Those early mornings and late nights during the week were an investment so that the squatty guy who doesnt look like a football player could often perform better than anyone else on the field those three violent hours on game day. The conversation got far enough along that Belichick told Thomas he probably wouldnt be able to take Tedy Bruschis jersey number 54, the one Thomas wore in Miami. Maritzas father Guillermo Lozano immigrated from Bogota when he was 19 years old. I said, Hes the guy that will play hard to the whistle but hell be away from the play and hell cut you, youll blow your knee out, and as hes walking away, hell say, God bless you. . Jason Taylor deserved better. So much that Thomas says, I made pressure my friend.. When he regained consciousness, Thomas wanted to keep playing as it was before the NFLs concussion protocol rules. Saying that would make me feel Im being ungrateful. So I was getting a call from the sideline and another coach was trying to coach me on what I did wrong the play before. WebDefensive End Jason Taylor was selected in the third round, 73rd player overall, in the 1997 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. In 182 games Urlacher had 1,046 solo tackles (5.74 per game). That was going to be my title for this piece. Now Taylor hopes that his former teammate, Zach Thomas, gets the same good news on Saturday, when the remainder of the 2020 Hall class is determined. If it wasnt for Zach Thomas, I wouldnt be in the Hall of Fame, Taylor told me Wednesday at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Lets just agree that it was a mutually beneficial arrangement for both parties. fl-miami-dolphins-1010B - Retired Miami Dolphins linebackers Jason Taylor, left, and Zach Thomas, right, entered the Dolphins Ring of Honor on Tuesday, October 9, 2012. Couldnt believe it.. But that simply wasnt possible. He was one of the most reliable and consistent facets of the team during that whole period. Katina Taylor, Ex-Wife Of Former Dolphins Star Jason And .. Thomas had to prove himself every step of the way, even as a linebacker at White Deer High in Pampa, Texas. I am not alone in that thinking. He starts, Zach, Im trying to make a point to get it to the team, Thomas recalls. Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis, Dolphins legend Zach Thomas says handicap as preschooler instilled work ethic, Oops! Whatever Thomas said to Maritza that night neither really remembers and it doesnt matter because she didnt give him her number. This undersized linebacker was chosen 154th overall in 1996 and coincidentally assigned jersey No. For a while Jason Taylor & Zach Thomas were the beating heart of the Dolphins D. Taylor was enshrined in Canton in 2017. I was on the passenger side and I was talking to my brother on the phone and I didnt know if the phone hit me in the head or it was the headrest that felt so hard.. Zachs accomplishments on the field made him one of the greatest players in NFL history. He wasnt demonstrative, but Zach Thomas was top of the tree good a true great at his position. And Im a veteran, Im not part of their future. MIAMI Miami Dolphins great Jason Taylor and ex-wife Katina Taylor have agreed to dismiss a lawsuit she brought against him earlier this year to Katina was adamant she wanted Jason to come up with $3.4 million she claimed he still owed her in alimony. But I definitely dont want to disrespect the game by thinking I deserve any of it. For me, man, its always about respect. So he did give me a 1-on-1 but they wouldnt allow me to meet with [reporters] at the facility. The Saints soon wanted Thomas, and in retrospect Thomas admits not going there is one of my few regrets.. He is adamant that Zach Thomas should be in the hall as well, as are most of Thomas former teammates. Back then they were miking the refs and I didnt know about it, Thomas says. 1 on that list., He made everybody that played with him better. This is about individual recognition. Recently, there has been a shroud of mystery over the current status of Zachary Todd and Alexandra Terans relationship. I love my Dolphins and you cant control what coaches want to do to turn a team around, but I thought it was mishandled.. His secret? I hear Bill Belichick does it to Tom Brady. WebThere are a number of guys waiting to get in, so, he may not be a first ballot in 2017 due to the HoF back log of competition, but he will surely make it within the following year or Taylor was enshrined in 2017. When asked about whether Thomas belonged in the Hall of Fame he had this to say, Theres a handful of guys that I played with that are elite status as far as players, people, competitors, teammates, and Zach Thomas is No. Im the leader of this defense, man., Im good with being called out, thats fine. I understood the whole business part of it. Zach and Maritza were engaged the bye week