6 Former Buffalo Bills who would thrive on the 2019 roster
By Avery Duncan
Thurman Thomas – Running back
The Bills have had plenty of historically great backs up for this spot, but Thurman Thomas remains as the answer here. Thomas was a do-it-all, pass catching, bell-cow before the NFL shifted their focus to the very same thing with their backs. In 11 seasons with the Bills, he visited the Pro-Bowl five times, was a first-team All-Pro twice, and was named MVP in 1991.
From 1989 to ’96, Thomas rushed for at least 1,000 yards every season. In that same span, he recorded 1,250+ scrimmage yards every time. Between 1989 and ’93 he tallied at least 1,700+ scrimmage yards every year, including a two-year span where he at least 2,000. For Thomas’ career, he 12,074 rushing yards, 65 rushing touchdowns–on a 4.2 average per carry–472 receptions, 4,458 receiving yards, and 23 receiving touchdowns.
Despite a stacked class of backs, the NFL named Thomas to the All-Decade 1990 team. Though he had to wait a year, he became a sure-fire Hall of Fame candidate in 2007, and his induction followed. His 16,532 scrimmage yards ranks ninth all-time for running backs, while his 88 touchdowns ranks at 24th.
The Bills figured out a way to exploit Thomas’ catching abilities and all-around rushing game (it was easy), but in today’s game, he may be even more dominant. Considering that all-purpose backs rule the current NFL, the talented Thomas would surely do the same. Pairing the Hall of Famer with the Bills’ current committee of backs–particularly LeSean McCoy and Frank Gore–is unfair.