Zach Thomas - Hall of Fame??

He's boarder line. He will be considered and in a few conversations but I just don't think he is HOF worthy. As much as I love Zach and as good as he was he wasn't even the best ILB when he played.

I think he will make it in based on his heart and size. For a "slow, and undersized ILB" he had the heart of a giant. I think he'll make it in because despite his stature he was a tackling machine.

First nomination? Hmmmmmm...........probably

"cobrajet wrote:

I think he will make it in based on his heart and size. For a "slow, and undersized ILB" he had the heart of a giant. I think he'll make it in because despite his stature he was a tackling machine.

First ballot? Hmmmmmm...........maybe

Dunno bro, I will tell you I will be rooting for him to make it. :up:

First ballot all the way. Lesser talent made it.

Nope: He was the best of the best - but - not the greatest or the great. He might make it in someday but not on the first try.

I think he'll make it in the dad HOF though. :-)

"cobrajet wrote:

Ok boyz - it's poll time . . .

Will our favorite LB be a first ballot Hall of Famer?? I know he'll get there but will he be selected on the first ballot or have to wait?

:confused2:

I don't even know that he'll get in.

"LandShark13 wrote:

As much as I love Zach and as good as he was he wasn't even the best ILB when he played.

That depends on how you define "best" when it comes to ILB. For all the hype and press Ray Lewis gets, he and Zach are very similar when it comes to their stats. Officially, Zach has more combined tackles, Lewis has more INTs and solo tackles. Lewis has started 193 games, Zach has started 172. The biggest gap is in their popularity: Zach has seven Pro Bowls to Lewis' eleven, and seven All-Pro selections to Lewis' nine.

If Ray Lewis is considered a lock for the Hall of Fame, then Zach Thomas should get decent consideration simply for having roughly equivalent statistical accomplishments. The only thing missing is the Super Bowl ring, and there are some voters who weigh that heavily. Personally, I don't understand the desire to weigh a function of quality team play for or against an individual honor.

The biggest factor acting against Zach will be the offensive bias of HOF voters. Defensive players simply have a harder time getting in.

"Desides wrote:

That depends on how you define "best" when it comes to ILB. For all the hype and press Ray Lewis gets, he and Zach are very similar when it comes to their stats. Officially, Zach has more combined tackles, Lewis has more INTs and solo tackles. Lewis has started 193 games, Zach has started 172. The biggest gap is in their popularity: Zach has seven Pro Bowls to Lewis' eleven, and seven All-Pro selections to Lewis' nine.

If Ray Lewis is considered a lock for the Hall of Fame, then Zach Thomas should get decent consideration simply for having roughly equivalent statistical accomplishments. The only thing missing is the Super Bowl ring, and there are some voters who weigh that heavily. Personally, I don't understand the desire to weigh a function of quality team play for or against an individual honor.

The biggest factor acting against Zach will be the offensive bias of HOF voters. Defensive players simply have a harder time getting in.

Time will tell bro but if it was my vote I would take Ray Lewis or Junior Seau over Zack.

Id put my house on no. I'll be happy if he just makes it in when he's a geezer. No championships, no Defensive MVPs, in a non-skill position, there's just no chance. I hope he makes it one day, he's a Dolphin great...but no shot as a first ballot HOFer.

"silence dogood wrote:

First ballot all the way. Lesser talent made it.

Ray Lewis is first ballot all the way...Zach I dont think so....

Better question: Is the sky blue?

"LandShark13 wrote:

Time will tell bro but if it was my vote I would take Ray Lewis or Junior Seau over Zack.

I don't know who Zack is. :shifty:

I think Jason Taylor has a better shot, but I wouldn't count Zach out. He's not a first ballot guy, but neither was Michael Irvin.

"Desides wrote:

I don't know who Zack is. :shifty:

I think Jason Taylor has a better shot, but I wouldn't count Zach out. He's not a first ballot guy, but neither was Michael Irvin.

Taylor should be a Lock. I loved watching Zach play. He was one of my favorite players. I just don't think he is Hall worthy but as he said in his presser the simple fact that some people will even ask this question shows you how good of a career he had.

Its funny i come on here and everyone is saying no on other non dolphins website alot of people are saying yes lol

"Marino1384 wrote:

Its funny i come on here and every is saying no on other non dolphins website alot of people are saying yes lol

I gotta admit it. I didn't understand what you were trying to say in this post.

If all players had the heart of ZT, we'd be expanding the size of the HOF. On heart, there are/were very few guys that matched Zach's level. His play, his practice, his preparation, his off the field, his community efforts all were exemplary. He epitomized the underdog role, too small, too slow, not very athletic, etc. He was a great LBer in the NFL, but I don't know that he'll make the HOF. Perhaps at some point, but probably not a first ballot guy. Of course it will also depend on who else is eligible as well. Every football team needs a ZT on it...someone that every player, including the super stars, look up too. Oh, and by the way, I think every team dreaded having to prepare for him because he was always even more prepared than they were...

I hope he gets in, but I'm not totally convinced.

I think he'll get in one day. But, first ballot?

I guess it part of it will depend on whoever else is eligible at the time.

"LandShark13 wrote:

I gotta admit it. I didn't understand what you were trying to say in this post.

My bad i was writing it quick. Ok well ive been to a couple other websites asking whether ZT will get in or not. Most people on here aren't sure or simply that he wasn't great enough. While on the other websites alot of people are saying that he will get in.

Hands down Ray lewis is a lock, but out of everyone that has retired find another linebacker who has 7 pro bowls and 5 all pro selections thats not in the HOF. As i found on another forum somebody explained him simply as being the victem of a GOAT saying he was a Clyde Dexler type, a player who is probably one of the best ever but being in the shadow of the Greatest ever (Michael Jordan) he never really got the credit he deserves.

I would love to see Zach go in as a first ballot HoF but I just don't know. I honestly don't know if he'll get in at all. I don't buy the whole "he was undersized" thing. They don't put overachievers in the HoF. They put all time greats. And there are just too many factors working against Zach being considered an all time great, not the least of which being that his entire career was over shadowed by Ray Lewis.

No way he gets in as a first ballot HoF'er, and I am basing this on Harry Carson who I would put on the same level as Thomas in talent and the way they both played the game and it took Carson 18 years to get inducted.

The Dolphin fan is conditioned by it's local media and it's generally negative culture to think that if you boast about your team or players, that you are being an unreasonable homer.

Zach Thomas will be in the Hall of Fame. First ballot? it depends on the year he is nominated.

"Section126 wrote:

The Dolphin fan is conditioned by it's local media and it's generally negative culture to think that if you boast about your team or players, that you are being an unreasonable homer.

Zach Thomas will be in the Hall of Fame. First ballot? it depends on the year he is nominated.

First ballot is generally regarded as the 1st year a player is eligible to get in the HOF, not strictly a nomination.

"Stitches wrote:

First ballot is generally regarded as the 1st year a player is eligible to get in the HOF, not strictly a nomination.

I know. But it depends on who is nominated in that first year.

If it is a light year..he might get in.

Tim Graham asked three guys with a vote in his blog about Zach and none of them said they'd vote for him if they were doing it now. I know things can change in five years but based on that I just don't see him getting in on his first attempt. I know it's only three guys but you would have liked to see maybe one of them say, "Yeah I'd probably vote for him." Maybe if it's a really weak class in 2015.