Is Thomas Hall of Fame bound?

[Phishfan]

While there is no rule that says you can't have two people from the same era at the same position...there a limit to the total number of inductees.  So it doesn't just come down to where ranks as a linebacker but was he a better linebacker than someone else was a safety, cornerback, etc.

Its possible he gets in but he is far from a sure thing.  One thing that will hurt him is played in a total of one playoff game.  While that says more about the Dolphins than it does about him. Fact is success of the team is a factor is close cases, and Zach is a close case.  

You had better check your facts on this one. I'm not completely positive but I don't think there are any limits to the number of inductees. They just have to reach the minimum point total and they get in. Zach also played in more than one playoff game.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

You had better check your facts on this one. I'm not completely positive but I don't think there are any limits to the number of inductees. They just have to reach the minimum point total and they get in. Zach also played in more than one playoff game.

Not according to....

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ThomZa01/gamelog/#stats_playoffs

[bsfins]

Sorry I didn't click the article,so this might have been mentioned...

I'm on the fence about Zach....Too many Lean years by the Dolphins hurt Zach, Seau and Lewis both played on teams that went to the Super bowl (won (Lewis SB MVP)and lost)

I feel he's 60/40 against him getting in...I think he's got a small window,where his chances are high....off the top of my head,I'm trying to think who has retired the past year or so,and might retire next year,that are definite first ballots...I think Farve,Walter Jones...I 'll need to think....

[Tepop84]

You had better check your facts on this one. I'm not completely positive but I don't think there are any limits to the number of inductees. They just have to reach the minimum point total and they get in. Zach also played in more than one playoff game.

ignorance is bliss.

[Phishfan]

Not according to....

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ThomZa01/gamelog/#stats_playoffs

That site is incorrect.

[Pappy13]

So it doesn't just come down to where ranks as a linebacker but was he a better linebacker than someone else was a safety, cornerback, etc.

Alright, I'll buy that.  But since you can't be voted in until you have been out of the league for at least 5 years, who has retired in the last say 3 or 4 years that deserves in?  They could select someone else who's been missing the vote for a while, but I can't really think of any glaring omissions up to this point.  Seau is the most likely candidate but I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that he doesn't play this year which would mean he wouldn't yet be eligible.  Favre won't retire until no one wants him anymore and the Vikings still want him to play.  I figure Favre should sign a contract around game 4 of the regular season of next year at the rate he's going now. LOL

[Dave Gray]

Another thing about Zach:  I can't remember him being even the best player on the team.  ...ever.

In our power defensive years, both Taylor and Surtain were better players.  Zach was more known for his toughness, nose for the ball, and being a fan favorite, because he was undersized.

He was never the spotlight.  While I don't think that a guy like Urlacher was all that much better, he was the highlight of his team and would get promos and video game covers and stuff like that.  Zach was always second fiddle to another player at the same position, or even other defensive players on his own team.

...not that he doesn't deserve the HOF -- I'd love to see him get in.  I just don't think the he's as recognized league-wide as a guy like Taylor or Urlacher, and he will get overshadowed.

[Pappy13]

By my count, Zach has played in 8 post-season games.  That link above only shows games where the player has scored, registered a sack or an interception or had a return.

[Pappy13]

Another thing about Zach:  I can't remember him being even the best player on the team.  ...ever.

In our power defensive years, both Taylor and Surtain were better players.  Zach was more known for his toughness, nose for the ball, and being a fan favorite, because he was undersized.

I don't know about that.  Taylor didn't come to the Dolphins until '97 and it wasn't really until about '2000 that he really had a breakout year.  Up to that time I thought Zach was the best defensive player on the team and even after that, I never considered Jason Taylor to be the best defensive player on Miami, I always kind of put both of them together as the best players each with different strengths.  Zach made the tackles and covered players like a blanket while Taylor rushed the passer.  As for Surtain, I didn't even consider him the best corner that Miami had at the time, I always thought Surtain and Madison were toss-ups for that distinction and it could be argued that Madison had the better overall career.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I don't know about that.  Taylor didn't come to the Dolphins until '97 and it wasn't really until about '2000 that he really had a breakout year.  Up to that time I thought Zach was the best defensive player on the team and even after that, I never considered Jason Taylor to be the best defensive player on Miami, I always kind of put both of them together as the best players each with different strengths.  Zach made the tackles and covered players like a blanket while Taylor rushed the passer.  As for Surtain, I didn't even consider him the best corner that Miami had at the time, I always thought Surtain and Madison were toss-ups for that distinction and it could be argued that Madison had the better overall career.

Debatable if you are the best player on a sub-500 team, typically doesn't equate to HOF. 

[Tepop84]

Debatable if you are the best player on a sub-500 team, typically doesn't equate to HOF. 

The dolphins were 97-95 while zach was here. I know it probably is hard for you to make statements that are both true and relevant to the discussion.

[Pappy13]

Debatable if you are the best player on a sub-500 team, typically doesn't equate to HOF. 

It worked for Singletary.

[bsfins]

^^ Singletary,played on a defense that is arguably one of the best D's to ever suit up in the 85 Bears,Zach didn't...It also goes back to Daves point of the Best player on the team...

[Pappy13]

^^ Singletary,played on a defense that is arguably one of the best D's to ever suit up in the 85 Bears,Zach didn't...It also goes back to Daves point of the Best player on the team...

You mean the one the Dolphins beat?  The Bears had a great team in '85 and '86, other than that the Bears were pretty ordinary for Singletary's career.  I grew up watching the Bears and my Mom & Dad are huge Bears fans and even they will tell you there have been far more lean times than good times even though they've had the likes of Walter Payton and Mike Singletary.  A player or 2 doesn't a superbowl make.  Any Marino fan can tell you that.  Singletary may not have been the best player on that '85 bears either.  Richard Dent, William Perry, Dan Hampton, Otis Wilson, Wilbur Marshall, Dave Duerson, Gary Fencik.  That was one of the most stacked teams in the history of the NFL, it wasn't just Mike Singletary.

No Zach was never fortunate enough to be on a team with a great D, which might just make his accomplishments even more impressive.

[bsfins]

<<--Family is all from Chicago, and Bear fans...(Only Dolphin fan)

Still Zach was known for the Grunt work on the team...Remember We're Dolphins Fans, it's not us that are getting him there....It's how he's Viewed by people that arent Dolphin fans....Not Playing in a lot of playoff games, never making it to the Super bowl,Not having lots of Highlight reel type plays, Playing with Jason Taylor, Patrick Surtain,Sam Madison....All hurts Zach...


Modified to add...Too Many Non Dolphins fans see Zach is a very good player,but not Hall of Fame....