of the 2005 season on a St. Maarten beach with shooting stars as the audience. They would go on to have quite similar career numbers (more below) but one was feted much more than the other. And two of his most decorated proteges, Bill Belichick in New England and Sean Payton in New Orleans, must have thought that a mistake because they tried to sign Thomas. The former NFL middle linebacker spent his career smack in the middle of chaos. Seeing his bust in Canton will complete a storybook climb for Thomas, who arrived in South Florida with little fanfare. Zach Thomas has had no other relationships that we know of.. About. This story was originally published January 24, 2020, 12:09 PM. View in 2021:Habib: Hall voters didn't 'rob' Dolphins' Zach Thomas. Learn how your comment data is processed. "I want to thank my family for all the sacrifices they made for me over the years. So theyre telling me, Theyre trying to trade you right now.. Were eating and Nick asks me what I think of Kevin, Thomas says. But the odds of being in the conversation of the all-time greats has got to be super high. And I said, No disrespect, but there are so many other guys who have already gone home. Thanks to all my coaches, trainers and equipment staff for helping this honor become a reality. To me, is he a Hall of Famer? I dont know what else they wanted. You never replace that, going back and forth with one of the best in the game.. This is when Maritza and I were still dating and shes like, Were moving to Green Bay? And it didnt go through. So he must have been much better than Thomas who has waited until 2020 to be a finalist right? He was a 2016 APSE Top 3 columnist nationwide. Former Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas plays a pick-up game of soccer in Davie, Florida, Tuesday, January, 21, 2020. Maritza is listening to these stories with a smile. Those children, his marriage, are his job. Masons uncle, Zach Thomas, was a standout linebacker for 13 seasons with 3 teams, being named to 7 Pro Bowls of his own. In 168 games for the Dolphins all starts he had 1,640 tackles and 19.5 sacks. And I just gave him one of these . Does he belong? shouldnt even be a question, the Miami Dolphins great deserves to be in, of that I am in no doubt. But when Taylors choice was announced a few months back, it left more than a few wondering why he didnt pick Zach Thomas his former brother-in-law, close Then [Jason Taylor] jumps into it and everyones all wide-eyed getting into it back and forth.. He is an Associated Press All-Pro and awards voter. The battles were epic. He was trying to get into my head and it fired me up, Thomas says. It is also a podcast that features interviews with both current and former NFL stars and you can listen via Spreaker and Apple Podcasts. But it was all love.. My first year with the Jets before my first game we played against each other, (Coach) Bill Parcells told me in front of my entire team, If you dont block Thomas, we wont win the game, and for the next 16 matchups I never forgot that. Zach was there with offensive tackle Todd Wade. Two other numbers have been shadow retired, with Zach Thomas number 54 But I used it all the time in Washington and I still That was stress so much of it that Thomas would get blisters on his lip from the pressure. And maybe I should have bit my tongue, but thats just not me.. So before every game I would tell the ref, This is the most holdingest center in the league. And he heard about it, and before the next game he sent me a Xerox copy of his hands.. The pressure now is getting Christian to his soccer practice and games on time. The IDC (Internet Dolphins Community) have been very vocal in their displeasure about Zach not getting a mustard-colored jacket on all of the social media platforms. Anyway, I blitzed myself. I get offered two scholarships, so I take one (to Texas Tech). But on the first play of the second game, [Dallas] brought in a LB at fullback to take me on. Featured Image: Zach Thomas lined up for action. She is famous for sister of NFL player Zach Thomas. The tough decisions are picking which real estate investment to try and what workout to do to keep trim. They were trying to get Javon Walker. The work is dropping off and picking up the kids from school and deciding which life lesson to deliver on the drives back and forth. The symptom lasted nearly a year. What Happened to Zach Thomas and Where is He Now? Former Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas is one of the most dangerous defensive players in league history. However, his body-rocking hits came at a price, and he dealt with numerous concussions throughout his 13-year NFL career. The Chiefs cut him in training camp. I feel like Zachs focus now is being a great father and husband. Theyre the Patriots.. Well thats over now. She graduated Nova Southeastern University with