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Playing in 11 games, 10 as a starter, in the
1971 season, Thomas rushed for 793 yards and a league-leading 11
touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 153 yards and two
scores.
Thomas added a combined 205 yards and three touchdowns in the
1971 postseason, including 95 yards and a score as Dallas
stifled the Miami Dolphins 24-3 in Super Bowl VI.
Thomas was also known for periods of disgruntlement that saw him
traded to two teams, but he never reported to them. He wanted
his contract restructured after his rookie season in 1970, when
he rushed for 803 yards. He added 313 yards over the Cowboys'
postseason run to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the
Baltimore Colts 16-13.
The Cowboys tried to deal him to the New England Patriots before
the 1971 season, but he refused to report. The commissioner
voided the deal, leaving Thomas a Cowboy. He rarely spoke to
teammates or the media, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson told the Morning News on Tuesday:
"I slept six feet from him and he didn't have much to say. He
was a peaceful man."
After the 1971 season, Dallas worked out a trade with the San
Diego Chargers, but Thomas again refused to comply, and he sat
out the 1972 season. He did report when he was dealt to the
Washington Redskins, for whom he played in 1973-74, amassing a
combined 442 yards and five touchdowns on 127 rushes.
--Field Level Media [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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