What Do YOU Remember about Thurman Thomas?

[jtothebrown]

Met him at my hotel a few years ago after a function.

 

He was sitting with several local sport radio guys and some area sports writers. He was obviously tipsy and every other word out of his mouth was curse words.

 

He actually told a story of how he ended up a Dolphin and how he went off on Polian and Ralph Wilson.

 

Hes a cool  mofo though! 

 

Congrats to 34! Long overdue for the best all purpose back ever!

Wouldnt have went to 4 straight without him!

 

Thanks Thurman! 

 

 

[SMAKCruiser]

His facemask and chinstrap.   Don't ever recall any other backs in his era wearing the same setup.

[Solomon Grundy]

I remember him rushing for 200 yds against the mighty Oklahoma Sooners and the Boz in the snow. That's when I became a Thurman Thomas fan and wished like hell that the Bills draft him.

[billsfan714]

The Monday night game against the Jets where he could of gone for the game rushing record, but went out when it was in the bag, saving himself for the long haul.

 

The playoff game against the Chiefs where they just couldnt stop our running game

 

Superbowl 25 he should of had 35 touches..

[Dablitzkrieg]

3 things...

 

1.  Best blitzing pick up RB in Bills history

2.  Putting Lawrence Taylor on skates before scoring in 1990 regular season game

3.  Super Bowl XXV-best player on the field

Edited May 17, 2018 by Dablitzkrieg

[SinceThe70s]

 

I remember Flutie tossing him a lateral downfield for some extra yardage at my first ever game at the Ralph.

 

BTW, not sure if it was mentioned but Happy Birthday Thurman! I found out earlier today that he and my eldest son were both born on May 16.

[Formerly Allan in MD]

3 hours ago, Rockinon said:

He was the key for that K-gun offense.  Always on the same page with Kelly. Did almost everything well....don't think he was that great at blocking until later in his career(Even then not great).  That fast paced offense combined with Thurman's ability to run or catch really kept defenses on their heels. Definitely had a chip on his shoulder and never seemed to get tired. Wore entire defenses out by the beginning of the second half.

 

3 hours ago, Rockinon said:

He was the key for that K-gun offense.  Always on the same page with Kelly. Did almost everything well....don't think he was that great at blocking until later in his career(Even then not great).  That fast paced offense combined with Thurman's ability to run or catch really kept defenses on their heels. Definitely had a chip on his shoulder and never seemed to get tired. Wore entire defenses out by the beginning of the second half.

Thumb's up!

[Ol Dirty B]

3 hours ago, DC Tom said:

Pouting on the bench after fumbling on two straight possessions against Dallas in SB XXVIII.

 

Players fumble.  No big deal.  But champions don't pout.  The pouting sucked the life out of a team that was dominating Dallas the first half of that game.  

 

That whole team just... I don't know, do you think it was all Thurman that brought that energy level down.

 

I'll never forget Aikman in the 30 for 30 saying they got outplayed, but as they entered the Tunnel together they could just tell that the Bills were off, they just seemed down and a bit almost combative with each other.

 

I'll never forget the bootleg between him and Flutie were he was supposed to take the ball on a hand off and he didn't and flutie was like wtf am I gonna do here, and just ran it in easy. Even though I'm sure he was panicking.

8 minutes ago, SinceThe70s said:

 

I remember Flutie tossing him a lateral downfield for some extra yardage at my first ever game at the Ralph.

 

BTW, not sure if it was mentioned but Happy Birthday Thurman! I found out earlier today that he and my eldest son were both born on May 16.

 

Nice first game, I remember that play too. That was crazy, I'm not the biggest Flutie fan, and that's another debate, but he was fun to watch.

[Doc Brown]

1 hour ago, Happy Gilmore said:

One of the first (maybe the first, I can't remember) to take the snap directly from the center and go through the 'A' gap.  No opposing defense was able to stop him from ripping off a big chunk of yardage.

Would use that play on Tecmo Super Bowl all the time.

 

Edited May 17, 2018 by Doc Brown

[B-Large]

It’s weird, my most vivid memory was TT getting a screen pass to the left and i think the hit he received lacerated his liver... it looked brutal.

 

I seen to remember it was the Colts... 

