Ok boyz - it's poll time . . . Will our favorite ILB be in the Hall of Fame the first year he is nominated??
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
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. :-)
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.
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.
I don't know who Zack is. 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
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.
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.
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.
ooops, Maybe I should change the thread. I meant to say that he will get in the first year he is nominated, not the first year eligible.
I wish i wasnt saying this because i believe its completely wrong but he's been underrated a bit his whole career. In my mind theres no doubt the guy is a hall of famer but i dont think others completely agree. He's not a first ballot but i think he'll get in eventually.
IMO there's no way he is a first ballot (the real meaning) HOFer. I wouldn't even say he that he is more likely to make it than not, he's borderline to ever make it in at best.
He's Nick Buonconti without the SB rings. We all now how hard it was for Nick to get elected even with the perfect season on his record. Should be there. Will have a hard time making it in.
He needed two more seasons worth ofstats. That, imo would have helped. Also, his chances took a big hit when Dr. Z had his stroke and stopped working. He was the BIGGEST Zach Thomas advocate on that Hall of Fame committee.
When I look at the real greats that have played ILB like Mike Curtis of the Colts and Dick Butkis of the Bears, I can't say Zach is in their league because they really defined the position, but, that doesn't mean that all hope is lost. Five years from now memories of Zach will fade and he could have to wait a while to get into the hall. A lot depends on what he does in football between now and then to stay in the spot light and what the daft class of that year looks like. I would say first ballot? - probably not, but first nomination opportunity? - definitely yes.
I think his first year hes eligible is his best due to a weak class, think about it who else has retired this year or the last 3-4 years? Derrik Brooks is all i can think of maybe T.O. if he retires this year,Jonathon Ogden,Tony Boseli maybe, Warren Sapp, everyone else who is considered HOF material has another 2-3 years before they retire.
Over a thousand tackles, 17 Interceptions, 20 sacks despite hardly ever being blitzed, 30 passes defensed, 4 TD's, Nine forced-fumbles. Seven Pro-Bowls, 2006 AP Linebacker of the Year and two leadership awards... ZACH IS IN! FIRST-BALLOT! The fact was that he was the smartest player of his era, despite his size, to play the game! Many recognize this and will be a determining factor. His stats are far above average... As a matter of fact, in his prime I'd say he was the best coverage LB out there. I can think back to so many plays that were WOW! Not to mention the running game.
While I want Zach in the HOF, and feel he deserves it, that is homerism and sadly I do not think he will get in. Maybe after many tries, hopefully, just based on the way I see voting work I doubt he gest in, which I personally feel would be wrong, but again that's homerism on my part because I have a lot of man-love for the guy, his heart, work ethic. He should get in based on being the player who made the most of what he had to work with, heart, work ethic, and intelligence. But I am just not very hopeful.
You're dreaming my friend. Take your rose-colored homer glasses off. I love Zach to death, but no way in hell does he deserve to go to the HOF.
Zach was blitzed quite a bit over his career. but he was stifled many times. First Ballot? you are such a homer. but given your cool SIG, not surprising.
Don't like the comparison between Drexler and Thomas. I keep coming back to games when the opposing teams had centers zeroing in on Thomas (like Mawae) Thomas was generally ineffective. Thomas was in the right system with dominant players like Bowens in front of him to keep him from being overpowered so he could make the plays. In many other systems, I doubt Zach has the stats that he has today. Drexler was always effective and wasn't making up for a lack of size, speed or athleticism with brains. Drexler was a natural talent that Michael Jordan was quoted as saying the closest player that he sees in the NBA that mirrors his own abilities at that time was Clyde. I know, I lived in Portland during the height of his career and he's still my all-time favorite non-Dolphin athlete.
