If Michael Thomas could have avoided the injury bug, he would be a first ballot HOF. He could run those middle crossing routes, be covered tight as a tick, still catch the ball and hang on to it as the safety tried to knock his cleats off. It takes a big, physical wide receiver to do that. Brees would literally point at him when he needed a 5 yards for a first down and everybody in the stadium knew where the ball was going.
What Thomas was very good at and what receives no recognition by the casual fan, is his ability to block, especially downfield. That's where the dirty work happens that changes 4 yard runs into 10 yard runs. Or more.
That's a complete player. Hines Ward was a complete player. Able to make a big play, better able to make a play when needed and quietly able to make players around him better.
The difference between Hines and Thomas was durability. Hines did it year in, year out, for a long time.