 

Edited May 17, 2018 by B-Large

[Chicken Boo]

3 hours ago, klos63 said:

The AFC championship game against the Chiefs. His best rushing game ever IMO. He was amazing that game.

 

That's what comes to mind when I think of Thurman.  He could have gone for 200+ that game.

[davefan66]

Don’t recall the game, but he caught a ball down the right sideline stretched out and horizontal to the field.

 

What I truly loved was knowing when the ball was handed off, he’d do his best to gain yards, and he did.  When the ball was thrown to him, he’d do his best to catch and run, and did.

 

Dont ever recall him taking any play off.

[Clemfield2622]

80 yard TD vs the Pats in the 1st game I ever attended live

[SinceThe70s]

I'm not an X's and O's guy, but I also remember the delayed hand-offs (counters?) that always seemed to work.

[The Rev.Mattb74 ESQ.]

This team must have two Michael Jordans. 

[White Linen]

This may have been mentioned as I didn't read through each page.  I loved when he would turn and back peddle for another 3-4 yards.  

 

He was an awfully creative runner that was durable and did so many things.

[BuffaloFan68]

The master of the spin move.

[stevewin]

The draw out of the shotgun.  Was amazing how effective he was on that play - even when they ran it so often it often lost the element of surprise.

[Buffalo Boy]

     Two things come to mind immediately.

      I remember the way he would put his hand on the back of a lineman and just let the play develop, just taking his time and the next thing you knew he was 8 to 10 yards down field. He was SO consistently patient and understood how to let his blockers set up in a way I haven’t seen in a long time.

     I remember a post game presser fairly early in his rookie season with Marv talking about how he had told the coaches and Kelly not to think of him as a rookie but give him a full load because Thurman could handle it.

MAGIC TIMES!!!!!

[Dadonkadonk]

I remember him winning SuperBowl XXV MVP.

 

Oh crap Marv Levy and Darryl Talley screwed that up...

2 hours ago, SinceThe70s said:

I'm not an X's and O's guy, but I also remember the delayed hand-offs (counters?) that always seemed to work.

Counter trey started by Washington and perfected by Buffalo.  Not used much anymore with both the G and OT pulling.  Not sure why.  Counter is still used in multiple different formations and variations.  Curious if anyone knows if defenses eventually found a counter measure?  OLB/DE reading the puling OT and immediately attacking the backfield ignoring the RB motion?  

[Stenbar]

I remember his diving catch on the sideline in the home opener in 1992 vs the LA Rams.  It was one of the best catches I have ever seen.  I have looked online forever to find it and I can't.

[BruceVilanch]

He would run into a pile up of bodies and somehow would get through and pick up 10-15 yards. Still my favorite RB to watch in the 90's along with Barry Sanders.

[buffalo2218]

The first time I ever saw Thurman was during a post game interview after the Bills beat Miami. I forget exactly what the reporter asked, but Thurman's response was "They got their ass kicked". Given my hatred for Marino and the Dolphins, that response solidified my loyalty to the Bills.

Edited May 17, 2018 by buffalo2218

[nucci]

His rookie season he missed a couple of games with nagging injuries. One being the 31-6 win over Dolphins on a Monday night in Miami. (I was there). Thurman said later on Talley pulled him aside and told him that needed to play through these injuries . Every player is hurting but you are very important to the team and we need you out there. Thurman said that helped him become the player he was.

[Chandler#81]

14 hours ago, Azucho98 said:

Dolphin killer

 

Greatest tribute to Thurman came from Dolphins DC Tom Olivadotti following the ‘95 Playoff game.

 

Reporter: How do you stop Thurman Thomas?

Olivadotti: Trade for him

[ddaryl]

I remember us drafting him and how the big story was his drop to the 2nd rd. That was a gift that was a big catalyst to the SB years

[Chandler#81]

2 minutes ago, ddaryl said:

I remember us drafting him and how the big story was his drop to the 2nd rd. That was a gift that was a big catalyst to the SB years

It helped that we didn’t have a 1st round pick -trading it in the Great Halloween Trade the previous year for Cornelius Bennett. Thomas was so pissed at all the other teams, he swore vengeance on them from Buffalo’s backfield. 

Thank you, Bill Polian!

[eball]

Truly defined the term "all-around" back.  There was nothing he didn't do exceptionally well -- rushing, receiving, pass blocking.

