacks Steve Young and Dan Marino. Last year, he was competing not only with quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Warren Moon but also with legendary defensive lineman Reggie White.
This time, there is no can’t-miss candidate. Running back Thurman Thomas, offensive lineman Bruce Matthews, wide receiver Michael Irvin and former commissioner Paul Tagliabue are favorites.
None is a sure thing.
“In this year’s class, there doesn’t seem to be … a first ballot shoo-in or a lock,” Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson said. “Each of the last two classes had at least one or two of those guys. It’s been somewhat stiff competition.
“Paul Tagliabue is, in my opinion, a Hall of Famer. Thurman Thomas was a terrific player. Bruce Matthews was a terrific offensive lineman who played a long time. Are they deserving? I think so. There are other guys who are eligible this year who are deserving of consideration.”
Derrick Thomas is one of a group of pass rushers among this year’s finalists that also includes Richard Dent, Fred Dean and Andre Tippett. That could hurt Thomas’ bid.
Thomas’ stats stand up. He has 126 1/2 sacks in his 11 seasons with the Chiefs.
Dent had more — 137 1/2 — but he played 15 seasons, mostly with the Bears. Dean’s numbers are uncertain because he played part of his career in an era in which sacks weren’t official statistics. Tippett had 100 in 11 seasons with the Patriots but was considered a better all-round player than Thomas.
The pass-rush votes could wind up getting splintered among all of the candidates.
“I know that (Thomas) has five solid ‘no’ votes,” Gretz said. “There are people who won’t vote for him until Richard Dent gets in. There are people who won’t vote for him until Fred Dean gets in.”
As a pure pass rusher, few could match Thomas.
“He was a difference-maker and one who changed the course of how offenses play,” said Chiefs coach Herm Edwards, an assistant for the team for part of Thomas’ career. “There were certain things that you knew when you were playing against the Chiefs, especially in passing situations, that you had to account for No. 58. You had to get him blocked. If you didn’t try to block him with two, or you didn’t chip him, generally Derrick was going to beat the guy across from him and sack the quarterback.”
from Kansas City.com
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