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He's been here so long, but I can hardly recall reading anything about him this interesting. Particularly the stuff about his Bruce Smith conversation, his hell-raising 20s and his plan to play for 20 years. Good stuff.
'Tra' counting on a long NFL career
Eagles' Thomas to appear in 140th game
By ED BARKOWITZ
[email protected]
There was a point not too long ago when William "Tra" Thomas wanted to lose his nickname.
"Tra" was a derivative of "trey" and a nod to his full name, "William Thomas III." He had been Tra for as long as he could remember.
He was Tra when he earned his first trophy as a crackerjack 4-year-old swimmer. He was Tra when he starred at Florida State. He was Tra when the Eagles made him a first-round pick in 1998.
He was also Tra throughout his roaring 20s, when everything in life came easily and the good times came a little too frequently. Thomas may have been 6-7 and 350 pounds, but that doesn't mean he was grown up.
"When you first come into the league, it's kind of wild," the 32-year-old Thomas reflected. "You're young, you have all this money, you're in a new city and you want to 'kick it' and run rampant. I had that period, got through it and grew up. I have responsibilities. I have three kids."
It is OK to call him "Tra" again because he is at peace with himself and has moved on from that period of his life. He credits his wife, Rosa, and his kids for giving him new focus. He also has gained comfort from the Living Faith Christian Center in Pennsauken.
"My church has welcomed me in and kept me grounded," said Thomas, who turns 33 on Nov. 20. "There's a lot of mighty men of God that has kept me close to them. That's helped me calm down a lot."
When he takes the field on Sunday, Thomas will suit up for his 140th game. There have been more than a thousand players to wear Eagles' green. Only 10 have done so more frequently than Thomas. It is a feat that does not escape him.
"I've been blessed to be with this franchise for this long and I'm trying to make it longer," he said. "It's been real good for me, being here the last 10 years. This city has really accepted me and welcomed me."
It is said that the average trauma of playing in one NFL game is akin to being in a midlevel car accident. Thomas has had back and knee problems as well as a bout with a blood clot in his leg. All in all, though, he has been healthy. If Thomas gets his way, Harold Carmichael's team record of 180 games played is in real danger. Thomas' goal is to play for 20 years.
"If my body holds up, I can do it," he said. "At the offensive line position, you can do it. If you keep yourself healthy and take care of yourself, it can be done."
He looks at guys like Bruce Matthews, Lomas Brown, Ray Brown, Jackie Slater and Mike Kenn. All were offensive linemen and all played at least 250 games - Matthews' 296 is sixth all-time. Thomas has missed eight games because of injury, the latest being the Sept. 30 drubbing at the hands of the Giants. The Eagles gave up 12 sacks that night and Thomas' replacement, Winston Justice, was part offensive tackle/part matador.
Thomas returned to the lineup last Sunday and helped clear the way for 413 offensive yards in the win over the Jets.
"I want to play until my son [William IV] comes in," Thomas laughed. "If he comes in before I get 20 years, then I'll retire. He's 12 now, so I have a little time."
Thomas has appeared in three Pro Bowls, four NFC Championships and a Super Bowl. When asked for a special memory, his answer is unusual, yet interesting. He tells of a lesson he learned from one of the game's greatest defensive linemen.
"I remember playing against Bruce Smith and back then I used to talk a lot," Thomas recalled. "As a young offensive lineman you try to be the intimidator, not the intimidated. So I was [trash] talking all crazy and Bruce Smith pulled me aside and said, 'Look. You don't have to do all that talking like that. You're a professional. Respect the game. Don't come out here talking like you are bigger than the game.' Ever since then, I calmed that down and started really respecting the game and the guys who played before me.
"Now I'm the Bruce Smith," he chuckled. "Just go out there, put in the work and keep it moving." *
'Tra' counting on a long NFL career
Eagles' Thomas to appear in 140th game
By ED BARKOWITZ
[email protected]
There was a point not too long ago when William "Tra" Thomas wanted to lose his nickname.
"Tra" was a derivative of "trey" and a nod to his full name, "William Thomas III." He had been Tra for as long as he could remember.
He was Tra when he earned his first trophy as a crackerjack 4-year-old swimmer. He was Tra when he starred at Florida State. He was Tra when the Eagles made him a first-round pick in 1998.
He was also Tra throughout his roaring 20s, when everything in life came easily and the good times came a little too frequently. Thomas may have been 6-7 and 350 pounds, but that doesn't mean he was grown up.
"When you first come into the league, it's kind of wild," the 32-year-old Thomas reflected. "You're young, you have all this money, you're in a new city and you want to 'kick it' and run rampant. I had that period, got through it and grew up. I have responsibilities. I have three kids."
It is OK to call him "Tra" again because he is at peace with himself and has moved on from that period of his life. He credits his wife, Rosa, and his kids for giving him new focus. He also has gained comfort from the Living Faith Christian Center in Pennsauken.
"My church has welcomed me in and kept me grounded," said Thomas, who turns 33 on Nov. 20. "There's a lot of mighty men of God that has kept me close to them. That's helped me calm down a lot."
When he takes the field on Sunday, Thomas will suit up for his 140th game. There have been more than a thousand players to wear Eagles' green. Only 10 have done so more frequently than Thomas. It is a feat that does not escape him.
"I've been blessed to be with this franchise for this long and I'm trying to make it longer," he said. "It's been real good for me, being here the last 10 years. This city has really accepted me and welcomed me."
It is said that the average trauma of playing in one NFL game is akin to being in a midlevel car accident. Thomas has had back and knee problems as well as a bout with a blood clot in his leg. All in all, though, he has been healthy. If Thomas gets his way, Harold Carmichael's team record of 180 games played is in real danger. Thomas' goal is to play for 20 years.
"If my body holds up, I can do it," he said. "At the offensive line position, you can do it. If you keep yourself healthy and take care of yourself, it can be done."
He looks at guys like Bruce Matthews, Lomas Brown, Ray Brown, Jackie Slater and Mike Kenn. All were offensive linemen and all played at least 250 games - Matthews' 296 is sixth all-time. Thomas has missed eight games because of injury, the latest being the Sept. 30 drubbing at the hands of the Giants. The Eagles gave up 12 sacks that night and Thomas' replacement, Winston Justice, was part offensive tackle/part matador.
Thomas returned to the lineup last Sunday and helped clear the way for 413 offensive yards in the win over the Jets.
"I want to play until my son [William IV] comes in," Thomas laughed. "If he comes in before I get 20 years, then I'll retire. He's 12 now, so I have a little time."
Thomas has appeared in three Pro Bowls, four NFC Championships and a Super Bowl. When asked for a special memory, his answer is unusual, yet interesting. He tells of a lesson he learned from one of the game's greatest defensive linemen.
"I remember playing against Bruce Smith and back then I used to talk a lot," Thomas recalled. "As a young offensive lineman you try to be the intimidator, not the intimidated. So I was [trash] talking all crazy and Bruce Smith pulled me aside and said, 'Look. You don't have to do all that talking like that. You're a professional. Respect the game. Don't come out here talking like you are bigger than the game.' Ever since then, I calmed that down and started really respecting the game and the guys who played before me.
"Now I'm the Bruce Smith," he chuckled. "Just go out there, put in the work and keep it moving." *
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