 

Thurman also typified the sort of player who could use a "slight" -- real or perceived -- to motivate himself even further.

 

When I think of Thurman I immediately think of all the games against Miami -- he just owned the Fish.

[nucci]

10 hours ago, Chicken Boo said:

 

That's what comes to mind when I think of Thurman.  He could have gone for 200+ that game.

well, he did have 186 yds

3 minutes ago, eball said:

Truly defined the term "all-around" back.  There was nothing he didn't do exceptionally well -- rushing, receiving, pass blocking.

 

Thurman also typified the sort of player who could use a "slight" -- real or perceived -- to motivate himself even further.

 

When I think of Thurman I immediately think of all the games against Miami -- he just owned the Fish.

and hated them as much as we did

[DrDawkinstein]

His passion and hatred whenever we played the Dolphins will always stick out in my mind. Unfortunately, so will the fact that he went directly to the Dolphins when his time in Buffalo was finished.

 

To be honest, meeting Thurman Thomas when I was 12 years old will always be the worst fan/player experience of my life. He was incredibly rude and mean to a kid who was just trying to say hi to one of his heroes. I'll let it slide, and I'll forgive, but it's impossible to forget.

[bobobonators]

Other than being amazing, I remember he had a funny looking helmet. The facemask appeared to stick out extra far. ??‍♂️ Maybe it was the shape of his head. Who knows. 

[Cson76]

he was awesome in Techmo Bowl

[pkwwjd]

Standing in the parent pick hall at Ellicott Elementary, realizing that I was standing next to Thurman ... and figuring out he's is such a normal guy, just the next parent in line to pick up his son.

 

That ... and every time he touched the ball, he was a threat to take it to the house.

[BuffaloBill]

What’s really interesting is that I can’t point to any one play or moment.  It was simply his consistency and unbelievable presence in the offense.  For as good as he was he was never flashy.  He simply produced and produced.  As others said he never took a play off and never let up.

[Matt_In_NH]

Direct Snap

Could truly play as a wide receiver

Toughness

Played great in big games

Had 268 yards from scrimmage in week one against the fish after holding out til the last minute.

Averaged over 2000 yards from scrimmage over a 4 year period

[Best Player Available]

13 hours ago, fergie's ire said:

Post game press conference after a playoff game against Miami...said "We kicked their ass" and remember seeing it on ESPN and commentator saying, "Wait...can you say "ass" on tv"?  Apparently, you could...and he did.

 

I wonder if that was same game. When preparing for their first offensive snap Kent Hull stood

up and pointed at a Miami DT. When asked later what it was all about. Hull said I just told him,

today we are going to kick your f%#^*n  asses. I believe that's in Larry Felser's book. 

[DrDawkinstein]

13 minutes ago, BuffaloBill said:

What’s really interesting is that I can’t point to any one play or moment.  It was simply his consistency and unbelievable presence in the offense.  For as good as he was he was never flashy.  He simply produced and produced.  As others said he never took a play off and never let up.

 

Every play, 8-12 yards. Over and over and over and over.

[dulles]

This is a little different from the OP's intent...but it points to his longevity.  I remember how he always took a long time to get up from the ground after a run.  He'd fix his socks, adjust his pads, etc.  I always thought it was a way to cover up injuries so that teams couldn't target the injuries he sustained.  He took a beating from all those carries!  

12 hours ago, SinceThe70s said:

BTW, not sure if it was mentioned but Happy Birthday Thurman! I found out earlier today that he and my eldest son were both born on May 16.

 

Wait...you didn't know your sons birthday?  LOL

[26TrapDraw]

So I was born and raised in NJ. I can remember being 16 yrs old and going to the meadowlands in 90 and 91 watching Thermal own the Jets and going home with my Thomas jersey covered in yellow mustard from the pretzel bombarbments I got when I cheered. Watching him play live in his prime was one of the fondest memories I have of the Superbowl run years. 28 years later this honor is way overdue.

[Chandler#81]

15 hours ago, fergie's ire said:

Post game press conference after a playoff game against Miami...said "We kicked their ass" and remember seeing it on ESPN and commentator saying, "Wait...can you say "ass" on tv"?  Apparently, you could...and he did.