For one afternoon, at least, it seemed like old times in
Buffalo. On Sunday at Rich Stadium, in a cold and driving rain,
Thurman Thomas led the Bills to a 20-10 upset of the Jets. A
week after quietly conceding his role as the team's featured
ballcarrier by sitting out the second half of a loss to the
Oilers, the 31-year-old running back showed he isn't ready to
call it a career. "My job now," Thomas said after the Jets game,
"is to let the younger players know there's no quit in the
Buffalo Bills."
There certainly was none in Thomas or the 6-7 Bills on Sunday.
Squeezing through tiny holes and bouncing off tacklers for big
gains, Thomas set the tone by gaining 34 yards—on a reception
and two runs—on the Bills' first three plays. He finished with
104 yards on 18 carries (his first 100-yard game since Nov. 3,
1996) and passed O.J. Simpson to move into ninth place on the
league's alltime rushing list, with 11,325 yards. "There's been
a lot of talk about Thurman losing a step or being too old,"
says Antowain Smith, the rookie who has replaced Thomas. "But he
never ceases to amaze me."
Beyond the stats, Thomas is boosting his image with his work on
the practice field. A player with a reputation for being curt
with fans and the media, Thomas wants to finish off his career
like Marcus Allen—a mentor who can still turn in an outstanding
performance. Early last week it was Thomas and other Buffalo
veterans who made it clear to their teammates that mailing in
the final four games of '97 would not be tolerated.
"I know he's not a 300-carry-a-year man like he's been," coach
Marv Levy said after Sunday's game. "But Thurman sure looked
quick and competitive today. I think he can play in this league
for a while. He can keep playing for the Buffalo Bills, I'll
tell you that."
Issue date: December 8, 1997
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