Thomas Jones = SW VA pride

**Xcat22** · January 27th, 2007, 03:35 PM

Interesting fact/stat. TJ has 5,573 yards and counting for his first 7 years in the league. Tiki Barber only had 5,409 yards in his first 7 years.

**sup-rbeast** · January 27th, 2007, 04:17 PM

College success means nothing in the NFL. Seriously, look at the names on the NCAA all time rushers, TD scorers etc. You have the names Dayne, R. Williams, Dorsett, De Angelo Williams, C. White, Prentice, Benson, Crouch, Thompson, Moore, Cobb,Simonton, L.White, etc. Now, how many of these players besides Dorsett has set the NFL on fire? Maybe Ricky Williams for 1 year. Who cares what they did in college. You don't see Payton, Emmitt Smith, Jim Brown, Barry Sanders or Eric Dickerson. If NFL greatness was based on NCAA accomplishment Hershel Walker and Bo Jackson would be the 2 best ever considering that when they played for Auburn and GA those teams were unstoppable. In the NFL Herschel was OK, and Bo might could have been the best ever if not for other interests and injury. As far as Benson goes, I don't think he can shoulder the load. If he is put in that spot the Bears will have a repeat of Rashaan Salaam (another great college back). TJ came into his own when he played in Tampa Bay. Now he's a star with the Bears. The NFL is a business, and if Benson was better he would get the majority of the touches. I really don't think the Bears really knew what they were getting when they got TJ. But I also think that if Benson wasn't a high draft pick that he wouldn't get off the pine as often as he does.

**oakland_raiders** · January 27th, 2007, 04:42 PM

i have a feeling that benson will be the guy next year and i have heard on espn radio and mike & mike that they might even trade him..so i for one think thomas will be gone next year and i would not mind seeing him in some silver and black but al davis is to much of a [censored] dumb a$$ piece of you know what

**R0cketer** · January 27th, 2007, 06:02 PM

Why do you hate Thomas that bad, didn't he already suffer with a bad team (the Cards...now you think the Raiders??)

I would hope if he goes somewhere besides the Bears, its at least a good team.

**Indian09** · January 27th, 2007, 06:08 PM

if he went to Oakland, that would be the end of his career

**Biggin** · January 27th, 2007, 06:16 PM

if jesus went to oakland, it would be the end of his career

**imported_ut1** · January 27th, 2007, 06:26 PM

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TJ never even had 1 1000 yard year until Benson was drafted. Hindsight is 20/20.

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No, but he had 948 yards in only 14 games his first year with the Bears. He followed that up with 1335 over 15 games the next season. If Lovie had featured him this year instead of giving reps to Benson, TJ could have well been the rushing leader this season, especially with the vastly improved run-blocking he had.
Even if TJ weren't a local product, I'd be pretty darned impressed with what he's done so far, especially with the Bears.

**imported_mega** · January 27th, 2007, 06:51 PM

No way in hades he gets near LaDanian Tomlinson in rushing yards this year. Alot of the reasons early in the season that Benson was in there is because the games were over. Chicago blew so many teams out the first 8 weeks in the season that it was irrelevant. You dont leave your starter in to pad his stats, that makes no sense.

If you go by your exact criteria, Frank Gore gets over 2000 yards and wins the rushing title anyway. Gore averaged over 5.4 yards per carry, you realize that right? TJ wasnt even close to that.

948 yards is not 1000, and 1000 is not special anyway. 1000 yards=about 66 a game. Edgerrin James had nearly 1200 yards this year, big deal.

Benson was drafted because the Bears were worried that TJ couldnt shoulder the whole load over 16 games because he never had before. Whats so hard to understand about that.

You might be impressed by the stats, but if you go to about any bears message board, they arent exactly saying that TJ is an elite running back. Thats taking swva fans out of the equation and a pretty realistic overall view point.

TJ is liked in chicago and appreciated by the fans for his hard work, but if he leaves, they are going to say oh well, hes not Walter Payton, Sayers, or even Neil Anderson. Benson could suck really badly or be really average, but I just dont see bears fans saying, oh god I wish we had TJ back, they will be saying, trade for Tomlinson, trade for Johnson, Gore, or Steven Jackson.

Chester Taylor is a very good player just like TJ, and somewhere out there, all of the fans in his area are saying he could have been the nfl rushing champion had they not given Mewelde Moore the dam ball. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

**starbuck** · January 27th, 2007, 07:35 PM

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If NFL greatness was based on NCAA accomplishment Hershel Walker and Bo Jackson would be the 2 best ever considering that when they played for Auburn and GA those teams were unstoppable. In the NFL Herschel was OK,

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I always take exception to anyone who thinks Hershel Walker was just OK. He was great with the Cowboy till they traded him away (and built a dynasty off of him) to the Vikings and they had no idea how to use him and he wasted away till he went to Philly. By that time he was way past his prime but was still productive overall.

**imported_mega** · January 27th, 2007, 07:37 PM

Id have to say that Bo would have been one of the GOAT. Up until his injury, he was tough. He sent Marcus Allen to the bench, that speaks volumes about Bo.