I think that's a very astute comparison. How many times was NB nominated before being inducted? I believe he retired in 1976 and would have been eligible in 1981. He didn't get inducted until 2001. That's 30 years! And I think he was helped greatly by that fact that he's a guy who stayed in the news somewhat due to the Buoniconti Foundation and due to the 1972 team being brought up every year that some teams makes a run at being undefeated. ZT may not have any those advantages. IMO ZT has almost no shot to be a first ballot HOFer and there's a very good chance that he'll never make it at all. He is, deservedly so, one of the most beloved Dolphins of the last 10 years, but I'm not sure that translates into HOF player.
LOL! True enough... But I also feel he was always overlooked and Ray Lewis was overhyped. Zach transformed his game from a Cover 1, 4-3 Defense into a hybrid 3-4 and had one of his greatest seasons in the process! Ray failed in the 3-4 and admittedly needs help up front. There were plenty of Wannstedt seasons that he was the only reason I kept watching... He was a beast!
Seven time All-Pro? That is HOF-worthy right there, but I definitely don't think he's first ballot. Depends who he's up against though.
Mike Berardino's take.... http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sport...k-mike-can-zach-thomas-make-it-to-canton.html
Seven times All-Pro and also on the team of the decade for the 2000's should be a record to get someone in first ballot. But I'm confident he won't get in first ballot and tbh I'll be surprised if he makes it at all. No doubt he should but the media didn't pay him the respect he deserved while he was playing and I doubt they give him it in retirement. He lived in Ray Lewis' shadow and like Andre Tippett with LT it may take Zach a lot of years to get in, if at all.
I do not believe that Zach will get into the Hall of Fame. As good as he was, he is not close to being the best player at his posistion who started the same year. Mr. Lewis is that one. At best during his carrer Zach was 3rd best if not 4th best (Tedy Bruschi had a better carrer than Zach, and Urlacher might be considered better than Zach) player at his posistion. Also with a huge backlog of extremely deserving players not yet in (including Bob Kuethenberg who was a more dominant guard than Zach was as an inside linebacker), with the fact that only five a year get in, Zach may be left out in the cold.
For those of you who are selling Zack short, you should check which players had similar quality careers....the players with asterisks by their name are all Hall of Famers: Career: Joe Schmidt*, Jack Ham*, Isiah Robertson, Jack Lambert*, Chris Hanburger, Bobby Bell*, Chuck Howley, Sam Mills, Mike Singletary*, Derrick Thomas* http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ThomZa01.htm He may not get in on the FIRST ballot but he should get in....his numbers are better then a lot of LB's currently in the Hall.
You cannot be serious???? You really think Bruschi was a more dominant LB then Zach Thomas? Bruschi did win some SB's so he does have that as an advantage, but Dick Butkus never won any playoff games and I don't think anyone will deny his greatness. Bruschi was NEVER named to any first all pro teams, and only ONE pro bowl. If you are looking at just numbers, here are comparable stats: Z. Thomas: Games played: 184, Tackles:1106, Assists: 627 Bruschi: Games played: 189, Tackles: 680, Assists: 387 Urlacher: Games played: 138, Tackles: 816, Assists: 249 Awards: Pro Bowls: Thomas 7, Bruschi 1, Urlacher 6 First Team All-Pro: Thomas 5, Bruschi 0, Urlacher 4 If you are looking at the top Linebackers of the past 15 years they are: 1. DERRICK BROOKS 2. RAY LEWIS 3. ZACH THOMAS 4. JUNIOR SEAU 5. BRIAN URLACHER I would say Brooks, Lewis, Thomas and Seau are Hall of Famers.....Urlacher is borderline as he has been injured alot but he could make it with a few more good seasons. Bruschi was NEVER a dominate LB and won't sniff the Hall.
No he didnt he was on a better team and that is why he was a bigger name but he wasnt half the player ZT was on the field IMO Zach Thomas has more Solo tackles then Bruschi had total tackles in his whole career ZT had 655 more tackles in his career then Bruschi had ZT had 9 more PD 5 more INTs the only thing ZT trails in against Bruschi is 1 less FF and 10 less sacks both played 14 seasons in the NFL and for Brian Urlacher i dont think he is as good as ZT either if he wants to be the same amount of tackles as ZT did in 14 years he is going to have to have just about 700 more tackles in 3 seasons
I think a lot of people around here are gonna be surprised when Zach gets the respect he deserves and goes to Canton. Its common knowledge his intelligence and I think that will ultimately give him the edge. Roman529, I agree with everything but I'd reverse 3/1.
some of it will be timing, as others have intimated -- but no, i don't think he makes to the HoF ... i do think he easily makes our RoH ... many will argue that he was a product of a system ... one that was designed for him to accrue tackles -- so his #s are skewed ... i appreciate what he did, glad he retired as a PHIN, and will be happy to see him accepted into our RoH ... but i can say i would have never selected him if i were the GM, as i have always been a Ron Wolf, Bill Parcells thug-o-nomics, prototype type of person.