a doctorate in Pharmacy degree but she never was a huge football fan, especially not in 2003 when she and Thomas met. Opponent and team-mate are in agreement and that theme of being overlooked is there again. The following season the Dolphins had a new administration in charge again. And that was him exploding into tackles a whopping 1,734 of them before anyone got the better of him. Should that reflect on Thomas? During his induction speech he gave props to Thomas, who he faced 16 times during his 16-year NFL career. It was definitely a chess match. The Hall of Fame vote on the Saturday before the Super Bowl is a routine-changer for the Thomas family this year. I met her there and got her number this time. Thomas had not received much attention as a free agent before that visit. Both of them stand 5-foot-11, and both of them know what its like to be underrated. When I look at back to being an 8-year-old kid starting football, I had big dreams and for it to play out like it has, Im grateful. Does Zach Thomas belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Zach Thomas was my nemesis, Mawae said 22:16 into his 27-minute Hall of Fame speech. The other Dolphins in the Hall are coach Don Shula; quarterbacks Bob Griese and Dan Marino; centers Jim Langer and Dwight Stephenson; fullback Larry Csonka; guard Larry Little; and receiver Paul Warfield. Im like, Yes, sir. . Thomas talks about how much he loves Saban as a coach and greatly enjoyed playing in his defense. So now Im in his head. He pretty much told me, next time a coach is coaching you, you shut the [expletive] up. But the Hall of Famer whom Thomas will forever be most associated with is defensive end Jason Taylor. About Katina Thomas is an American TV News. But as the rest of the team was floundering, Thomas was flourishing, averaging more than 10 tackles per game and collecting tackles for loss, passes defensed, and quarterback hits. Your support means everything to me.. And it was another reason to think he better do this somewhere different because there were so many other guys that he drafted that were just lazy that he needed to rip into and never did. He instead celebrates the years that came before. I felt bad for a while because I thought that was a reason he didnt sign with us at the time, Thomas says, But Kevin told me the Dolphins didnt offer him a contract, and thats the reason he didnt sign.. Columnist. And I knew they had all those great leaders on defense. Two other numbers have been shadow retired, with Zach Thomas number 54 and Jason Taylors 99 no longer used by the franchise. The 2023 season is the time to finally honor those two players and put their numbers in the same standing as the other legendary numbers. So before the play, I see this and Peyton is calling signals, and I yell, Lead draw! Thomas says. Thats humbling, Thomas said. Thomas was inducted in 2012 into the Dolphin Honor Roll along with Jason Taylor, the other half of the Dolphins' dynamic defensive duo of the 2000s. Theres no greater honor than to get that recognition from an opponent., Thomas later received an endorsement from another Hall of Famer Johnson who tweeted, He deserves to be in HOF!. Yet Zach Thomas had a much more productive career in terms of tackles per game. It wasnt until months later when they ran into each other again in Fort Lauderdale that they clicked. Taylor joined ESPN as a pro football analyst on June 6, Urlacher was a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee in the class of 2018. Thomas never played again, but he isnt sad and doesnt lament that ending. Ive been doubted my whole life and Ive used that. They went 108-100 and went 3-6 in the playoffs. Thomas, 49, will be inducted into the Hall in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 5. At some point they need more, Grading the Miami Dolphins roster and what that might mean for 2021 regular season, Armando Salguero farewell: It was never about me, it was always for you. Together, they formed the heart and soul of the Dolphins defense from 1996-2007. Im getting paid a lot. That was him diagnosing plays before opponents ran them, fending off 300-pound centers before they slammed him, figuring the correct angles to ball carriers before they ran by him. 2021 Ninety-Nine Yards: American Football, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Why Zach Thomas belongs in the Hall of Fame. By Armando Salguero Just couldnt do it. Saban was mortified. To have played at Texas Tech and then be drafted by the Dolphins was the ultimate. But as agent Drew Rosenhaus predicted to Thomas, if Belichick made him an offer, others would follow suit. This is Zach Thomas life now. ZACH THOMAS' HALL OF FAME CREDENTIALS. She was there with friends because it was ladies night. Thomas, who narrowly missed making the cut in 2020, becomes the 11th man whose career is primarily associated with the Dolphins to make the Hall. And after retiring from football, we had Christian, we built this house. Hes one of those guys that never got the respect he deserved, never got the attention he deserves. Here are the 17 linebackers drafted ahead of Hall of Famer Zach Thomas in 1996. To where? And they told me it was to Green Bay. He also becomes the second linebacker chosen, joining the late Nick Buoniconti. I got a laugh out of Bill Belichick, Thomas says. Its important, Thomas says as he makes sure Sienna doesnt fall off a table. The same year Thomas had 162 tackles (13 for a loss), 3 passes defended, 4 forced fumbles, 1 interception and 2 sacks. We look forward to celebrating with him in Canton.. What gives? Katina, 42, who happens to be the sister of former Taylor teammate Zach And thats the stuff I miss. Like it or not, those who make a fuss in an entertainment business (which sport essentially is) can often capture the attention. "Im finally in, man," Thomas said. Together, they formed the heart and soul of the Dolphins He pretty much said that any linebacker hed had, once they hit 35 it was downhill. Im making my own hours. And they just beat us at home, Thomas laments. Then on the turnpike ride home, with Maritza driving, the couple was rear-ended. So I just told him Im a grown-[expletive] man and told him to shut the [expletive] up. Perhaps Urlacher was better at forcing turnovers? So he told me he was going to bench me, or whatever. They're just delaying inevitable. Contribute Who is Katina Thomas dating? The endless waves rolling in behind their beachfront home are a hypnotizing sound track in the background. Growing up in Texas, I dreamed of playing football at any level. Former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas, who made a career out of stonewalling running backs with thunderous hits, made the loudest noise of all Thursday night by being named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But somehow Urlacher was a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee and Thomas who retired earlier is still waiting to get into Canton. Thomas said he was unaware the selection process had been completed until Johnson popped up at his house unannounced, wearing his own gold jacket, which could only mean good news. That first meeting happened at the Roundup Country Western nightclub in Davie. Zach has all the history with the guy going from a 5th* round pick by Jimmy to 2 time 1st team All-pro selection before Jimmy Retired beginning of 99 Not exactly setting the league alight. Zach made 182 starts over his 13 season career whilst Urlacher made 180 over his 13 year career. So [Saban] stopped practice and made a scene. I was so fired up and I took him on.. But Johnson immediately knew he had something special in the new kid. Mawae, who has enormous hands, sent the Xerox to the Dolphins facility in Davie for personal delivery to Thomas. Thomas signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys in 2008 and owner Jerry Jones asked him to sign for another year when that season ended, but Thomas told him he needed to get back to a system he felt more familiar playing. The somber thoughts often drifted into Jason Taylor's mind as he friend and brother-in-law Zach Thomas. Yeah, no one knew that until now but it happened in 2005. His relationship with Zach Thomas, however, might be the one that made the deepest impact on Jason, both professionally and personally. Lastly, I want to thank the Dolphins fans. The more I thought about it though the more ridiculous that seemed. And I said all these compliments about Kevin but I also said we have a nickname for him. That was him during with the Dolphins and one season with the Dallas Cowboys, investing 14 hours every day during football season, studying tape coaches didnt dig up, honing his body in ways few players tried (like hyperbaric chamber sessions and Botox treatments for concussions). This time as one of the games all-time greats. He wanted to rip into somebody. After Saban left, the Dolphins hired Cam Cameron as their next coach. I had to do it off premises, saying good-bye. That was tension. Zach Thomas & Jason Taylor have just been inducted into the Dolphins Honor Roll! Who was around in your era and how do you compare to them? I want to stay. They say its 1/10th of 1 percent just to make it to the NFL. You might say theyre a team of hope. Recognised by his direct opponents. The honor comes in Thomas' fourth year as a Hall finalist. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Dolphins have a problem but not what you think, Dolphins at Bears quickie reaction: Defense outstanding, Tagovailoa a work in progress, Dolphins live practice blog: One key player dressed, others not. He recalls playing Hall of Fame running backs like Marshall Faulk and Curtis Martin and fondly speaks of his meetings against Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, which felt as much like a chess match as a football game. Saban eventually brought Thomas into his office and the two made peace. Zach and I always had a Former Miami Dolphin, Zach Thomas introduced his teammate, Jason Taylor to his sister, Katina. She grew up in Texas with her brothers, Zach and Bart. Both Zach and Katina graduated from Texas Tech University, where she earned her degree in broadcast journalism. While Thomas said he would remain patient through the process, insisting the game didn't owe him anything, his fans voiced louder objections with each passing year, pointing out that many of his statistics surpassed those of linebackers already enshrined. It can also be about direct comparison. I went to the sideline, but I couldnt sit down because I was falling asleep on the bench, Thomas says. Jimmy Johnson came to me and was like, Zach, were starting you. Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor will be there for you to meet. The Dolphins already had veteran Jack Del Rio. Jason Taylor is the Dolphins Hall of Fame defensive end and Zach Thomas is one of the 14 2020 WebRelationships. Now his former teammate Zach Thomas, who spent 11 seasons with the Dolphins The 2021 Miami Dolphins? You know, I was two-time all-state, but I dont get offered, he said. An award Zach never received. It would mean a lot because Im still that small-talent kid with big dreams that never could imagine it, Thomas said when he was a first-time finalist in 2020. But the Hall of Famer whom Thomas will forever be most associated with is defensive end Jason Taylor. "It was powerful. Thats because while the rest of the country (and parts of the world) will be captivated by Super Bowl 54 on Feb. 2, Thomas will be more focused on Feb. 1, when he and 14 other finalists are considered for election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Urlacher put in 315 assists on tackles (1.73 per game), Thomas had 627 career assists (3.4 per game). The problem is Thomas sustained multiple serious concussions that year. Thomas was bummed, as he usually was after a loss. I told him, I dont think Im the right guy to try to make a point with. And on the first play of the first inside drill of 2009 training camp, Thomas blew up the lead fullback and sustained another concussion and he could not practice or play. To go from being a fifth-round pick to football immortality? I met with Belichick. So in 2009, Thomas signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. On behalf of the entire Dolphins organization and our fans around the world, I want to congratulate Zach on his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said. In 2005 Urlacher won the Defensive Player of the Year award. And while coaches prepared their defense by showing players clips of the opponents previous three games, Thomas would spend time alone going back years. So I enjoyed the visit, but I couldnt pull the trigger. Hes covered Dolphins games in London, Berlin, Mexico City and Tokyo. But all that enjoyment didnt exactly bloom early in their relationship. So for me, wow, man. The Bears that year were 11-5. Former Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson will be his presenter. It certainly wasnt that way when Thomas and Saban were yelling at each other during a practice in the fall of 2005. So he wanted to trade me. And they decided it was time for Thomas and the Dolphins to go their separate ways. It represents all the great teammates I had. Traffic came to a real fast stop, Thomas says. Each of you made me a better player and are a big part of where I am today. In NO way. Because I am a Dolphin for life. Or he was my favorite player. . Well he has 22 interceptions to his name whilst Zach has 17. He was a sports enthusiast as a kid and Thomas friends noticed early on that he was a bit different than the other local youth. I feel hes very unselfish because of all the things he could be doing, he chooses to be part of our lives and loves being at the kids sporting events and activities. There is only one thing left for the 7 time Pro Bowler, 5 time first team All-Pro, All Decade team member, 2 time NFL alumni linebacker of the year & Miami Dolphins All-Time leader in tackles made get him in the damn Hal of Fame, where he belongs! Thomas holds up his hand as if stopping someone from talking. With Thomas leading the way with major contributions from Taylor obviously the Dolphins defense finished in the top 10 in fewest yards allowed an Mawae laughed and still laughs at the story to this day. He hadnt even earned my respect at that point. It was a great visit, Thomas says. Thank you to all of my teammates. As I noted above this is about individual recognition and Zach Thomas deserves to be recongised as equal to his peers the ones regarded as Hall of Fame worthy from his era.